Controversial Security Legislation Passed Amid Public Outcry
Slovenia's parliament has approved contentious new security legislation that critics argue effectively turns Roma neighbourhoods into designated security zones, granting police unprecedented surveillance and entry powers. The law, passed at midnight on Monday, follows public outrage after the death of Aleš Šutar, who was killed in an altercation with a 21-year-old Roma man outside a nightclub in Novo Mesto last month.
Police Powers and Public Backlash
The legislation, officially titled the Act on Urgent Measures to Ensure Public Security but commonly known as the Šutar law, allows police to enter properties and vehicles within designated security-risk areas without obtaining a court order first. Officers will also be permitted to deploy technical surveillance measures including drones and licence plate recognition systems when lives or property are considered at risk.
Prime Minister Robert Golob from the centre-left Freedom party defended the measures, insisting they target criminal activity rather than specific ethnic communities. However, human rights organisations and Roma representatives have condemned the legislation as fundamentally discriminatory.
Mensur Haliti, vice-president of the Roma Foundation for Europe, described the law as treating an entire minority as a security threat and has called for the European Commission to review its compliance with EU standards.
Political Context and International Implications
The legislation arrives ahead of crucial national elections scheduled for March, where Golob's government faces a strong challenge from the right-wing nationalist Slovenian Democratic party led by former prime minister Janez Janša. A Mediana poll for RTV Slovenia indicated significant public support for the government's approach, with over 60% of respondents backing the security measures.
Meanwhile, a left-wing coalition of political parties refused to participate in the parliamentary proceedings, labelling the legislation as repressive. The international implications are also significant, with critics warning that the law undermines the European Union's credibility in promoting democratic values and minority protections abroad.
