Slovenia: Former Prime Minister Launches Smear Campaign Against Investigative Outlet Oštro and its Editor Anuška Delić
Janez Janša's history of attacking the press, including his derogatory remarks towards journalists and attempts to discredit their work, is alarming
Location: Slovenia, LjubljanaenDate: April 2, 2024
Women Press Freedom staunchly condemns former Prime Minister Janez Janša and the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) for their targeted smear campaign against the investigative news outlet Oštro and its editor-in-chief, Anuška Delić. The attempts by Janša and his affiliates to discredit and intimidate those who seek to reveal truths are part of a concerning pattern that undermines the integrity of the press and poses a direct challenge to democratic norms. The baseless attacks and unfounded allegations against Delić and Oštro threaten the foundation of a free and independent media, essential for a healthy democracy. We firmly stand by Anuška Delić and Oštro, acknowledging their courage in the face of unwarranted harassment. We urge Slovenian authorities and the international community to take immediate and decisive action to protect journalists from harassment and to uphold the principles of press freedom. Those found guilty of threatening or undermining the media's role should be held accountable to the fullest extent. Press freedom is not just a journalists' right but the public's right to access truthful and critical information.
During a press conference held on April 2, 2024, former Prime Minister Janez Janša and the leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) launched a scathing attack on Anuška Delić and Oštro, casting doubt on their legitimacy.
Janša referred to Delić as "the censor that no one elected" and accused the editor of collaborating with Věra Juorová, the Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency.
This smear attempt came after Oštro published a fact-checking report that refuted claims made by a member of the SDS youth party. The vice-president of the Slovenian Democratic Youth alleged in a YouTube video that students at Šentvid High School accused the school of left-wing indoctrination, claiming a lecture by MEP Milan Brglez was an attempt to buy votes. In its report, Oštro revealed that the school clarified that Brglez's visit was part of a planned civic education program, and there was no evidence supporting the accusation of voter buying.
Following the publication of the article, Oštro faced a wave of harassment and disinformation online, spearheaded by the SDS Twitter account.
This is not the first time Janša and the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) have targeted the press. In 2011, Delić faced baseless criminal charges after exposing connections between a neo-Nazi group and members of the SDS. In 2021, then Prime Minister Janez Janša labeled award-winning journalist Eugenija Carl and her colleague “prostitutes.” After the comment, Carl pursued legal action against Janša, winning a case against him in court.
Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with Oštro and Anuška Delić in the face of this discrediting attempt. The unwarranted allegations and harassment directed towards Delić and Oštro not only attack the credibility of independent journalism but also pose a significant threat to the fundamental principles of democracy and transparency. By attempting to discredit and silence critical voices within the press, SDS politicians demonstrate a dangerous willingness to undermine the essential role of a free press in holding power to account and safeguarding the public's right to information.
We call on the Slovenian politicians, particularly SDS, to uphold press freedom. Authorities must protect journalists from harassment and intimidation and hold accountable those responsible for targeting Oštro and its editor.
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