Everyone Wins: Slovenian Referendum on the new Law

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000686

SIPDIS


UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON SI
SUBJECT: Everyone Wins: Slovenian Referendum on the new Law
on the National Radio and Television - follow-up

Ref: Ljubljana 682


1. (U) SUMMARY: On Sunday, September 25, Slovenians, by a
very slight margin, voted in favor of the new Law on
National Radio and Television. It was the expected close
result with 50.2 percent in favor and 49.1 percent opposing
the new law. Turnout was also, as expected, low, with only
30.7 percent of eligible voters going to the polls. Mail-in
ballots have yet to be counted, but they are not expected to
substantially change the balance, and everyone is claiming
victory. The Government sees the vote as a confirmation of
the law, which twice has been approved by votes in the
Parliament. The opposition sees the close result as a
warning shot across the Government's bow, saying it
demonstrates public distrust of the government. Official
results will be confirmed by October 14, and the new law
will go into effect on the 15th day after publication in the
Official Gazette. How the Government implements the law will
be the ultimate proof of its intentions. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) The initial reaction of PM Janez Jansa was that
"[these] results are yet another confirmation of the law
that was passed by two-thirds majority in the parliament."
Opposition leader and former prime minister Anton Rop
expressed that his party, Liberal Democracy (LDS),expected
this close result and he claimed the "results show that an
important part of the Slovene electoral body recognized
their [LDS's] arguments and arguments of civil society
[against the new law]."


3. (U) Splitting the difference, President Janez Drnovsek
said that Slovenes would have to wait to see how the law is
implemented, and it will be perceived negatively only if
"politic(ians) manipulate the national radio and television
through it." He expressed optimism, however, since "the
belief that Slovenia needs an independent and free media was
planted strongly in the minds of citizens through all public
discussions prior to the referendum."


3. (U) Comment: While the results of the referendum are
very close, with only around one percent more voters in
favor of the new law, the law had already been passed by the
parliament twice prior to the referendum. The first time was
through regular procedures with a simple majority voting in
favor and the second time, after the National Council used
its veto, it passed with a two-thirds majority. Various
press outlets are parsing the results, some saying voters do
not want to have to do the work of Parliament, and others
saying the close vote is a clear vote of no confidence in
the government. In a country where nearly 90 percent of the
budget is earmarked, it would not be surprising if the
Slovene taxpayer finds the expenditure of nearly 2.6 million
Euros on this referendum to have been gratuitous, something
which could reflect negatively on the opposition. Post
concurs with President Drnovsek's view that how the
Government implements the law will be the proof of its
intentions. End Comment.

ROBERTSON


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2005LJUBLJ00686 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED



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