During the week following the meeting, the prime ministers of Slovenia and the Netherlands exchange criticism on Twitter – and even the European Council was forced to intervene – Current events
The head of the Slovenian government, Janez Jansa, who is responsible for the change of president of the European Union, posted on Twitter a photo in which several Dutch MPs qualify as “puppets” of the wealthy businessman George Soros. In the meantime, the deleted tweet was saved for posterity by several Internet users.
The photo posted by Jansa is a photograph of Soros – a figure hated by European conspiracy theorists and anti-Semites – associated with several MEPs. Among them was Hans van Baalen of Mark Rutte’s VVD party, who died in April at the age of 60.
“Delicious“ tweet ”by Janez Jansa about MEPs. I condemn him in the strongest possible terms, ”wrote Mark Ruth, also on Twitter, in response.
“The government has just expressed the same opinion to the Slovenian ambassador in The Hague,” added Rutte, who recently had several disagreements with Central European leaders.
The Prime Minister of Slovenia responded to Rutta with several tweets, in particular, referring to the murder in Amsterdam of journalist Peter R. De Vries, a criminal expert.
“Well Mark, don’t waste your time on ambassadors and press freedom in Slovenia. With Sophie in ‘t Veld, protect your journalists from street killings, ”he argued.
The controversy began with the dispatch of a delegation from the European Parliament, which included Dutch MP Sophie in ‘t Veld, to Slovenia to examine issues related to media freedom and the rule of law.
In fact, this is where the online controversy began, with a tweet from the account of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, one of the various political groups in the European Parliament, condemning Yansa’s failure to attend the delegation. photo labeled “out of the office”.
In response, the Prime Minister of Slovenia wrote: “Who are you? How many times have you visited the German Chancellor, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands or the President of France? By the way, it was in the Netherlands that the last journalist was killed in the #EU. In Slovenia, such attempts were made only under the regime of your comrades from StrankaSD. ” This is the last mention of the Slovenian Social Democratic Party, which descended from the country’s communist party.
Since then, the situation has become increasingly dire. European Parliament President David Sassoli tried to ask Jansa for moderation. “We urge you to stop provocations against MEPs. Attacks on MEPs are attacks on European citizens, ”he wrote.
Once again, Jansa did not stay and replied that “Slovenia is not a colony” and accused the MEPs of “abusing the European Parliament with the aim of inciting political intrigue and senseless accusations against Slovenia.” In another tweet, accused Slovenian Social Democrats of controlling the country’s media.
Finally, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, did intervene, albeit timidly and without directly addressing Jansa. “Mutual respect between EU institutions and within the European Council is the only way forward,” he wrote, warning that “Members of the European Parliament should be able to do their jobs freely, without any pressure.” do not deserve a response from the Slovenian prime minister.
The clashes over the past 24 hours have surprised more than just their tone – remember that Jansa is the permanent presidency of the European Union, as they take place a week before the European Council meeting. That is, Rutte and Yansa will be in the same room.
Jansha has been accused of strengthening an authoritarian regime, as has his staunch ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
His detractors say the Yansha government is putting pressure on the Slovenian press, encouraging hate speech and not coping well with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jansha, on the other hand, argues that the EU adheres to a double standard of rule of law, taking a softer stance towards Western countries.
Slovenia assumed the presidency of the Council of the EU on July 1, this is the second time that a country with a population of two million has taken the helm of a bloc since its first presidency in 2008.
However, the scenario is very different from the 2008 scenario, when, in an atmosphere of true celebration, she became the first of the former republics of the former Yugoslavia to hold the presidency of the Union, already replacing Portugal and joining the completed troika of presidents. across Germany.
This time, despite celebrating 30 years of independence, Slovenia has plunged into a political crisis and the current government has already experienced two impeachment attempts this year, while weekly demonstrations have taken place over the summer demanding the resignation of the Jansa executive.
