STA, 4 October 2021 - The parliamentary interior affairs and justice committees urged on Monday the police and prosecution to immediately act against the organisers of unregistered rallies and against violent protesters. The Ljubljana Administrative Unit was meanwhile urged to ban rallies which could turn violent.
The session was requested by the ruling Democrats (SDS), after an unregistered mass rally against the Covid pass mandate in Ljubljana last Wednesday turned violent.
The SDS MPs believe the police and prosecution do not act effectively enough against the organisers of unregistered protests and individuals who threaten politicians.
Presenting the case on behalf of the SDS, MP Branko Grims criticised the prosecution and judiciary for not doing their job. He wondered how it was possible that they did not take action against the publicly known organisers of protests.
"In a normal state, someone who organises illegal, violent protests, who threatens with a coup and a blockade of the country, is not received by the president, but is paid a visit by criminal police," Grims said in reference to today's meeting between President Borut Pahor and Zoran Stevanović, head of the non-parliamentary Resni.ca party.
Supreme State Prosecutor Aleš Butala rejected the allegations about passivity and double standards, saying that in order to prosecute, the prosecutors need to receive data and evidence from the police.
Police Commissioner Anton Olaj disagreed, saying the prosecutors gave guidance to police. He said "the police get blamed for everything, even if you prevent them with your guidance from doing what they should".
The SDS's criticism was also directed against the State Attorney's Office.
State Attorney General Jurij Groznik however said the office had not received any proposal for filing a damages claim or a request to issue a legal opinion in connection with the latest violent protest. This means it does not have a basis to act within its jurisdiction.
Interior Minister Aleš Hojs meanwhile accused Groznik of pretending ignorance, saying it was clear who the organiser of the 29 September rally was "as he was today received by Pahor".
Hojs assured the MPs that the police will do everything in its power in the coming days to properly protect public law and order.
The coalition MPs largely expressed support for the proposed resolutions, with SDS MP Anja Bah Žibert saying they were urgent to prevent riots, while the centre-left opposition highlighted the reasons for dissatisfaction among the people.
Predrag Bakovič (SD) said the coalition MPs were talking about the protection of legal order while the government was violating it, including by not appointing European delegated prosecutors, not financing the STA or governing with decrees.
Željko Cigler of the Left said people had been "literally pushed on the streets", with the introduction of the Covid pass mandate, especially the convalescent-vaccinated (PC) rule, being the last straw.
Rudi Medved (LMŠ) believes today's debate is continuation of political pressure on the police, prosecution and judiciary. He said it was obvious that the government and coalition wished to activate Article 9 of the police tasks and powers act to ban movement of people in certain areas.
The government activated this article later in the day, as Slovenia hosts an EU-Balkans summit in the coming two days and as a protest has been announced for tomorrow.
Andrej Rajh (SAB) said that the law enforcement should first establish who finances and supports the violent protesters and provokers.
