[Video] BRIF #8: Have the pressures in Parliament crossed the line? The Government has initiated deportations (October 24, 2026)

Slovenian political discourse has intensified following recent referendums, with government officials initiating stricter border controls and local election campaigns revealing controversial candidate selections. In the eighth episode of the political program BRIF, hosts Zala Klopčič and Tim Rauter discussed these developments alongside violent unrest in European cities. The show highlighted changes in parliamentary seating, specifically the departure of two members of parliament and the subsequent refusal of their designated replacement. Parliamentary dynamics shifted this week as Boris Mijič of the Resnica party and Tea Košir of the Democrats left their seats. Mijič departed after six months in office. According to party protocol, Slavko Mohorić was next on the list to assume the mandate. However, Mohorić appeared before cameras in tears to announce he would not accept the position. This rejection leaves the question of who will replace Mijič unresolved. Complicating matters further, reports indicate that Mijič requested compensation equivalent to eighty percent of a standard parliamentary salary upon his resignation. The discussion extended to immigration policy, which the hosts noted has become more stringent following violent incidents abroad. The Slovenian Democratic Youth group released footage showing police intercepting two buses carrying migrants at the border with Croatia. Authorities stated the individuals were illegal migrants attempting to enter Slovenia. The bus drivers had turned back toward Croatia. While the hosts praised the action, they expressed hope that this represents a genuine shift in government enforcement rather than mere promotional activity. They noted that policies regarding such individuals are becoming increasingly strict. Simultaneously, videos circulated online depicting riots in Paris, Milan, and Brussels. These disturbances began as peaceful protests by young people and students but escalated into arson, vandalism of shop windows, and looting. One viral clip showed a liberal store owner reacting with shock to damage caused outside her business. Another video featured migrants defending a shop owned by a Muslim woman. The contrast between these clips fueled debate within the program about the nature of the unrest and Europe’s response. Local elections are scheduled for three weeks later, prompting intense campaigning across all municipalities. In Ljubljana and other towns, candidates face scrutiny over past conduct. In Ajdovscina, Dejan Skvarc, running for the municipal council on the Slovenian Democratic Party list, drew criticism for inappropriate comments made under posts featuring underage girls during the summer. Hosts argued that such nominations could harm the party’s reputation, particularly given its public stance against harassment. They emphasized that parties should ensure their candidates’ actions align with their stated values. In another local race, the Slovenian Democratic Party nominated Martina Ratej, a former javelin thrower, for the fifth spot on its list in the second electoral unit of Slovenske Konjice. Ratej’s athletic career ended due to a doping violation. In 2020, the World Anti-Doping Agency retested urine samples from the 2012 London Olympics and found clostebol, an anabolic steroid. Ratej initially claimed the substance entered her body accidentally through gynecological cream treatment. She appealed the test results but eventually accepted the sanction. All her competitive results between August 2012 and August 2014 were annulled, including her seventh-place finish in London. She faced a ban from competition until March 2022. Despite her history, Ratej outlined specific goals for her potential term. She pledged to advocate for better sports conditions and infrastructure in Slovenske Konjice. Her proposals include improving the local athletics stadium, constructing a track in the Dobrava district, and building a small indoor hall for winter training. She also proposed installing a covered tennis dome. Ratej stated she would work to help talented athletes advance to higher levels of competition, arguing that many local talents deserve greater municipal support to avoid abandoning their sporting ambitions due to lack of facilities.