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[Video] Freelancer claims that social work was carried out on Golem Island, Mahnič: "We have never had such crazy opposition"
Slovenia🏛️ PoliticsLean Progressive8/31/2026

[Video] Freelancer claims that social work was carried out on Golem Island, Mahnič: "We have never had such crazy opposition"

During a session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, a representative from the Freedom Movement compared a proposed policy requiring recipients of social assistance to perform community service with the notorious Yugoslav prison camp Goli Otok. The representative, Tereza Novak, claimed that the terminology reminded her of forced labor at Goli Otok during the Yugoslav era. This comparison sparked strong reactions from coalition members, who criticized the analogy as inappropriate and disrespectful to those who suffered under the socialist regime. Žan Mahnič from the SDS party condemned the statement as indicative of an extreme opposition and questioned the credibility of such a claim coming from a prominent figure in the Freedom Movement. Minister for Labour Anže Logar also responded, stating that the Freedom Movement was struggling to oppose the inclusion of social assistance recipients in public work programs and highlighted increased poverty levels during the previous government's tenure.

During a session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia on Tuesday, August 28, 2026, members of the Freedom Movement party raised concerns over a proposed amendment requiring recipients of social assistance to perform community service. The debate took an unexpected turn when Tereza Novak, a member of the Freedom Movement, drew a controversial comparison between the new policy and the infamous Goli Otok prison camp from the Yugoslav era. Her remarks sparked immediate backlash from coalition parties, who condemned her comments as both historically inaccurate and deeply inappropriate. Novak’s statement came during discussions surrounding the upcoming referendum on whether to link access to social benefits with participation in community work. She claimed that the terminology used in the proposal reminded her of the conditions on Goli Otok, where prisoners were allegedly forced into “community service” under the communist regime. This assertion was met with outrage from opposition figures, including SDS MP Žan Mahnič, who called the comparison absurd and noted that Goli Otok was not a place of rehabilitation but one of state violence and dehumanization. The controversy escalated quickly. Mahnič accused the Freedom Movement of displaying an alarming level of ignorance regarding historical atrocities. He criticized Novak directly, stating that her remarks revealed how far the opposition was willing to go in its rhetoric. He added that such statements were unbecoming of someone representing the Freedom Movement, which he suggested had lost its sense of decorum. Minister for Labour Anže Logar also weighed in on the issue via his social media accounts. He argued that the Freedom Movement was struggling to find ways to oppose the inclusion of social assistance recipients in public works through the referendum. He pointed out that despite record levels of employment, the government had not allocated sufficient funds for social transfers, leading to an increase in the number of citizens living below the poverty threshold during the financial crisis under the previous government. He urged voters to support the referendum in October by casting their votes four times in favor. The debate over the proposed amendment has brought to light deep divisions within Slovenian politics. While the ruling coalition sees the measure as a necessary step to ensure social responsibility among beneficiaries of welfare programs, the opposition views it as an attempt to impose undue hardship on vulnerable populations. The incident involving Novak's reference to Goli Otok has further complicated the political landscape, highlighting the sensitivity of historical memory in contemporary policy debates. The controversy has also drawn attention to the broader implications of linking social assistance with mandatory labor. Supporters argue that such measures can help reduce dependency on welfare while promoting civic engagement. Critics, however, warn that these policies risk stigmatizing individuals already facing economic hardship and could lead to exploitation rather than empowerment. As the referendum approaches, the political discourse around this issue shows no signs of abating. With both sides entrenched in their positions, the outcome of the vote will likely have lasting consequences for social policy in Slovenia. The recent controversy involving the comparison to Goli Otok underscores the intensity of the debate and the challenges ahead in finding common ground.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

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3 reports

Nova24TV logoNova24TVParty-alignedProgressiveFactual 75Objective 608/31/2026
A kind of cynicism: An expert on Novak's statement and the comparison of social assistance with Naked Island

A Slovenian politician, Tereza Novak of the Freedom Movement, compared the conditions of social assistance recipients performing mandatory community service to those on the notorious Goli Otok prison camp during Yugoslavia's communist era. Publicist Gašper Blažič criticized this comparison as cynical, arguing it ignores the oppressive nature of the system at Goli Otok. He emphasized that while the term 'socially useful work' might technically apply, the historical context makes the analogy inappropriate. The opposition party SDS condemned the statement, stating that forced labor occurred on Goli Otok, which contradicts the idea of socially beneficial work. The proposed referendum by the ruling coalition would require able-bodied individuals receiving financial aid to perform such work.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the comparison between modern social assistance requirements and historical forced labor on Goli Otok as a form of cynicism or deliberate historical amnesia. It emphasizes the oppressive nature of the communist regime and criticizes the politician for making such a comparison, a立场

Why factuality (75): The article reports on a statement by Tereza Novak regarding the conditions on Goli Otok and compares them to current social welfare policies. It cites Gašper Blažič as an expert who criticizes the comparison as unfounded and calls the statement cynical. The article also includes responses from SDS

Why objectivity (60): The article takes a critical stance toward Tereza Novak’s statement, labeling it as 'cinical' and 'intentionally silent.' It also highlights the opposition's response from SDS, but does not present both sides equally. The tone leans towards criticism of Novak, especially given her position as a repr

Nova24TV logoNova24TVParty-alignedConservativeFactual 75Objective 558/29/2026
[Video] Freelancer claims that social work was carried out on Golem Island, Mahnič: "We have never had such crazy opposition"

During a session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, a representative from the Freedom Movement compared a proposed policy requiring recipients of social assistance to perform community service with the notorious Yugoslav prison camp Goli Otok. The representative, Tereza Novak, claimed that the terminology reminded her of forced labor at Goli Otok during the Yugoslav era. This comparison sparked strong reactions from coalition members, who criticized the analogy as inappropriate and disrespectful to those who suffered under the socialist regime. Žan Mahnič from the SDS party condemned the statement as indicative of an extreme opposition and questioned the credibility of such a claim coming from a prominent figure in the Freedom Movement. Minister for Labour Anže Logar also responded, stating that the Freedom Movement was struggling to oppose the inclusion of social assistance recipients in public work programs and highlighted increased poverty levels during the previous government's tenure.

Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the comparison made by the Freedom Movement representative as inappropriate and extreme, emphasizing the historical context of Goli Otok as a site of repression rather than rehabilitation. The tone and emphasis of the responses from the coalition parties suggest a right-leaning sl

Why factuality (75): The article reports on a parliamentary debate where a member from the Svoboda party compared mandatory work for social welfare recipients to the 'Goli Otok' labor camps from Yugoslavia. It includes quotes from both the politician and her critics, including a response from the SDS group calling the c

Why objectivity (55): The tone leans towards criticism of the politician’s remarks, particularly through the use of strong language like 'nedostojno' (undignified) and the emphasis on the historical atrocities at Goli Otok. The article frames the issue as a political controversy rather than presenting a neutral discussio

Svet24 logoSvet24IndependentProgressiveFactual 70Objective 508/28/2026
The right wing has complained that for welfare recipients, the introduction of the Naked Island

The article reports that the Slovenian right-wing party Desnica has accused the 'Goli Otok' initiative of introducing measures that would benefit recipients of social assistance. The claim suggests that the initiative, which appears to be a political movement or policy proposal, is being criticized by Desnica for potentially expanding social welfare benefits.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the accusation as a criticism of a potential expansion of social support, implying that the 'Goli Otok' initiative could lead to increased benefits for recipients. This framing aligns with a left-leaning perspective that often advocates for greater social welfare programs. The use

Why factuality (70): This brief tweet-style summary confirms the claim that a politician from the Svoboda party made a controversial comparison between mandatory work for social welfare recipients and Goli Otok. It reflects the broader consensus that the comparison was made and received negative reactions. However, it l

Why objectivity (50): The message is highly polemical, using phrases like 'dvignil očitek' (raised an accusation) and implies a clear political stance against the politician’s statement. The brevity and format suggest a partisan perspective rather than neutrality.

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