Initially, this was going to be the write up of PM Golob and his role in the magnificently messy end to the NATO referendum pissing contest. But stupid just kept coming. Plus, there was vacay, and things to see and people to do and… well, here we are.
Slovenian political class did us all a solid and finally departed for their vacation. However, they are also about to return to Muddy Hollows, interfrastically, In the mean time, they’ve set some ticking time-bombs that are set to explode at the height of upcoming campaign season. What follows is a short series to catch up with stupid before the storm.
Before anyone mentions it, yes, pengovsky did shamelessly lift the title for this here blogpost from an episode of the most excellent British History Podcast. You should check it out. And with that out of the way, here is the latest on the clusterfuck that is Slovenian politics.
Department of Completely Avoidable Clusterfucks Everyone Saw Coming A Mile Away
This post was supposed to be the first in a chronological series, beginning with the NATO near-miss. But since the Apex Avian somehow managed to dodge that particular bullet, we need to do a George Lucas and start in the middle of the story and then go all the way back, to the beginning.
Which brings us to the latest in the Department of Completely Avoidable Clusterfucks Everyone Saw Coming A Mile Away: The Bobnar Boondoggle.
As both readers know, the first Golob government was still very wet behind the ears when The Big Bird and interior minister Tatjana Bobnar had a massive fallout which ultimately led to her resignation and a somewhat lacklustre investigation by the anti-graft commission (KPK).
Fast-forward to 2024, when despite the obvious lack of zeal, the KPK was looking to demonstrate they are noone’s lapdog and brought in the police to investigate potential criminal aspects of the whole thing. And lo-behold, in 2024 the cops filed criminal charges against the PM. Which – although not politically fatal in this country – was not a good look then and it isn’t one now, either.
KPK would like a word
However, a couple of days ago, word leaked that KPK came up with draft final findings of their investigation. This is separate from the police investigation and KPK is now waiting parties in question to respond. Which in this case means PM Robert Golob.
Which doesn’t tell us much about the content of the findings. But it does tell us KPK came to conclusions that warrant a response, rather than simply dropping the matter. Which strongly suggests there’s a there there.
If that turns out to be the case, legal ramifications will likely be minimal. KPK has a very limited toolbox at their disposal. At most it can issue fines and look very cross. Which sucks but it also par for the course around here.
However, even if it all turns out to be a nothingburger, the opposition will scream bloody murder and demand that Golob resign, pronto. Which is not something the PM whose administration just got some better looking polling numbers, can easily afford. Not this close to an election.
Janez Janša can’t be seen giving too much credence to the KPK. After all, he hates their fucking guts (because reasons, reasons and reasons, to name but a few). But it is entirely possible that Jernej Vrtovec, the soon-to-be-appointed SDS VP for NSi Affairs will take the lead on this one. If he does, he will squeeze it for all it is worth, and then some. Bob knows he will need the airtime, seeing that he’s got his own abuse of office investigation breathing down his neck.
pengovsky fucking told you so
The Big Bird will obviously not resign. At least not over this. He might resign to facilitate 8 March as election date, but that is another matter. The larger point here is that the hissy-fit he threw over Tatjana Bobnar not playing ball is coming back to haunt him with a vengeance. As predicted.
Pengovsky would like to take credit for seeing it all coming. But to be honest, the whole thing is so monstrously obvious and stupid that is more of a reason for second-hand embarrassment than anything else.
Next: how the NATO near-miss unfolded and what kabuki theatre has to do with it
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