Following protests sparked by a fatal assault, the Slovenian government has unveiled extensive legal and policing changes.
In response to the death of Ales Sutar, who died after being attacked by a Roma community member in Novo Mesto, the Slovenian government has announced a comprehensive set of security and social-welfare reforms.
Last week, 48-year-old Ales Sutar was attacked when he went to a bar in the city center to retrieve his son, who reported being threatened by a group of Roma individuals. He sustained severe head injuries and later died in the hospital. Authorities have apprehended a 21-year-old in connection with the assault.
The incident triggered widespread demonstrations, with thousands protesting what they called government neglect of citizens and long-standing violence linked to Roma settlements. Protesters are demanding increased security measures and the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Golob.
On Wednesday, the interior and justice ministers of the country resigned, acknowledging their “objective responsibility” for the worsening security situation in southeastern Slovenia, where violence involving Roma has escalated.
The government has also announced an emergency bill that would grant police greater authority, including the power to conduct raids and remove individuals from public areas without a court order if they are deemed an immediate threat. Police will also have the authority to temporarily shut down bars or public gatherings where crimes occur or incitement to violence takes place.
Police would also be permitted to enter private property without a warrant if someone’s actions pose a significant threat to public order, and to utilize drones, video surveillance, and license-plate recognition systems in high-risk zones.
The proposed reforms also aim to restrict or confiscate social benefits from repeat offenders, impose fines by drawing from previously protected welfare payments, and eliminate child allowances for underage mothers, which Golob claims has become “a financial model that drags young girls into slavery in Roma settlements.”
Golob has asserted that the reforms are intended to combat crime and not to target any particular ethnic group. “This is not a fight against the Roma. It is a fight against crime,” he stated.
The bill, named after Ales Sutar, is expected to be presented to parliament next month and could be enacted by the end of November.