The European Parliament on Thursday sounded the alarm over “deep polarisation” in Slovenia, amid warnings on press freedom and judicial independence in the EU member state.
According to reports, Lawmakers backed a resolution with 356 votes for and 284 against, saying they were “deeply concerned about the level of public debate, the climate of hostility, distrust and deep polarisation in Slovenia, which has eroded trust in public bodies and between them”.
It further said prominent public figures and politicians, including members of the government, have to lead by example and need to ensure a respectful and civilized public debate, free from intimidation, attacks, slurs, and harassment”.
Slovenia’s right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa — whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency — has faced repeated accusations of flouting democratic norms.
Last month, following pressure from the European Union, the authorities agreed to restore funding to the country’s sole news agency, suspended since December after Jansa’s conservative government criticized its reporting.
