Slovenia will recognise independent Catalonia, says deputy leader of Slovenian SD party

The deputy leader of Slovenia’s social democratic party, Jan Skoberne, is convinced that his country will be “among the first” to recognise the future Catalan republic. Following a VilaWeb piece on Spain’s fears about Slovenia recognising an independent Catalonia, the Slovenian MP tweeted this: “No need to be afraid. People of Slovenia stand with Catalonia. And I strongly believe that we will be among the first to recognise the new Republic”.

Jan Skoberne is a member of the Social Democratic Party, which has six seats in the Slovenian parliament and is a member of the governing coalition, together with the Modern Centre Party (36 MPs) and the Democratic Party of Slovenian Pensioners (10 MPs). Skoberne’s party is a member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament, together with the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC).

No need to be afraid. People of Slovenia stand with Catalonia. And I strongly believe that we will be among the first to recognize the new Republic. https://t.co/H9Cnutu2OU

— Jan Škoberne (@Jan_Skoberne) October 18, 2017

Later Skoberne replied to comments from Twitter users and he insisted that “Catalonia has the same right to self determination and consequential proclamation of independence. Terror of Spanish Government only confirms this thesis”.

Slovenia is not Catalonia. True. Nevertheless, Catalonia has the same right to self determination and consequential proclamation of independence. Terror of Spanish Government only confirms this thesis.

— Jan Škoberne (@Jan_Skoberne) October 18, 2017

It is not the first time that a Slovenian representative supports Catalonia’s right to self-determination. On October 1, the leader of Slovenia’s social democrats, Dejan Zidan, stated that “people’s right to self-determination is inalienable. This applies to Catalonia, too. I strongly condemn any violence”.

Pravica do samoodločbe naroda je neodtuljiva pravica. To velja tudi za Katalonijo. Odločno pa obsojam vsakršno nasilje. @strankaSD pic.twitter.com/7TtGWfknAz

— Dejan Židan (@ZidanDejan) October 1, 2017