Robert Golob | SLEEPING WITH PENGOVSKY

Stupid Before The Storm: Golob Hit By Bobnar Boondoggle

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.

Robert Golob probably feeling it, probably (source and source)

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.

Somehow, Robert Golob Made Slovenian NATO Shit-Show Even Worse

Some men are born great. Others achieve greatness. But some are just stupid little shits willing to put national security at stake in a coalition pissing contest. This, is in essence is what Robert Golob surprise announcement of a NATO membership referendum boils down to. There’s a backstory to it, obviously. But for starters suffice it to say the highlight of Friday’s shit-show was entirely due to Robert Golob’s fragile ego.

PM Robert Golob during NATO summing in The Hague. In Slovenia he is looking down the barrel of yt another referendum. This time on defence spending and NATO. — *PM Robert Golob during NATO summing in The Hague (source)*

First, the SDS (predictably) outmanouvered him in the parliament. Then, the SD (also predictably) hung him out to dry on 5% defence spending referendum. And then the Big Bird flew (!) off the handle and made the whole shit-show even worse by calling for a referendum on NATO membership. Talk about shooting your balls off just to prove a point.

Coalition Loses Arts Referendum

That sound you hear right now is the sound of a can of whoop-ass being opened on the Golob government. In today’s referendum, the SDS-backed NO vote won with as much as 93 percent of the vote, which is about as clear a result as you can get. The coalition gambled by calling for a vote boycott and lost. Bigly.

Referendum ballot in today's vote on artists' pension bonuses — *Referendum ballot*

Maybe now Levica and GS will finally learn that calling for electoral boycotts is not really their thing. True, this referendum was an uphill battle for them from the start. But by choosing not to play and hoping for the best is not a strategy, either.

Art Pensions Referendum: Has The Coalition Even Said Thank You To US Embassy Once?

In four days this sorry little excuse for a country will vote on a referendum that is fucking bizarre. Namely, the question at hand is whether outstanding artists should get a state-funded bonus to their pensions after retirement. Things got even bizarre-er when the US embassy in Ljubljana waded in on the issue.

US Embassy in Slovenia tweeted a quote by J.D. Vance and waded into a referendum campaign on art pensions. — *Screenshot of the offending US Embassy Tweet (source)*

The provision on pensions has been on the books for nearly five decades. Since 19-goddamn-74, to be precise. Golob government, specifically Levica coordinatrix Asta Vrečko, sought to update it and fix some loopholes. But the SDS never met a referendum opportunity it didn’t like and so they went all in.

SDS Throws A Pension Tantrum

In a surefire sign that election countdown is well underway in Muddy Hollows, the SDS of Janez Janša launched an all-out offensive against the Golob government. It all has to with pensions and the ferocity makes the Battle of the Bulge look like a walk in the park.

An upside-down SDS placard, a leftover from the protest last week. All because PM Golob said words about pensions on national telly. — *Leftovers from the SDS pensions rally*

In short succession, The Party called for a referendum on pension bonuses for exceptional artists, staged a mass rally, filed to dismiss a National Assembly VP, demanded a public apology and moved for interpellation of the government, simply because the PM said words on national telly.

Poklukar Vote Results Make For A Shaky Coalition

Boštjan Poklukar will stay on as minister of the interior. At least for now. With NSi taking the lead, the opposition held his feet to the fire yesterday. But in the end the no-confidence vote fell well short of the mark as only 29 MPs voted for his dismissal.

Boštjan Poklukar, addressing the parliament and defending his record as interior minister. SD and Levica abstained, making sure the opposition didn't get a majority on the vote. — *Boštjan Poklukar defending his record (via RTVSLO)*

That said, coalition had its own skibidi moment when they only mustered 35 votes in Poklukar’s support. Meaning that even the GS came up five votes short when supporting their own minister, as SD and Levica said upfront they were going to sit this one out.

Protecting Private Poklukar

Chief of Police Senad Jušić resigned earlier today. And while interior minister Boštjan Poklukar denied it, the move was clearly designed to help save his ass in the upcoming no-confidence vote.

In a bid to save his own ass, interior minister Boštjan Poklukar accepted the - no doubt forced - resignation of Chief of Police Senad Jušić. — *Boštjan Poklukar (right) throwing Senad Jušić under the bus (source)*

SD came out swinging on Monday, saying that Jušić has to go, pronto, and only after that will they consider supporting Poklukar (or not). Not to be outdone in this powerplay, Levica followed suit yesterday, saying pretty much the same thing. While Poklukar can survive both parties’ abstentions, their votes for no confidence would seal his fate.