Subjects and Doubting Thomases

In the atmosphere of general chaos the bank employees could be heard giving loud instructions and checking the papers of the potential hard currency buyers in order to be sure that they are selling the goods to the "purebred citizens". This episode from the life of "the youngest European state" may not have been worth mentioning if it did not illustrate how the first day of independence divided Slovenian population into two categories: loyal subjects and doubting Thomases.

The most suspicious ones are all those who do not have Slovenian citizenship and, above all, the residents of other former Yugoslav republics (regardless of whether they are immigrant workers or just tourists). However, it turned out that the silent instigation of intolerance towards foreigners from the south cuts both ways: the clerk remained cool when a French journalist nearly collapsed in anger after being arrogantly asked to show his Slovenian citizenship when trying to reconvert the remaining Slovenian tolars into French currency. Finally, he was recommended to try his luck at the black market and risk getting arrested. The new state also settled its accounts with the immigrant workers, most of them from Bosnia: they have now become foreigners and the tolars they are earning are worth nothing back home. "We already have over 90.000 unemployed Slovenian citizens", said one of the high government officials. In other words: take it or leave it. Although "Mladina" magazine has on various occasions warned the public about increasing xenophobia, the politicians took it lying down. "Slovenians are not intolerant", said a government representative.

The announced inflation, the increase of the price of milk products, gas, petrol and electricity prices affected everyone, although the authorities were cautiously keeping the news secret in order not to spoil the very day of independence (January 15) and the festive mood. "Good news" were spread the day after.

On that solemn day, the TV viewers watched the placing of new plates on the buildings of Austrian and German embassies in Ljubljana, an Austrian representative who was beaming with joy while opening a bottle of champagne, joyful compatriots with glasses in their hands, lighting fires, dancing and singing in the streets, the prime minister Peterle with his ministers' choir crooning national songs. Interviews were made with poets and intellectuals who declared themselves Slovenians in time, and there was a programme about a faith healer who was explaining the healing effects of the new Slovenian coat of arms... One could hardly say that anybody that night felt nostalgic about the former state.

Slovenians left Yugoslavia satisfied, unlike Croatians. Of course, one can always wonder whether Slovenians ever really belonged to Yugoslavia, bearing in mind the fact that they left it without an ounce of regret and that they celebrated the disappearance of the state where they lived quite well for decades. But obviously, politics has nothing to do with love and loyalty. Like any other former Yugoslav republic, Slovenia is facing a difficult time. It hopes it has friends abroad who will help it deal with the monthly rate of inflation of around 15,4%, with over 90.000 unemployed, with the investment which has in the "cleared" GNP fallen to 18,3%, while the average income fell from DEM 630 (1989) and DEM 1020 (1991) to barely DEM 300. We should also take into account the drop in GNP of 11%, the drop in industrial production of 17% and 40% less tourists than last year, expensive public sector, enormous cost of establishing new ministries as well as huge problems in restructuring the entire production... The fact that others are in worse position is not exactly comforting.