At a recent plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEP Zala Tomašič drew attention to the serious state of democracy in Slovenia. In her speech, she highlighted developments that threaten the rule of law and the country’s fundamental democratic principles.
MEP Zala Tomašič stressed that for several years now, Slovenia has been witnessing worrying trends that point to politically motivated abuses of power. “Ten years ago, we witnessed the illegal imprisonment of the leader of the opposition just before the elections. Today, history is repeating itself – this time, with a new politically motivated trial,” she pointed out. She warned that the current government, the government of Robert Golob, is systematically violating the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, thus preventing the effective functioning of the opposition.
One of the key problems, according to Tomašič, is the misuse of investigative commissions of the National Assembly, which are being used to exert pressure on the media outlets that are critical of the government. She also highlighted the subordination of the national media outlet (Radio-Television Slovenia – RTV) and the police to political interests. “Bills are being introduced that directly undermine freedom of speech, leading to the curtailment of pluralism and the suppression of critical voices,” she stressed.
— Zala Tomašič (@ZalaTomasic) January 21, 2025
Economic stagnation and social issues
MEP Tomašič was not only critical of political issues. She also spoke about economic stagnation and the wrong direction of the government, which is introducing new taxes instead of creating the conditions for economic growth. “The minimum wage today is almost the same as the average wage,” she warned. She stressed that the measures to tackle housing policy are just a pretext for stealth nationalisation.
“This is a cry for help!” MEP Tomašič concluded her emotional speech, calling for a joint effort to defend the rule of law and democracy. She warned that the events in Slovenia are a symptom of broader trends in Europe, where fundamental freedoms are increasingly under threat. “This is not just about Slovenia, it is about the future of us all,” she added.
Tomašič’s speech in Strasbourg attracted the attention of the European public and politicians. Her efforts show that the international community is watching what is happening in Slovenia, where warnings about the dangers to democracy and freedom of speech are becoming louder and louder.
A. G.
