The Association for the Values of Slovenian Independence (Združenje za vrednote slovenske osamosvojitve – VSO) invites all patriotic and conscious Slovenians, all citizens, to a protest rally “FOR SLOVENIA AND THE TRUTH” – against the destruction of the foundations of Slovenian unity and statehood. The protest will take place on Wednesday, the 19th of April 2023, at 5 p.m. at Republic Square in Ljubljana, and the Slovenian Democratic Party (Slovenska demokratska stranka – SDS) is also joining the rally.
“There is only one Slovenia, and it only got its independence one time. We will protest against politics that degrade independence into a means of political division. We will protest against the abolition of the independent Museum of Slovenian Independence, as our country deserves such an institution as a fundamental point of strengthening our state-building, patriotic and democratic consciousness,” wrote the Association for the Values of Slovenian Independence.
The Association for the Values of Slovenian Independence welcomes the SDS party’s interpellation on the work and responsibility of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, and the recommendations of the New Slovenia party (Nova Slovenija – NSi) for strengthening the values of Slovenian independence – with the intention of a broader reasoned debate on the meaning of independence as a central value for all Slovenians. They are convinced that, on the basis of the will of all Slovenians, which was expressed at the plebiscite, independence united the Slovenian nation for the first time in history in an independent and democratic state, despite political divisions, and represents the realisation of our country’s greatest political goal.
They also believe that “the government’s irrational and unparliamentary abolition of the Museum of Slovenian Independence enforces an attitude towards independence that is inconsistent with its values and further divides our society,” and argue that this situation calls for a rethinking of the meaning of Slovenian independence.
Ana Horvat
