Slovenian PM Calls on EU to Investigate Foreign Interference in His Country’s Elections

Robert Golob (BETAPHOTO/STA/Bor Slana)

On March 19, Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Golob called on President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to investigate a case of foreign interference in Slovenia’s elections.

He went on to propose that, on the basis of this investigation, the EU should prepare a more effective response to similar situations in other member countries. Golob arrived in Brussels in the evening of March 18 to discuss the foreign interference in the parliamentary elections in Slovenia, scheduled for March 22, with key European partners.

A group of individuals from non-governmental organizations and a journalist of the Mladina paper, Borut Mekina, revealed on March 16 that associates of a foreign private intelligence company, the Black Cube, were present in Slovenia in the recent months. According to Mladina journalist’s sources, the representatives of the company met with the president of the opposition Slovenian Democratic Party, Janez Jansa, on Dec. 22.

Golob has discussed the case with the leaders of France, Ireland and The Netherlands, and with the leadership of the Renew Europe liberal political group in the European Parliament. “Regardless of who is the beneficiary and who the contractor, this is a case that we jointly view as a flagrant attack on the foundations of European democracy. After consultations, we wrote a letter to the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, calling on them to not just investigate the case, but also have Europe prepare a better response to any such case in the future,” Golob said, as quoted by the media in Slovenia.