“If this had happened during the term of our government, we, the secretaries, the Director of Police, and anyone else involved, would have been carried out of office. I think this is the scandal of all scandals. It is unbelievable what they have made of the so-called “de-Janša-isation” of the police,” former Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, said in response to Prime Minister Robert Golob’s statement that he had been drawing attention to the situation at the Police Security and Protection Centre for more than two years. The controversy was revealed on Thursday’s episode of the show “Tarča” (Target) on the national media outlet, Radio-Television Slovenia.
On Friday, Prime Minister Robert Golob reacted to Thursday’s revelations on the show “Tarča” on RTV Slovenia about alleged irregularities in the Police Security and Protection Centre. He claimed that he has been warning about the situation there for over two years now, and that he intends to continue to do so in the future, the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) reports.
Golob: Some structures do not want the authorities to deal with their affairs
At the same time, Golob criticised the former Interior Minister, Tatjana Bobnar, and former Acting Director-General of the Police, Boštjan Lindav, for their refusal to regulate the area. Golob: “And today, I am under criminal investigation because two years ago, I pointed out what the whole of Slovenia is seeing today.” He added that some structures in the country sometimes do not want the legitimately elected authorities to deal with their internal affairs.
These structures, he said, initiated all possible procedures to prevent the elected authorities from being able to put right the kind of irregularities that are being discussed today. He is convinced that it was Bobnar’s refusal to put this right that led to their falling out. And today, she is said to be his biggest opponent.
The security officers allegedly illegally collected information on the prosecutor and Klakočar
In Thursday’s episode of the show “Tarča”, it was revealed that security police officers had illegally collected private information about the prosecutor in the Kavač Clan case and about the Speaker of the National Assembly, Urška Klakočar Zupančič. The police also allegedly failed to take action when a suspicious vehicle pursued the prosecutor’s vehicle, the vehicle of the Bosnian prosecutors, and the defendant in the Kavač Clan case in January. It was the latter who was subsequently murdered in Ljubljana – just a few days ago.
Police: findings cannot be disclosed
The police explained that they were verifying the circumstances of the incident, but could not disclose their findings, as this could endanger the life or personal safety of a police officer or a person who cooperated with the police. However, the police have rejected allegations that covert methods of work are being abused at the Security and Protection Centre. They also stated that they carry out covert investigative measures in accordance with the law and the orders of the public prosecutor’s office and the courts.
It is also worth noting that current Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar and the Director-General of the Police, Senad Jušić, did not respond to the invitation to appear on the episode of the show “Tarča” in question, which exposed the irregularities, according to the presenter Erika Žnidaršič. The State Prosecutor-General, Katarina Bergant, also did not respond to the invitation.
The Minister and the Director-General of the Police are making fools of themselves
Instead of resigning as the person who is also responsible for this situation, Poklukar (together with the Chief of Police) has started to come up with empty claims and excuses. According to the Slovenian Press Agency, he has issued guidelines for a comprehensive reorganisation of the Security and Protection Centre, which will come into force immediately. He entrusted the accomplice of the situation – the Director-General of Police Jušić – with the task of carrying out the reorganisation process. He also issued a decision to carry out an extraordinary internal audit of the use of accommodation for security officers.
The SDS party: “Such shortcomings can jeopardise security and public confidence”
The parliamentary group of the Slovenian Democratic Party (Slovenska demokratska stranka – SDS) also responded to the situation, writing on X: “In a statement today, MP Andrej Kosi commented on the worrying situation in the police. He stressed the need for swift action to ensure the professional and efficient functioning of the police, as such shortcomings are unacceptable and may seriously jeopardise security and public confidence in the legal system.”
Former Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, also commented on the situation, saying:
“If this had happened during the term of our government, we, the secretaries, the Director of Police, and anyone else involved, would have been carried out of office. I think this is the scandal of all scandals. The question is, who of those most responsible should have resigned a long time ago, and we are not still talking about this today – do we have a legally or illegally appointed Director of Police, do we have a Minister who is directing and reviewing something and doesn’t even know why it is being done, and we have a para-structure at some other, third level that is clearly “doing its own thing”? It is unbelievable what they have made of the so-called “de-Janša-isation” of the police.”
Domen Mezeg
