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On the results of the local elections

Vrhnika, 10/26/2006  |  statement


President of the Republic Dr. Janez Drnovšek, after visiting Vrhnika primary school, also answered journalists questions on the results of local elections:

Mr. President, I would also like your comments on the results of the local elections. Were you surprised by how very successful independent lists of candidates were? They got some one third of positions over the country as a whole and, of course, the great victory of Zoran Janković in Ljubljana?

Dr. Janez Drnovšek: "That independent lists were successful did not surprise me, since parties have been in crisis for some time already and people are looking for a different approach, bypassing parties, since they want then to be able to exercise their interest more directly. I won't comment on individual results. I don't think that it's necessary, or appropriate. I hope that mayors and councillors who will lead municipal councils will fulfil their promises; that they do not then forget them, that they are honest, that they do not give precedence to their own business or other interests, but genuinely work for the benefit of the people that elected them. That is not always the case and we know a series of examples, in our own municipalities, too, of fairly unscrupulous management of assets, land parcels, that are operated for the benefit of friends and business associates and so on."

You are probably here thinking of Mr. Janković. Since these doubts ...

Dr. Janez Drnovšek: "No, I said nothing specific. I think that there are a fair number of cases throughout our municipalities and let's leave it at that.«

The Movement for Justice and Development which you head, also put up candidates at the local elections. The result, if I'm not mistaken, is two councillors. Are you satisfied with that result?

Dr. Janez Drnovšek: "The Movement for Justice and Development, which I head, did not put up candidates. Only individual members in individual municipalities were candidates. And as you saw, I played no part at all in these campaigns nor cooperated in any other way in these elections. In some places, members themselves wished to take part with their list and then organised it themselves."

That is to say, you agree with the thesis that these local elections are in a way a vote of no confidence in party politics. Mainly, is their a crisis on the left?

Dr. Janez Drnovšek: "Party politics is in crisis ain many places, in other countries, too, in western countries and in 'particracies', often involved only with themselves. People no longer feel good about that. They think that politicians are concerned only with themselves, that parties are concerned only with themselves and their own interests, positions and so on."

Do you think that this is also a problem of Liberal Democracy, the party you once led? What have you to say about its results, or the results in general, on the left, let's say?

Dr. Janez Drnovšek: "I think that this is a problem of all parties."

Mr President, in view of the fact that you say that parties are in crisis and the results of independent lists does not surprise you, what do you think could happen at the elections for the National Assembly? Do you think that independent lists could achieve good results there in two years time, too? Even to gain seats in the Assembly or form part of the Government?

Dr. Janez Drnovšek: "I don't do prognoses of what will happen in National Assembly elections in two years time."

Since your departure from party politics and the departure of Mr. Kučan, the question is often raised of a new leader. The left has clearly failed to find someone who could lead. Do you think that this is Mr. Janković? Do you think that he has the potential, do you think that he will become the new leader on the left?

Dr. Janez Drnovšek: "I haven't considered it."

Do you have no opinion?

Dr. Janez Drnovšek: "I don't do questions on who will become leader of the left."
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