ON
← Back to feed
Constitutional Court versus Parliament and the government: how do you win a match when the judges are judging against you?
Slovenia🏛️ PoliticsProgressiveOverlooked by conservatives14 days ago

Constitutional Court versus Parliament and the government: how do you win a match when the judges are judging against you?

The article discusses the political conflict between Slovenia's newly elected center-right government and the left-wing political sphere, focusing on the constitutional court's role in this struggle. It frames the situation as a battle between two ideological concepts: one rooted in socialist heritage and privileges, and the other representing liberalism and conservatism grounded in Catholic values. The author argues that while both concepts are valid, the left has historically held more societal influence due to factors like media control. However, the rise of the internet has weakened this advantage, particularly among younger generations. The constitutional court and labor unions are highlighted as key players blocking reforms aimed at shifting away from leftist policies, which the author suggests has led to stagnation and developmental lag in Slovenia.

A former constitutional judge known for her left-leaning views has taken on a new role as chief state prosecutor at the Supreme Court in Ljubljana, marking a significant shift in Slovenia's judicial landscape. Špelca Mežnar, who previously served as a constitutional judge, was sworn in as the new chief state prosecutor three days ago. Her appointment comes after she had been working as a lecturer at several universities since the end of her mandate last October. Mežnar’s new position places her within the Civil and Administrative Division of the Supreme State Prosecution Office. The appointment followed a recommendation from the Ministry of Justice, which was led by Andreja Katič of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SD) until recently. The government under Prime Minister Robert Golob formally named Mežnar as chief state prosecutor on April 23, just one month after the country’s general elections. Throughout her tenure as a constitutional judge, Mežnar was recognized for her progressive stance, particularly regarding the relationship between public and private sectors. She consistently supported measures aimed at strengthening public services, such as the allocation of concessions in education and healthcare. In separate opinions, she warned that decisions favoring private interests could lead to the erosion of publicly funded social systems. She also played a key role in a landmark ruling concerning the constitutionality of the Golobov Law on RTVS. In that decision, she voted in favor of temporarily suspending the implementation of the law, which ultimately allowed the establishment of new management bodies within the public broadcasting organization. At the time, the majority of the Constitutional Court supported the view that the current law was in compliance with the constitution. Regarding the compatibility of the role of a constitutional judge with part-time academic work, Mežnar expressed the opinion that these two roles were entirely incompatible. This stance aligned with the previous opinion of then-chairwoman of the National Council of the Republic, Urška Klakočar Zupančič. By doing so, Mežnar sought to prevent the so-called “transitional left” from using academic institutions to undermine the influence of certain political figures, notably Klemen Jaklič, who returned to academia after his term as a constitutional judge ended. Jaklič, who had previously held a constitutional judgeship, had continued academic and research activities through a part-time position during his mandate. This practice sparked controversy, as some argued that it blurred the lines between judicial duties and academic pursuits. Despite pressure, Jaklič completed his term without resigning. The Golob government appears to have ensured stability by placing Mežnar in a high-ranking position. Having taught at two non-strictly legal faculties, she was less dependent on the uncertain academic job market. This strategic move enabled her to take on a top-tier prosecutorial role, which the current government could not revoke. In this context, the phrase “No winter for Eskimo” might aptly describe the situation, suggesting a thaw in the political climate following the transition of power.

3 reports

Nova24TV logoNova24TVParty-alignedProgressiveFactual 85Objective 7015 days ago
Former far-left constitutional judge becomes state prosecutor

Former constitutional court judge Špelca Mežnar has taken on a new role as state prosecutor at the Supreme State Prosecution Office in Ljubljana. She was appointed by Golobov’s government on April 23, 2024, following her tenure as a lecturer at multiple faculties after leaving the Constitutional Court in October 2023. The article highlights her ideological alignment with the left, noting her past criticisms of the Constitutional Court’s decisions regarding public-private sector relations and her stance against the compatibility of certain judicial roles with academic work. It frames her appointment as part of a broader trend of 'degradation' of the Constitutional Court, suggesting that her background and views align with the left-wing agenda, while implying that her move to the prosecution office reflects strategic positioning rather than impartiality.

Bias read (Progressive): The article presents Špelca Mežnar as a former left-oriented constitutional judge who has been aligned with leftist positions throughout her career. It emphasizes her critical stance toward the Constitutional Court’s rulings, particularly those favoring private interests over public sectors, and her

Why factuality (85): The article provides detailed information about Špelca Mežnar’s new role as a state prosecutor, including her appointment date, previous positions, and political affiliations. It references specific events such as her time at the Constitutional Court, her stance on public vs private sector issues, a

Why objectivity (70): The tone has a somewhat critical view of the Constitutional Court and implies a left-leaning perspective, particularly when discussing Mežnar’s past decisions and their impact on public systems. The article also uses emotionally charged language like 'prava degradacija' (real degradation) which sugg

Demokracija logoDemokracijaParty-alignedProgressiveFactual 85Objective 6516 days ago
No winter for Eskimos: former constitutional judge known for left-wing views named new Attorney General

Former constitutional judge Špelca Mežnar has been appointed as the new head of the Supreme State Prosecution in Ljubljana. She previously served as a constitutional judge known for her leftist views and has now taken on a high-profile role within the judiciary. Her appointment was made by the Golob government on April 23rd, following the parliamentary elections. Mežnar has expressed support for public sector interests over private ones, particularly regarding public services like education and healthcare. She also participated in a significant decision regarding the constitutionality of the Golob government’s law on RTVS, supporting temporary suspension of implementation which allowed new management structures to take effect. Despite concerns about the compatibility of her role with academic work, she continued her duties until the end of her mandate.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames Mežnar's judicial career and decisions through a lens that emphasizes her leftist ideological stance, particularly her advocacy for public sector interests and criticism of privatization. The narrative highlights her alignment with progressive policies and contrasts this with the右

Why factuality (85): This article mirrors the first in content, providing similar facts about Mežnar’s new position and her political background. It includes the same details regarding her appointment, previous roles, and her views on public versus private sectors. While not adding new factual information, it maintains

Why objectivity (65): The article continues the narrative from the first, maintaining a similarly critical tone towards the Constitutional Court and implying a left-wing bias. It refers to her as part of a 'leftist political-ideological sphere' and frames her actions within a broader political struggle, suggesting an edi

Zanima.me logoZanima.meIndependentProgressiveFactual 60Objective 5014 days ago
Constitutional Court versus Parliament and the government: how do you win a match when the judges are judging against you?

The article discusses the political conflict between Slovenia's newly elected center-right government and the left-wing political sphere, focusing on the constitutional court's role in this struggle. It frames the situation as a battle between two ideological concepts: one rooted in socialist heritage and privileges, and the other representing liberalism and conservatism grounded in Catholic values. The author argues that while both concepts are valid, the left has historically held more societal influence due to factors like media control. However, the rise of the internet has weakened this advantage, particularly among younger generations. The constitutional court and labor unions are highlighted as key players blocking reforms aimed at shifting away from leftist policies, which the author suggests has led to stagnation and developmental lag in Slovenia.

Bias read (Progressive): The article presents the conflict as a battle between two ideologies, with clear emphasis on the historical dominance of leftist concepts and their gradual decline due to factors like the internet. It criticizes the current government for being unable to break away from the status quo maintained by左

Why factuality (60): This article diverges significantly from the others by focusing more on media influence and political ideology rather than directly reporting on Mežnar’s appointment. It discusses broader themes like the conflict between different political concepts and the role of media, but does not provide direct

Why objectivity (50): The article takes a highly ideological approach, presenting a polarized view of political ideologies and media influence. It uses strong, emotive language and frames the situation as a battle between opposing concepts, showing clear editorializing and lack of neutrality.

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories