Novo Mesto: How to prevent further tragedies?

(Photo: Delo.si)

On Saturday, October 25, 2025, a tragedy occurred in the southeast of Slovenia. A father, husband, and man who was a key link in the local community was murdered. We express our sincere condolences to everyone who mourns the loss: his family, his children, and all those whom Aleš touched along his path.

It is natural that as a community we all feel grief and compassion. What concerns us is the wave of political reactions that followed. From calls to arms to demands for immediate elections, even to the government proposing to grant the police harsh and potentially unconstitutional powers.

Volt Slovenija asks whether it is really necessary to score political points from such a tragedy, and whether such rhetoric only increases the likelihood of further violent acts. Is it wise to make decisions in a state of such emotional tension? These are decisions that will affect all citizens for years to come.

We agree that state institutions have failed and that their functioning must be improved. But shouldn’t tragedies be the reason to question the work of public services, rather than to arm them under pressure with new and potentially dangerous competences?

More security does not mean more safety

Example: The Panoptikon project identified all surveillance cameras in Slovenia. The state spent millions of euros of taxpayers’ money on “security” and monitoring, yet no study has ever shown that installing cameras is effective or has actually reduced crime.

Even worse: this system now presents a serious risk of abuse. One does not need to watch Black Mirror to see that social credit systems and travel bans are already a realityl. Cameras could in the future be used against protests and for monitoring innocent citizens. There is also a constant risk of cyberattacks and foreign infiltration, which could compromise the personal data of all citizens.

Just as the EU Commission’s “Chat Control” proposal and scanning all private communications of half a billion Europeans under the guide of “child safety” is a disproportionate measure, Volt believes that we do not need further militarization of the police, nor the introduction of more authoritarian and repressive laws.

A wake-up call, not a call to arms

For Volt, this tragedy should be a wake-up call for public services in Novo Mesto, not a call to arms. If the local police truly fear entering Roma settlements and this has been known for some time, we must ask why reinforcement from other regions was not requested earlier (in cooperation with Roma communities and other stakeholders), and why a death was necessary to prompt action. It is important that everyone in politics and public administration takes responsibility and reflects on the consequences of their actions - but without adopting excessive repressive measures.

What we want to say is that Slovenia’s criminal law is strong enough, if state institutions enforce it properly. We are open to discussion about new measures in the social and security fields, but these must not create a legal basis for expanding authoritarian powers. Authorizing surveillance and increasing the powers of intelligence services, just like mass camera usage, will not make us safer—they will merely ease the transition to a more authoritarian regime. Today, stricter measures may target Roma communities; tomorrow, when power changes, these mechanisms could be used against anyone.

Treating symptoms instead of causes

The solutions are right in front of us: the Pušča community near Murska Sobota in Prekmurje is often cited as a positive example of integration. Dedicated preschool education, volunteer fire brigades, football clubs, and access to infrastructure show what can be achieved when all stakeholders commit to overcoming social and spatial segregation..

Given such positive examples, Volt asks: why don’t we see similar integration in the southeast of the country? And what measures must we take—at both the national and local levels—to ensure that Saturday’s tragedy is not repeated?

Specifically, we propose:

• Enable members of the Roma community from Pušča and other parts of the country to participate in shaping Roma policy. Let them share best practices and help us establish a democratic model that works for all members of the Roma community.

• A proposal such as abolishing child benefits for underage mothers may be promising, but only if the new law excludes those who are already young mothers or currently pregnant. Otherwise, it causes excessive suffering and risks hunger among many children. Therefore, this measure should be accompanied by improved sex education for minors and better access to contraception.

• Ensure that existing legislation is effectively implemented.

We also call on all parties - left and right - to come together and not inflame further violence for political gain. It is dangerous to succumb to the atmosphere that some seek to create, in which all Roma are blamed for a horrific crime. Such dehumanization leads to terrible consequences, and at the same time we must ensure that any new legislation does not result in human rights violations.

Fighting fire with fire?

Volt Slovenia hopes that the government will not be blinded by the desire for PR points but will instead carefully choose the right measures.

• First, existing legal means should be used - both against the perpetrator and against those inciting violence, hatred, or criminal acts online .

• At the same time, local authorities should be required to report on past and future efforts in the areas of security and integration.

Volt Slovenia hopes that the Pušča community and representatives of local Roma communities will help calm tensions by reaching out to other communities across Slovenia, beginning a similar process of reconciliation - while the government provides municipalities with resources to build the social structures needed to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Before concluding, it must be emphasized that this issue has been smoldering for decades and that all past governments and heads of public institutions bear some responsibility for Saturday’s tragedy.

Over the past 20 years, anyone could have decided to intervene and proactively help improve the situation of the Roma community and prevent what is now happening in our country - but they did not.

And what is most worrying is that this is not the only issue that has been festering for decades - from population aging and the climate crisis to violence against women, housing problems, and the uncompetitiveness of our economy.

None of these alone will “bury” the government, but if no one acts soon, all of them together will slowly bury our country.

Volt Slovenija