The Slovenia Times

Interior minister survives ouster motion

Politics
Razor wire fence on the border with Croatia. Photo: STA

Ljubljana, 14 November - Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar has survived an ouster motion by the opposition Democrats (SDS) accusing her of abuse of office and dereliction of duty. Bobnar dismissed the allegations as unfounded and misleading, saying she was proud of what the opposition holds against her: her consistent defence of human rights and liberties.

The ouster motion was voted down with 50 votes against and 24 in favour, while 46 votes would be needed to vote the minister out of office.

The SDS also claimed Bobnar had misled the public about illegal migrations and the consequences of the removal of the border fence, an allegation that took centre stage in Monday's debate in the National Assembly.

The SDS believes the removal of the fence is sending a message to the international community that migrants are welcome in Slovenia. SDS MP Žan Mahnič said the number of migrants will continue to rise, so Slovenia should do everything in its power to protect the southern border, but is currently doing just the opposite.

Bobnar, on the other hand, said migrations were "a constant in human society" and must be managed, which the ministry is doing.

Drawing a distinction between this government and the previous SDS-led government, she accused her predecessor and SDS member Aleš Hojs of sending out unconstitutional decrees and disproportionately encroaching on human rights and intimidating people, while this government was focusing on ensuring legality, order and security.

The opposition New Slovenia (NSi) believes the removal of the fence had not been thought through and was launched with no consideration from experts, resulting in the deterioration of Slovenia's security. The removal is politically motivated, said the NSi deputy group, also criticising Bobnar for disbanding highway police.

Responding to the claim that the decision to remove the border fence had been taken without proper analysis, Bobnar said that the original decision to build the fence in 2015/2016 was not based on a proper analysis either, it had been a political decision.

The second main charge against her - that police dragged their feet in investigating sexual abuse allegations at the Ljubljana contemporary art gallery Fotopub, is disingenuous, Bobnar said, since the investigation is steered by the prosecution, which then orders whether house searches must be conducted or evidence secured.

Bobnar was also berated for allegedly favouring presidential candidate Nataša Pirc Musar in the collection of voter signatures with a memo to administrative units that they should make public the address where the signatures can be sent. The minister retorted this has been established practice since 1997.

Coalition MPs defended Bobnar, with Tereza Novak of the Freedom Movement saying Bobnar's "efficient work is upsetting and instilling fear in the SDS, leading to the party making hasty, unfounded, and even false allegations against her".

Novak also believes the motion of no-confidence was tabled in an attempt to mobilize voters before the local elections and the triple referendum initiated by the SDS.

The Left's MP Nataša Sukič said that migrations did not spike while Bobnar was in office, but under her predecessor Aleš Hojs, so the fence, a symbol of inhumanity, being removed is not the reason behind the number of illegal crossings of the border rising.

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