Tanja Fajon / "Slovenia's reputation has been badly tarnished"

Tanja Fajon, former foreign minister of Slovenia, accused the current government of undermining her chances of becoming the European Union’s special representative for the Sahel region. In a late afternoon statement to the media, she claimed that the country's reputation has been “very blackened” due to the withdrawal of support for her nomination. She expressed concern that Slovenia might lose its opportunity to hold high-ranking positions within the EU for some time. The controversy emerged after the current administration blocked the appointment of Fajon as the special representative. According to reports, during meetings in Brussels last week with officials from the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS), responsible for Africa, Fajon learned that both Prime Minister Janez Janša and Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer had sent letters opposing her candidacy. The rejection came despite previous assurances of support. Fajon stated that she was deeply disappointed, noting that she had observed signs of resistance even before the final decision. She emphasized that Slovenians, based on her long experience, have rarely held high-profile roles in Brussels. She warned that this setback could delay Slovenia’s ability to secure such positions for several years. She also criticized Kajzer for claiming he was unaware of her candidacy. Fajon asserted that she had informed him on June 1, the day she took office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At that time, according to her account, Kajzer actively supported her. However, when the European Council announced the selection process later in the month, Kajzer reportedly congratulated her, suggesting he was aware of her candidacy. Regarding the internal process for selecting candidates in Slovenia, Fajon noted that there were allegations of serious violations. Despite these claims, she maintained that the procedure followed was legal and proper. She pointed out that similar appointments for high-level EU roles, such as leading delegations or holding positions in international organizations, have historically occurred without formal nominations from the government. Fajon further explained that the European External Action Service had confirmed that the process was fully lawful and compliant with regulations. This reassurance, however, did not prevent the eventual withdrawal of her nomination. The decision to withdraw Fajon’s nomination came after she was informed by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, that the move had been influenced by pressure from the Slovenian government and the European People’s Party. Fajon’s position was ultimately replaced by another candidate. Kajzer issued a statement today expressing concerns over the process, stating that there were indications of serious breaches. He noted that the actual nomination for the role was submitted by the general secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is directly subordinate to Fajon, rather than by the current government. President Nataša Pirc Musar responded to the situation, expressing disappointment in the government’s handling of the matter. Her comments reflect broader dissatisfaction among opposition parties regarding how the issue was managed.