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Tomaž Vesel Dropped Like A Hot Potato. Will Marta Kos or Tanja Fajon Swoop In?

It was six months ago, almost to the day, when PM Robert Golob announced Tomaž Vesel as his party’s pick for a post in the next European Commission. And in the face of skepticism and concerns, the Big Bird was resolute in supporting the nominee. Until Friday afternoon, that is.

Marta Kos and Tanja Fajon are leading contenders for the next EU commissioner from Slovenia after Tomaž Vesel dropped out — *(L-R: Marta Kos, Tanja Fajon, Tomaž Vesel. One is not like the other two)*

Vesel wasn’t the strongest pick to begin with. But in doing what he does best, Golob was staunchly behind his man, until the moment he threw him under the bus. And so Vesel was probably as surprised as the media were yesterday afternoon, when he found out he was stepping away from the nomination. And pengovsky is only half joking there.

Fuck Around And TEŠ 6

In a development that surprised a grand total of zero people, due to the TEŠ 6 project, the Šoštanj coal power plant is going bust. Bankrupt. Done for. Broke. Insolvent, even. The government announced yesterday that it will draft an emergency bailout legislation to safeguard the plant’s thermal energy production, vital for some 35,000 residents in the region.

Fuck around and find out meme featuring TEŠ 6 as its centrepiece. — TEŠ 6 entering the find out phase

Such is the inglorious end of one of the largest and most expensive infrastructure projects since the completion of the motorway network. That is not to say that TEŠ (and, specifically, the infamous Unit 6) will be shutting down tomorrow. But the site and the connected “coal” mine will now be on life support, indefinitely. Lest they drag down half of the Slovenian energy sector with them.

Mr. Prebilič Goes To Brussels (What Happened in the EU Election)

The votes are in and the man smiling all the way to Brussels is Janez Janša. Well, not him personally as he didn’t stand in Sunday’s EU election. But his SDS won four out of nine MEP seats for Slovenia, making the Glorious Leader a clear winner at the ballot box.

The EU election this past Sunday in gave us nine MEPs from Slovenia. — (from top left: Tomc, Zver, Tomašič, Grims, Tonin, Šarec, Joveva, Nemec, Prebilič)

PM Golob’s GS won two seats, retaining his party’s current EP representation. But two is only half of four. And even though the ruling party came within an inch of securing a third seat, which would have likely came at the expense of SDS, it is the end result that counts.

Four Referendums And An EU Vote

In case you haven’t heard, there’s an EU vote on this Sunday in Muddy Hollows. Not just Muddy Holows but this is what this here blog deals in. And since there are also a couple of referendum votes attached, it is high time pengovsky writes this shit up.

In this case, shit is not just a casual swear word. Because two of the referendum questions deal with legalisation of marijuana. Bongy Hollows, as it were. Then there is a question on changes to the voting system and – the big one – a referendum on medical aid in dying.

Notes On Slovenian Recognition of Palestine (Part 6, Finale)

After a day of tense politics, procedural manoeuvering in the parliament and dubious life choices in general, Slovenia last night recognised the State of Palestine.

Flag of Palestine was raised in front of the foreign ministry as Slovenia established formal diplomatic relations, despite Janez Janša doing everything to stop the vote in the parliament. — Palestinian flag was raised in front of the foreign ministry

Predictably, however, the more the debate dragged on, the less it was about Palestine and the more it was becoming about domestic politics, electoral soundbites and pure brinkmanship.