As Slovenia Takes Over EU Presidency, Janša Criticizes Liberal Views on Central Europe
Slovenia’s Prime Minister Janez Janša has warned that imposing “imaginary European values” on central Europe could lead to the collapse of the European Union. Janša, a staunch ally of Hungary’s controversial stance on banning the promotion of homosexuality to children, made the statement as Slovenia assumed the EU presidency, which gives it control over the bloc’s agenda for the next six months.
Janša, who has faced significant political controversy, including a jail sentence for his role in Slovenia’s independence movement and a later overturned conviction for corruption, criticized the imposition of liberal values. He argued that the EU’s current challenges, such as rebuilding after the pandemic and navigating its complex relationships with the US and China, were compounded by internal tensions over differing political views between Western and Central European countries.
Speaking to European journalists, Janša drew on his experiences with the Yugoslav federation, warning that the EU’s foundation could be at risk if such ideological differences continue to be overlooked.
