Europe > Southern Europe > Slovenia > Jansa gov't struggling

Slovenia: Jansa gov't struggling

2012/12/08

 Extra clashes and arrests have rocked Slovenia, with the worst seen in the country's second largest city, Maribor, where yesterday evening between 8,000 and 10,000 people protested, according to various sources.

Several people were injured in the protests against "corruption and the political elite". Yesterday's demonstrations were the largest thus far since November 26, when protests of Slovenians raging against the crisis and austerity measures began. The demonstrations were organized via social networks and targeted especially Maribor mayor Franc Kangler, who has been caught up in a number of scandals involving corruption and clientelism. This morning police reported that in the clashes between the majority violent groups and security forces, nine policemen had been injured. An in general 120 people were arrested and the town council offices severely damaged after a firebomb was thrown inside. Other government buildings in the city have as well been damaged.

Protests were as well seen in Ljubljana, Celje and a lot of other cities, but without any violent incidents of note occurring. The Facebook page with 50,000 followers who support the protests has announced that demonstrations will continue to be held until radical change is brought about in the country's economic policies.

Last Sunday's election of Borut Pahor as Slovenian president will not change anything, since he "represents an old face in a new position". Some politicians have lashed out at the media, and especially national TV, saying that they have a hand in fostering the discontent and protests through live broadcasting from the scene of the demonstrations. Today's press as well quotes a number of analysts, who say that the wave of protests may have a negative effect on the international front, since they may destabilize the Janez Jansa's conservative government and force him to render austerity policies less inflexible, while at the same time fostering a lack of confidence in international markets as to Slovenia's ability to struggle against the crisis.

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