Janez Janša can only laugh at such opposition.

RTV Slovenia has lost access to a six million euro liquidity loan from OTP Bank after the Hungarian lender rejected the facility following months of negotiations. The public broadcaster was seeking the funds to cover a cash flow gap caused by delayed government payments for legally mandated minority programs and music production. This rejection coincides with a recent visit by senior executives from both the Slovenian and Hungarian branches of OTP Bank to Prime Minister Janez Janša’s cabinet. According to lobbying contact records published by the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, the meeting took place on Monday, August 24. The official agenda listed in the filing concerned a draft law regarding the accessibility and use of banking resources, which the Ministry of Finance introduced into procedure earlier this summer. The broadcaster, led by board chair Natalia Gorscak, initiated talks with OTP Bank at the start of the summer for a loan secured by state legal obligations. Negotiations began to complicate in early September due to bank reservations before ultimately collapsing. RTV Slovenia stated it needed the capital because it had run out of money for Italian and Hungarian national minority programs, for which it is entitled to receive over ten million euros annually under current laws. Additionally, the Ministry of Culture withheld payment for music production. A recent budget rebalance approved by the government further reduced the broadcaster's available funds by two point five million euros, which it intended to borrow from the state unified treasury account system. The timing of the loan denial raised questions about potential political influence, given the concurrent high-level meetings between the bank and the prime minister. The opposition party SDS, which has long accused RTV Slovenia of favoring left-wing politics, called for a referendum on October 11 to abolish the broadcast fee, a key funding source for the institution. The lobbying record did not specify exactly who represented OTP Bank during the visit, noting only that Janša met with leading figures from both the Slovenian subsidiary and the parent company in Budapest. He also met with State Secretary Matej Kumerdej, who served in the SDS parliamentary group during the previous mandate. Andras Hamori has headed the Slovenian branch of OTP Bank since June last year, following its creation through the merger of Nova KBM and SKB banks. The parent company’s supervisory board is chaired by Sandor Csanyi, widely considered the wealthiest Hungarian businessman. Csanyi serves on the supervisory board of Hungarian energy major MOL and the executive committee of UEFA. His son, Peter Csanyi, has served as chief executive officer of the parent OTP Group since May last year. When asked whether the meeting discussed specific investments or credit arrangements in Slovenia, including the RTV loan, the prime minister’s office declined to comment. The draft banking law mentioned in the official meeting notes introduces a free basic payment package for consumers. It sets minimum requirements for ATM networks and bank branches based on population size and prohibits stores from refusing cash payments. Banking industry representatives have opposed these measures, arguing that the new legislation imposes high costs and conflicts with existing statutory quotas within their institutions. The ministry responsible for finance is led by Andrej Sircelj. Political commentators noted the irony of the situation, observing that Janša’s fourth government has passed its first hundred days. Critics pointed out that while the government seeks to reduce the broadcaster’s independence via the upcoming referendum, the state’s failure to disburse owed funds forced the entity to seek private financing. The opposition leader, Robert Golob, whose government collapsed after failing to form a coalition, is now leading his Freedom Movement from a shadow position. Analysts suggested that if the omnibus bill fails at the November referendum, Janša would face a significant political setback, similar to restrictions faced after blocking an EU statement on the West Bank. With Israeli elections scheduled for late October, where Benjamin Netanyahu might lose power, regional political dynamics remain fluid. The relationship between Janša and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has cooled recently, with Janša distancing himself from Orban after the latter’s electoral defeat and aligning instead with new Hungarian Premier Peter Magyar. Despite these shifts, the core conflict over media funding and political control remains central to domestic discourse.