The pro-government propaganda related to the collection of signatures against the cultural elite bonus for the so-called outstanding artistic achievements was broadcast on the biggest commercial television station on Sunday. In light of the statements made by the interlocutors in the article, one could easily get the impression that the Slovenian Democratic Party (Slovenska demokratska stranka – SDS) was, in fact, carrying out a veritable pogrom against outstanding artists. The message was even given that a referendum on such a matter would not be appropriate at all.
The Coalition MPs approved the granting of pension supplements for outstanding artistic achievements, whereby certain retired individuals would receive a supplement of up to 1,500 euros on top of their pensions, without a single cent having been paid for this purpose. The law was also approved after it was vetoed by the National Council. This led to the SDS party announcing that it would collect signatures for a subsequent legislative referendum.
Those who watched the show 24UR Fokus on Sunday could see, among other things, the viewpoint of the intermedia artist Maja Smrekar, whose picture is being used in the SDS referendum campaign. The person particularly critical of what is happening was the poet, writer, playwright, essayist and film director Vinko Möderndorfer. “It seems legitimate to me that they are working on interpellations of ministers, of the government. But to decide whether to give a few dozen artists a slightly bigger pension because they have given everything to this nation in the form of their art… I find that really appalling,” he said, adding that he stood by his belief that such matters should not be decided by the people in a referendum.
They “forgot” to mention that Möderndorfer also qualifies for the allowance in question
Since the allowances will be paid out of the taxpayers’ pockets, the referendum itself is, of course, perfectly legitimate, and on top of that, there is also the fact that the referendum is a constitutionally protected category. The expression of vehement opposition on television is all the more inappropriate, however, if we bear in mind that Möderndorfer represents a person who, according to the media outlet Spletni časopis (Online Journal), will be entitled to a hefty cash supplement to his pension. “Möderndorfer, who is 66 years old, meets all the conditions for receiving the supplement. However, the amount is now determined by adding half of the amount up to the maximum pension, which is around three thousand euros net, to the pension he has earned,” the media outlet reports. And even though POP TV managed to mention in Smrekar’s case that she will be one of the beneficiaries of these allowances if the law enters into force, they failed to do so in Möderndorfer’s case.
The rewards will not be as few and far between as they are trying to make it seem
“The privilege will amount to the price of one flat for a young family. And for a lower earned pension, it will be even more. Since there will be many cultural workers with prizes, their unearned privileges will amount to numbers that could cover the costs of many apartments for young people. Asta Vrečko‘s Law. President of the Left party (Levica). A woman of culture,” pointed out journalist Peter Jančič in light of the criticism on the social network X, pointing out that POP TV forgot to ask Möderndorfer “how much he will benefit personally, because the new calculation will be much more favourable than before, and cultural workers will receive allowances in an amount that no one else in the Europea Union can imagine. Even though other countries are much richer.”
“I respect culture. I buy books, go to plays and concerts, enjoy painting. I am an enthusiastic fan, I go to matches, I buy tickets. I have immense respect for academics,” Dr Samo Vesel, a well-known doctor, pointed out on the social network X, adding that he is against the academic allowance and pension supplements because they are unfair to everyone else.
10 days left to sign
The collection of signatures for the legislative referendum on the law on the pension supplements for outstanding achievements in the arts is still going on. “You still have 10 days to sign the request for a referendum on privileges,” the SDS Party President Janez Janša announced on Wednesday on the social network X, reminding everyone that the party is opposed to a law that “allows for the rewarding of delusion, disgust and perversion under the guise of art.”
S. K
