“Asta Vrečko posing happily next to one of the most despicable communist dictators of the 20th century. This is a common theme of Slovenia’s far-left government,” analyst Mitja Iršič recently tweeted, adding that this is what Members of the European Parliament who support the Slovenian left, and thus apparently also the former communist totalitarian system, are supporting. Minister of Culture Asta Vrečko is showing her far-left stance, following the example of members of the Social Democrats party (Socialni demokrati – SD), who went to bow down to a statue of Kidrič. She bowed to Tito in Velenje.
Given that all three totalitarian systems – fascism, Nazism and communism, ravaged Slovenian territory in the twentieth century, one would expect the Slovenian nation to be able to condemn all three totalitarian systems, which caused so much misery, unanimously. Yet even in 2022, the eternal Yugonostalgics not only dedicate museums to the totalitarian regime but also bow down to its leaders at every opportunity. The Minister of Culture, Asta Vrečko, is one of the people who shows her far-left stance by paying homage to Tito, one of her communist “role models.”
“This is what you are supporting, Vera Jourova, Sophie in ‘t Veld, Ursula von der Leyen. Slovenian Minister of Culture Asta Vrečko happily posing in front of one of the 20th century’s vilest communist dictators. This is a common theme of the Slovenian far-left government,” analyst Mitja Iršič was critical of the Members of the European parliament. While they claim to defend democracy, human rights and freedoms, they also actively show their support for the Slovenian left and for Slovenian left-wing activists who bow down to the communist butchers of the Slovenian nation without a trace of shame. What does this say about them and their credibility, or the credibility of their so-called “European and democratic principles?”
However, Vrečko’s pilgrimage to Tito’s monument in Velenje is not even all that surprising, given that the public was recently up in arms when the Minister of Culture announced the merger of the Museum of Slovenian Independence with the Museum of Contemporary History, to which the Minister of Culture also wants to add a new museum of wax dolls. Were you to walk through it, you would find yourself next to the “most famous national heroes of Slovenia’s modern history.” There, you will see Josip Broz – Tito with his Jovanka, Edvard Kardelj, Boris Kidrič with a loaf of bread under his arm, Ivan Maček Matija, France Popit, Stane Dolanc, Janez Stanovnik and many more. And we must not forget about our golden ladies, such as Lidija Šentjurc. “It was them who laid the foundations for Slovenian independence.” Perhaps, Milan Kučan will also get a spot in the museum.
All of this is quite normal for the Slovenian left. Remember, the Social Democrats have often, or wherever an opportunity presented to them (and even if it did not), bowed before the monument of one of the greatest butchers of Slovenians in history – Boris Kidrič. On the 75th anniversary of what they call “the founding of the first Slovenian government in Ajdovščina,” a delegation of Social Democrats headed by former President of the party Dejan Židan, Tanja Fajon and Marko Koprivec laid a wreath at the monument to Boris Kidrič, the President of that government, and bowed down before the statue, which is located in the capital.
Even though the communists used the civil war for a totalitarian takeover of power, during which they also committed crimes against humanity, the deep roots of communism mean that even in 2022, many people are still unable to condemn the actions of the communists. To this end, they only condemn the atrocities of the fascists and the National Socialists. It is no wonder, then, that in Slovenia they have not been able to adopt and support the Resolution on European Conscience and Totalitarianism. With this attitude, we have shown that we do not treat all victims of totalitarianism equally, and, as such, we do not outwardly show respect for European values.
Tanja Brkić
