Experts say that the behaviour of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Urška Klakočar Zupančič, is similarly “immature” as her behaviour at national celebrations. For example, she mistakenly issued a reprimand for insulting her when MP Branko Grims warned her about mentioning the wrong holiday. Despite the fact that it was her who called Janez Janša a “dictator” almost two years ago, her actions are actually becoming more and more reminiscent of a dictatorship. Her recent appearance before the press confirmed the impression among many that Klakočar Zupančič took on a task that is way too difficult for her.
With the arrival of the former judge Urška Klakočar Zupančič to the position of Speaker of the National Assembly, some practices that had been established before now are being overthrown. It is true that Klakočar Zupančič is not the most politically experienced person, but she should know a little more about what behaviour is expected of someone who becomes the first among equals – and she should have learnt about it before taking office.
The recording of the press conference regarding the Slovenian Democratic Party’s decision to submit the signatures relating to the call for a referendum on changes to the Government Act, with which the new government wants to increase the number of ministries in times of crisis, left many speechless. The Speaker of the National Assembly had trouble pronouncing the word speculate, and on top of that, she had a giggling fit of some sorts during the press conference. In addition, when one of the media outlets’ microphones fell to the floor, she did not pick it up. This is undoubtedly a way of appearing in the public that we have not been familiar with before now, especially not with people in this position. Many people believe that this is a complete degradation of this important role.
Klakočar Zupančič wants to create the impression that she wants less rigidity and a more relaxed atmosphere in the National Assembly. This is evidenced by her clothes, as well as her appearances in front of the press. It is also clear that she likes to laugh often and even make jokes at her own expense. At certain moments, however, it is clear that she never considers the fact that she is actually breaking protocol with her actions – as she did at the recent national celebration of Statehood Day, where she behaved like a Hollywood star. “She clearly likes her new role,” the RTV Slovenia presenter Igor E. Bergant tried to soften the blow of her slip-up. In contrast to her, Janez Janša’s performances are always what they should be with a statesman of his calibre. The most telling comment about Klakočar Zupančič’s actions at the celebration was made by the former longtime head of state protocol, Ksenija Benedetti, who told the media outlet N1 that the red carpet at state celebrations is very different from a red carpet at all other events. “Politicians, representatives of the country and other people walk on it in honour of the country and the holidays, the Guard of the Slovenian Armed Forces is also stationed there, and it is not appropriate to turn your back to it,” she explained.
She first called Janša a dictator, and now she herself has become the dictator
And remember. During the term of the Janša government, Klakočar Zupančič became extremely critical of his form of governing. In one of her posts on Facebook, she wrote that Janša is a “dictator.” “I sincerely hope that the era of Janšaism will one day be nothing more than a bitter memory, but until then, take care of yourself…” was just one of the things that the former judge wrote in a closed group on the social media network at the end of November 2020. She was also critical of some of the government’s epidemiological measures and the conduct of the police, calling Janša “the great dictator” and adding that the virus in our country “gave flight to frustrated individuals with a criminal past.”
The head of the Ljubljana District Court initiated a disciplinary procedure against the judge at the time and also removed her from the position of head of the department. Klakočar Zupančič claimed that she was betrayed by her own people on the social network, whom she trusted. Those who released the problematic record to the public may even be sorry today because, in a way, this is what made her one of the “stars” on the left-wing political scene. After her recent performances, it seems that she is even forgetting that she is now the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia. Her “Klakočar-isms” are thus becoming a permanent part of her political career. And given that she also expects the reporters to cut out her stumbling over her words, judging by her behaviour at the recent press conference, she apparently thinks that the reporters are her very own PR service?!
Sara Kovač
