June 10, 2021

Covid-19 used by absolutists to quash opposition

topic:	Democracy
located:	Slovenia
editor:	Katarina Panić

“I just called my prime minister lunatic, on the record,” Slovenian actor Igor Štamulak told his Bosnian colleagues after being interviewed for FairPlanet.

I met Štamulak two days ago in my hometown. He had just attended a press conference on the eve of the premiere of Yugoslavia, My Homeland, a joint Slovenian and Bosnian theatre production.

“We have been living in democracy and well-being for 25 years. There has always been one man - Janez Janša, but we always thought that never in life could the time come as it has come now: no money for public media, no money for the film industry, no money for culture - since they [the authorities] are afraid of,” Štamulak told FairPlanet. 

Slovenians have been protesting against the government since March last year, when the country’s right-wing leader, Janez Janša, began his third term. They take to the streets every Friday, demanding an early election. Janša accused them of spreading COVID-19 and spoiling the image of the country, which prepares to hold the six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union starting on 1 July. 

“Some 75 weeks people go to streets to peacefully demonstrate against Janša. He behaves as he does not see them at all. Yet, the worst thing he did to us is that he divided us. People started to be labelled, this one is leftist, and this one is rightist. That never happened before in Slovenia. He completely polarised society. It is a catastrophe,” Štamulak added.

Last week, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, warned that hostile public discourse, as well as smear campaigns and intimidation targeting civil society activists and those who express critical opinions, harm media freedom and freedom of expression.

She specifically called on members of the government to make responsible and dignified use of social media platforms, refrain from making stigmatising and misleading comments about the work of civil society and publicly condemn such discourse by others.

"If the prime minister wants to control media, it is a clear sign where the country goes. If he is not satisfied with the laws and constitution and announces the new laws will be adopted, allowing the government to impose total lockdowns in situations such as a pandemic, we know it is absolutism, fascism, nazism," the actor said.   

Don't go any further. That is clear enough.

Image: Šiško. 

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