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Markeš: Slovenia's Right-Wing Must Answer if They Will Be Loyal to Tradition or Embrace Fascism
🇸🇮 Slovenia /Culture & Society

Markeš: Slovenia's Right-Wing Must Answer if They Will Be Loyal to Tradition or Embrace Fascism

From Delo · () Slovenian

Translated from Slovenian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • Slovenia's National Assembly declared a referendum on an omnibus law invalid due to its tax and budget provisions.
  • Analyst Janez Markeš criticizes the parliamentary majority for using this tactic to prevent a public vote.
  • Markeš believes the law is a "Trojan horse" for neoliberalism and warns against a potential slide towards fascism if the right disregards tradition and peace.

Slovenia's National Assembly has ruled a referendum on an omnibus law inadmissible, with 48 votes against it. The decision, as summarized by Ali Žerdin, stems from the inclusion of budgetary and tax-related articles within the law. Janez Markeš contends that the parliamentary majority lacked valid arguments in this instance.

Parliamentary democracy has been replaced by a steamroller method, where tax provisions are inserted into laws specifically to block the possibility of a referendum.

— Janez MarkešCriticizing the government's tactics to prevent a public vote on the omnibus law.

Markeš argues that the parliamentary democracy has been replaced by a "steamroller" method, where tax provisions are inserted into laws specifically to block the possibility of a referendum. "They did not consider social dialogue or expert opinions when preparing the law. They did not listen to the people, and now, when the people want a say, they want to prevent it," Markeš stated, describing the passage of the emergency law.

Žerdin anticipates that the Constitutional Court will likely soon decide on the admissibility of the referendum. Markeš, however, is convinced that the emergency law acts as a "Trojan horse" intended to introduce neoliberalism and dismantle the public sphere. He also addressed accusations of corruption, suggesting it's a tactic to divert attention from the real issues.

They did not consider social dialogue or expert opinions when preparing the law. They did not listen to the people, and now, when the people want a say, they want to prevent it.

— Janez MarkešDescribing the process of passing the emergency law.

Markeš expressed confidence that the emerging coalition's plan will fail. "As far as I know the Slovenian nation, I can say two things: when things are going well for them, they are conformist, but when someone steps on their toes, they know how to stand their ground. And I think the Slovenians will stand their ground now," Markeš predicted.

As far as I know the Slovenian nation, I can say two things: when things are going well for them, they are conformist, but when someone steps on their toes, they know how to stand their ground. And I think the Slovenians will stand their ground now.

— Janez MarkešPredicting a public backlash against the government's actions.

He also touched upon Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, which he found deeply fascinating. Markeš sees the encyclical's message of peace as a potential tool against the right-wing's attacks. "Whatever you say today, the cesspool on the right attacks you: communist, commie, I don't know what else I've heard. Now I can pick up the encyclical and say: 'Look, this is what the Pope said. What will you say? Will you say the Pope is a commie?'" Markeš outlined his strategy, noting the encyclical's message aligns with the speeches of Levica party deputies Luka Mesec or Nataša Sukič. He believes the Pope's "peaceful discourse" could spark a productive debate in Slovenian politics, forcing the right to choose between working for peace or ceasing their aggressive rhetoric.

Whatever you say today, the cesspool on the right attacks you: communist, commie, I don't know what else I've heard. Now I can pick up the encyclical and say: 'Look, this is what the Pope said. What will you say? Will you say the Pope is a commie?'

— Janez MarkešExplaining how he plans to use Pope Leo XIV's encyclical to counter political attacks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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