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Of course, the official sources are more or less full of praise; the media, however, not exactly so. To sum up the opinions, if we were a bit reserved with involvement in certain issues, which were high on the agenda, the organizational aspect was nothing but well done. Even difficult journalists agree to that part.

The impression is that the more distant and the abstract the issues are, the better we fare. Of course, this is entirely understandable as it is easy to act determined when global issues such as climate change are in question than when statements and decisions can cause direct feedback from the neighbourhood. We were referred to as the connoisseurs of the dish cooking up in the hot Balkan pot, but the knowledge of Balkans is the knowledge of its complicity. In other words - the more you know, the harder it is to make indiscriminative decisions for the area, which beside potential conflict outbursts, also flourishes with economic interests. The Kosovo issue illustrated this point entirely too well.

The presidency has a low impact on everyday life save for the protocol convoys we often have to give way to on the roads, while its real evaluation would be possible only after it is over and all those involved will be able to take a breath. However, their well-deserved holiday is already in jeopardy since the autumn elections are looming in and, looking at all the political events of this year, we can easily say it will have been politically perhaps the busiest year since 1991.

Despite the circumstances in which the government, busy with the EU presidency could easily overlook its voters, it still manages to keep improving its once catastrophic ratings. The seemingly successful EU presidency along with a couple of well aimed shots such the battles of the "tycoon war" did the job. Slovenes, needless to say, feel the most comfortable and self confident inside their cars so making an example of the alleged parasites who got unfairly rich off of road construction coupled with a vignette system for highway driving, which will save the average Slovene some euros and the unnecessary stops at toll stations, can by any logic only contribute to the government's popularity points.

The political division in the country is currently seen as a battle between the ruling SDS and the opposition SD. It is a highly personified thing: both parties are seen as something that surrounds their leaders to an extent unparalleled in Slovene democracy. Both leaders are also entirely different persons. Facing the patriarchal Janez Janša, the Social democrat Borut Pahor is, intentionally or not, building his popularity as an honest, approachable metrosexual, capable of something so un-Slovenian as self-irony. Needless to say, his narcissist self-centredness is a downside of such image. He could very well be wondering what has turned the tide back in the favour of the adversary. Is it the lack of content behind this likable image? The rise of other parties of political left? Or simply the popular actions of the government? All in all, in rough lines, the picture of the autumn election campaign is building up.