sex and politics

So, the final results are in. Turnout was just below 11 percent and all but two regions were supported. Janez Janša declared victory (surprise, surprise) and when pressed over the low turnout predictably said that everyone had a chance to vote and if they didn’t, well… tough luck.

Janša being rather pleased with himself: I once caught a fish this big…

Also as predicted, Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković claimed responcibilty for the extremely low turnout in Ljubljana. I mean, he might have played a part in it, but since turnout wasn’t exactly brilliant in the rest of the country, Ljubljanchans we probably just as beffudled by the whole idea behind the referendum, or - maybe even more so - just couldn’t be bothered to vote.

In the end, the referendum result gives Janša some much needed pre-election ammo. He announced that his government will propose regional legislation again, and will do it toot-sweet. The motion is doomed to fail as he will never get a 2/3 majority in the parliament (coalition only has 49 out of 90 seats), and this will enable Janša to play the referendum angle more or
less forever, possibly even after the elections and regardless of whether he looses or wins. And that was probaby his plan all along.