Decommissioning of the transition network

The dismantling of a transitional network has emerged as a central issue in Slovenia's political landscape, with revelations suggesting its influence spans decades and involves key figures from the country’s leftist political sphere. According to video footage released ahead of this year’s parliamentary elections, the existence of a fragmented network, where individuals linked to the Slovenian transition-era left play a pivotal role, has been confirmed. This network allegedly exploits corrupt business practices to drain public funds, though some argue these claims have long been implied through analyses such as Ed Ravnikar’s theory of “udbomafija” or Danil Slivnik’s references to the “Kučan clan.” These theories suggest that former communist elites retained informal power despite losing formal control after Slovenia gained independence. This network has historically dominated the left side of politics, with figures like Robert Golob reportedly serving as puppets within its structure. Those who deviated from the group’s alignment, such as Borut Pahor, were either marginalized or pushed aside. Right-wing governments, meanwhile, represented existential threats to this system, prompting efforts to dismantle them. The current fourth Janez Janša government faces similar challenges, with its survival depending on how effectively it can counter this influential network of corruption and kleptocratic practices. The dismantling of this network must become the government’s top political priority. Failure to do so could lead to significant difficulties in implementing policies, as members of this network actively obstruct progress at every stage. They already exert considerable pressure on the new administration, leveraging their entrenched positions in key societal subsystems. Beyond financial corruption and misuse of public funds, this network also plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion. It maintains ideological dominance over the left through media, education systems, popular culture, and civil society. Actors in these areas are part of the same network and mobilize whenever the position of leftist political options is threatened. These include street activists who previously participated in mass protests during previous Janša governments, cycling through Ljubljana and collecting signatures for referendums aimed at overturning laws passed by the current parliamentary majority. What makes this situation particularly unsustainable is the reliance on taxpayer money to fund these activities. Public funding should be redirected away from organizations whose primary purpose is ideological indoctrination and political agitation. Such groups should instead rely on voluntary contributions and donations, while state subsidies need to be cut off entirely. Critics from the left claim the new government is targeting non-governmental actors, yet they remained silent when the Golob government systematically dealt with perceived opponents, including purging police forces and pressuring smaller media outlets. This is not about revenge or retaliation, but rather about establishing fairness. Currently, the left enjoys a privileged position, with many of its activists receiving direct or indirect compensation through public funds or secure jobs in the bloated public sector. The other side lacks such advantages, making this protection unacceptable and in need of removal. Matevž Tomšič