President addresses BledCom participants

Bled, 2.7.2010  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, attended the 17th International Public Relations Research Symposium – BledCom. In his opening address, the President spoke about his experience in communication gained as a university professor and politician. He explained that professors basically explain the world, whereas politicians change the world with their statements. Politicians are not therefore in as comfortable a position as professors because the general public follows their action from a critical perspective.

He stressed that people expect democracy to deliver results. Since this is not always possible, they are often critical of and disappointed with democracy. The current recession is an example of this. Many important decisions today are taken outside democratic institutions and these institutions are unable to provide an adequate response to all the problems brought about by the recession. The communication of politicians with the public in these serious conditions is anything but easy, added the President. He also highlighted as an additional problem the fact that we live in a world constructed by the media, a world in which politicians must first create their public image and then present the content of their views in a manner interesting enough to be accepted by the public.

Regular two-way communication between politicians and the media is very useful in times of lengthy and serious political discussion. This process helps the media better to understand the politicians' positions and the politicians better to understand the public's interests. The President illustrated this by mentioning his positive experience in communication with the media during debates before the referendum on Slovenia's Arbitration Agreement with Croatia. Communication is an important aspect of politics in a democratic society and two-way communication is a priority or even a necessity, especially when discussing sensitive issues, concluded the President.