GOVSI podkast

Državna volilna komisija (DVK) se intenzivno pripravlja na parlamentarne volitve, ki bodo 22. marca 2026. Za nemoteno izvedbo volitev je predvideno sodelovanje približno 20.000 ljudi na skoraj 3000 voliščih po vsej Sloveniji, kar predstavlja največjo civilno akcijo v državi. V vladnem GOVSI podkastu je predsednik DVK Igor Zorčič poudaril, da je zaupanje v volilne postopke temelj legitimnosti izvoljene oblasti. »Zaupanje v volilne postopke generira zaupanje v volilni izid, zaupanje v izid pa legitimnost oblasti. Delo volilnih organov je zato izjemno pomembno.« Vse državljane je povabil, naj se volitev udeležijo v čim večjem številu, saj s tem prispevajo k legitimnosti in stabilnosti naše demokracije.
Priprave so se začele z analizo izvedbe preteklih volitev in referendumov. Poseben poudarek je bil namenjen izboljšavam postopkov, ki jih je mogoče uvesti brez spremembe zakonodaje. DVK kot izvajalski organ skrbi za natančno in transparentno uporabo veljavnih pravil ter za dodatna navodila, kjer je to potrebno.
Z voditeljico Petro Bezjak Cirman sta se pogovarjala tudi o morebitnih napakah. Pojasnil je, da do napak sicer lahko pride zaradi obsega dela in velikega števila vpletenih v volilni proces. Ključno za zaupanje je, da volilna pravila vsebujejo tudi varovalke in pravna sredstva za primer nepravilnosti. Teh je več (na primer pritožbe zoper delo volilnih organov), čeprav si na DVK želijo, da jih ne bi bilo treba uporabljati. Dodatno varovalo pa predstavlja pluralna sestava volilnih organov, ki omogoča medsebojni nadzor različnih deležnikov.
Vabljeni k ogledu pogovora na YouTube kanalu Vlade Republike Slovenije.

[ENGLISH VERSION]
Elections – The Largest Civic Operation in the Country

The National Election Commission (NEC) is intensively preparing for the parliamentary elections to be held on 22 March 2026. To ensure the smooth conduct of the elections, approximately 20,000 people will be engaged at nearly 3000 polling stations across Slovenia, making this the largest civic operation in the country. In the government GOVSI podcast, President Igor Zorčič emphasized that trust in electoral procedures is the foundation of the legitimacy of elected authority. »Trust in electoral procedures generates trust in the election result, and trust in the result generates the legitimacy of authority. The work of electoral bodies is therefore extremely important.« He invited all citizens to participate in the elections in as great numbers as possible, as this contributes to the legitimacy and stability of Slovenia’s democracy.
Preparations began with an analysis of the implementation of previous elections and referendums. Special emphasis was placed on procedural improvements that can be introduced without legislative amendments. As the implementing authority, the NEC ensures the precise and transparent application of existing rules and provides additional instructions where necessary.
In conversation with host Petra Bezjak Cirman, Zorčič also addressed the possibility of errors. He explained that errors can occur due to the scope of the work and the large number of people involved in the electoral process. What is crucial for maintaining trust is that electoral rules include safeguards and legal remedies in cases of irregularities. There are several such mechanisms (for instance appeals against the work of electoral bodies), although NEC hopes they will not need to be used. An additional safeguard is the plural composition of electoral bodies, which enables mutual oversight among different stakeholders.
You are invited to watch the conversation on the YouTube channel of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia.

Pred zimskimi olimpijskimi igrami Milano–Cortina 2026 smo v vladnem GOVSI podkastu gostili Blaža Perka, vodjo slovenske olimpijske reprezentance, in Matica Švaba, poslovnega direktorja Olimpijskega komiteja Slovenije (OKS).
Navijači kot nevidna energija športnikov
Na zimskih olimpijskih igrah bo Slovenijo predvidoma zastopalo okoli 38 športnic in športnikov v šestih panogah. Po besedah Blaža Perka so pričakovanja visoka, zlasti v smučarskih skokih, kjer slovenska ekipa v letošnji sezoni dosega vrhunske rezultate. Ena od prednosti letošnjih iger je njihova bližina Sloveniji. To omogoča številnim navijačem, da športnike podprejo v živo. »Navijači dajejo tisto nevidno dodatno energijo, ki pa jo športniki še kako čutijo,« je poudaril Perko in dodal, da je prav domača podpora lahko odločilen dejavnik v boju za odličja.
Slovenska hiša – prostor povezovanja in promocije
Milano–Cortina bodo prve zimske olimpijske igre z izrazito razpršenimi prizorišči, kar je velik logistični izziv. Kljub temu slovenska reprezentanca verjame, da bo organizacija omogočila optimalne pogoje za nastope športnikov na vseh prizoriščih. Pomemben del slovenskega olimpijskega nastopa bo tudi Slovenska hiša v Cortini d’Ampezzo. Matic Švab je poudaril, da bo hiša odprta za javnost in bo delovala kot stičišče športa, gospodarstva, turizma, kulture in diplomacije. Pod znamko I feel Slovenia bo predstavljala Slovenijo v malem ter ponujala prostor za dogodke, srečanja in navijanje.
Športniki kot najboljši ambasadorji Slovenije
Slovenska hiša bo gostila številne delegacije, poslovne dogodke in obiske uglednih gostov, pomembno vlogo pa bo imela tudi ambasadorka hiše Tina Maze. Olimpijske igre so tako priložnost ne le za športne uspehe, temveč tudi za krepitev prepoznavnosti Slovenije v svetu.
Epizodo si lahko ogledate na vladnem YouTube kanalu.
[ENGLISH VERSION]
Olympic Games Milan–Cortina: Sport, Fans and the Slovenian House as Slovenia in Miniature
Ahead of the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the Government GOVSI Podcast hosted Blaž Perko, Head of the Slovenian Olympic Team, and Matic Švab, Managing Director of the Slovenian Olympic Committee.
Fans as the Invisible Energy of Athletes
At the Winter Olympic Games, Slovenia is expected to be represented by around 38 female and male athletes across six sports disciplines. According to team leader Blaž Perko, expectations are high, particularly in ski jumping, where the Slovenian team has been achieving top results this season. Competitions will begin in the very first days after the opening ceremony, meaning Slovenian athletes will quickly be in contention for the highest places. One of the advantages of this year’s Games is their proximity to Slovenia, allowing many fans to support the athletes in person. »Fans provide that invisible extra energy which athletes can truly feel,« Perko emphasised, adding that home support can be a decisive factor in the fight for medals.
The Slovenian House – A Hub for Connection and Promotion
An important part of Slovenia’s Olympic presence will also be the Slovenian House in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Matic Švab highlighted that the House will be open to the public and will serve as a meeting point for sport, business, tourism, culture and diplomacy. Under the I feel Slovenia brand, it will present Slovenia in miniature and provide a space for events, meetings and cheering.
Athletes as Slovenia’s Best Ambassadors
The Slovenian House will host numerous delegations, business events and visits by distinguished guests, with a special role played by the House’s ambassador, Tina Maze. The Olympic Games thus represent an opportunity for sporting success, and also a chance to further strengthen Slovenia’s international visibility.
You can watch the episode on YouTube.

V novi epizodi GOVSI podkasta smo se posvetili enemu najzahtevnejših in hkrati najpomembnejših obdobij slovenske zunanje politike – dvoletnemu mandatu Slovenije kot nestalne članice Varnostnega sveta Organizacije združenih narodov. 
V studiu se je voditeljici Poloni Prešeren pridružil stalni predstavnik Republike Slovenije pri OZN, veleposlanik Samuel Žbogar, ki je v poglobljenem pogovoru osvetlil, kaj je v praksi pomenilo sodelovanje v organu, kjer so se sprejemale odločitve o najtežjih vprašanjih miru in varnosti v svetu.
Mandat Slovenije je potekal v času izjemno zaostrenih globalnih razmer, ki so jih zaznamovali konflikti v Ukrajini, Gazi in Sudanu ter številne druge, pogosto spregledane krize. Veleposlanik Žbogar je pojasnil, kako je Slovenija kot majhna država, a z jasno izoblikovanimi stališči in vrednotami, aktivno sodelovala pri razpravah, oblikovanju pobud in iskanju rešitev, tudi v okoliščinah, ko Varnostni svet zaradi globokih političnih razhajanj ni bil zmožen sprejemati odločitev. Poseben poudarek je namenil načelnosti slovenskih nastopov, doslednemu zagovarjanju mednarodnega prava, zaščite civilnega prebivalstva in odgovornosti do mednarodne skupnosti, tudi takrat, ko ta stališča niso bila najlažja ali politično najbolj udobna.
Pogovor je razkril tudi zakulisje diplomatskega dela v New Yorku, pomen usklajenega delovanja med Ljubljano in stalno misijo pri OZN ter povezovalno vlogo Slovenije kot med zahodnimi državami in t. i. svetovnim jugom. Prav ta sposobnost poslušanja in razumevanja različnih pogledov je Sloveniji prinesla ugled odgovorne in zaupanja vredne članice Varnostnega sveta, kar so ob zaključku mandata potrdile tudi številne pohvale.
Epizoda je na voljo na vseh priljubljenih platformah za podkaste ter na YouTube kanalu Vlade Republike Slovenije.
[ENGLISH VERSION]
Ambassador Žbogar: Principled Action Defined Slovenia’s Membership in the UN Security Council
In the new episode of the GOVSI podcast, we focused on one of the most demanding and at the same time most significant periods of Slovenian foreign policy – Slovenia’s two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Host Polona Prešeren was joined in the studio by Slovenia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, who in an in-depth discussion shed light on what participation in a body where decisions on the most critical issues of global peace and security are made meant in practice.
Slovenia’s mandate took place during a period of exceptionally strained global circumstances, marked by conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, as well as numerous other often overlooked crises. Ambassador Žbogar explained how Slovenia, as a small country but one with clearly defined positions and values, actively participated in debates, initiatives and the search for solutions, even in situations where deep political divisions prevented the Security Council from reaching decisions. He placed particular emphasis on the principled nature of Slovenia’s positions, its consistent advocacy of international law, the protection of civilians and responsibility towards the international community, including at times when such positions were neither the easiest nor the most politically comfortable.
The conversation also revealed the behind-the-scenes aspects of diplomatic work in New York, the importance of close coordination between Ljubljana and Slovenia’s Permanent Mission to the UN, and a bridge-builder Slovenia’s role between Western countries and the so-called Global South. This ability to listen to and understand different perspectives earned Slovenia a reputation as a responsible and trustworthy member of the Security Council, as confirmed by numerous commendations at the conclusion of its mandate.
The episode is available on all major podcast platforms and on the YouTube channel of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia.

V najnovejši epizodi podkasta GOVSI nadaljujemo s temo dezinformacij in informacijske vojne. Tokratni gost je Mykhailo Dankanych, ukrajinski veteran in strokovnjak za boj proti ruskim dezinformacijam, ki opozarja, da se informacijska fronta ne odvija le v Ukrajini, temveč tudi znotraj Evropske unije. V pogovoru z voditeljem Zoranom Potičem gost pojasni, da informacijska vojna ni ločen pojav, temveč del širše kognitivne vojne, katere cilj je širjenje kaosa, nezaupanja in razkrajanje družbene kohezije.
Priče kot najmočnejši odgovor na lažne narative
Dankanych izpostavi, da je eden najbolj učinkovitih načinov boja proti dezinformacijam pogovor z ljudmi, ki so dogodke doživeli na lastni koži. Svoje delo povezuje s projektom To Break the Fake, v okviru katerega zbira pričevanja nekdanjih ukrajinskih vojnih ujetnikov. Po njegovih besedah so prav njihove izkušnje ključne za razumevanje, kako se ruski narativi gradijo in utrjujejo skozi leta. 
Ruski narativi v Evropi in tudi v Sloveniji
Gost poudari, da Rusija informacijsko deluje tudi v evropskem medijskem prostoru. Njegova ekipa spremlja medije v različnih državah EU in išče značilne propagandne fraze, ki se ponavljajo v proruskih narativih. Med najnovejše analizirane države uvrščajo tudi Slovenijo, kjer so zaznali več virov, ki širijo ruske dezinformacijske vzorce.
»Dezinformacij ni mogoče premagati — se pa moramo upirati«
Pomembno sporočilo epizode je, da dezinformacij ni mogoče v celoti odpraviti, saj se bodo z razvojem tehnologije in umetne inteligence širile še hitreje. Kljub temu je, kot poudarja Dankanych, ključno vztrajati: izobraževati, preverjati vire in krepiti kritično mišljenje že pri otrocih. Epizodo zaključi s pozivom: »Bodite skeptični.«
Pogovor si lahko ogledate na YouTube kanalu Vlade Republike Slovenije.
[ENGLISH VERSION]
On Disinformation in Russia's War against Ukraine
In the latest episode of the GOVSI podcast our guest is Mykhailo Dankanych, a Ukrainian veteran and expert in countering Russian disinformation, who warns that the information front is not taking place only in Ukraine, but also within the European Union.
In conversation with host Zoran Potič, the guest explains that information warfare is not an isolated phenomenon, but part of a broader cognitive war, aimed at spreading chaos, distrust and undermining social cohesion.
Witnesses as the strongest response to false narratives
Dankanych highlights that one of the most effective ways to fight disinformation is to speak with people who have experienced events first-hand. He connects his work to the project To Break the Fake, through which he collects testimonies from former Ukrainian prisoners of war. According to him, their experiences are essential for understanding how Russian narratives are constructed and reinforced over time.
Russian narratives in Europe—and in Slovenia as well
The guest emphasises that Russia also operates in the European media space. His team monitors media outlets across various EU countries, searching for recurring propaganda phrases that appear in pro-Russian narratives. Among the most recently analysed countries is Slovenia, where they have identified several sources spreading patterns typical of Russian disinformation.
»Disinformation cannot be defeated — but we must resist«
A key message of the episode is that disinformation cannot be completely eliminated, as it will spread even faster with the development of technology and artificial intelligence. Nevertheless, as Dankanych stresses, it is essential to persist: to educate, verify sources and strengthen critical thinking from an early age. He concludes the episode with a simple call: »Be sceptical.«
You can watch the episode on YouTube.

V 32. epizodi GOVSI podkasta je voditeljica Polona Prešeren gostila Simona Anholta, britanskega svetovalca, raziskovalca in avtorja ter utemeljitelja termina nation brand (angleško znamka države). Pogovor v angleškem jeziku je bil posvečen ugledu držav, javnim zaznavam ter strateškemu razmišljanju o tem, kako se države uveljavljajo v mednarodnem okolju.
Anholt je poudaril, da je nacionalna podoba veliko več kot promocija turizma ali odnosi z javnostmi. Gre za področje, ki vključuje ekonomijo, mednarodno pravo, mir in varnost, zgodovino, geografijo in kulturo. Ljudje realnost doživljamo skozi zaznave, zato imajo te enako težo kot dejstva. Raziskave kažejo močno povezanost med podobo države in njenim uspehom pri turizmu, investicijah, izvozu ter diplomaciji.
Analiza skoraj milijarde podatkov v raziskavi Anholt Nation Brands Index kaže, da države z najboljšimi podobami niso nujno najbogatejše ali najmočnejše, temveč tiste, za katere javnost verjame, da pozitivno prispevajo svetu zunaj svojih meja. V tem kontekstu je posebej izpostavil Slovenijo, ki je v zadnji izdaji Good Country Indexa zasedla 8. , Estonija pa 9. mesto, kar je po njegovi oceni izjemen dosežek za tako majhni državi.
V razpravi o znamki I feel Slovenia je Anholt poudaril pomen doslednosti: znamke se ne menja pogosto, ker se javnost nanjo naveže skozi dolgoročno ponavljanje. Logotipi in slogani niso odločilni sami po sebi, temveč so učinkoviti, ko odražajo skupne cilje in avtentično ravnanje države.
Vabljeni k ogledu in poslušanju epizode podkasta!
[ENGLISH VERSION]
Simon Anholt in the GOVSI podcast: A country’s reputation is built by actions, not advertising
In the 32nd episode of the GOVSI podcast, hosted by Polona Prešeren, we welcomed Simon Anholt – a British advisor, researcher and author, and the originator of the term nation brand. The conversation, held in English, focused on the reputation of countries, public perceptions, and strategic thinking about how nations establish themselves in the international environment.
Anholt stressed that a country’s image is far more than tourism promotion or public relations. It is a field that encompasses economics, international law, peace and security, history, geography and culture. People experience reality through perceptions, which is why perceptions carry the same weight as facts. Research shows a strong link between a country’s image and its performance in tourism, investment, exports and diplomacy.
An analysis of nearly a billion data points in the Anholt Nation Brands Index shows that countries with the best reputations are not necessarily the richest or most powerful, but those that the public believes contribute positively to the world beyond their borders. In this context, he highlighted Slovenia in particular. In the latest edition of the Good Country Index, Slovenia ranked 8th and Estonia 9th – an outstanding achievement for two such small countries, in his view.
Discussing the I feel Slovenia brand, Anholt underlined the importance of consistency: a brand should not be changed frequently, because the public connects with it through long-term repetition. Logos and slogans are not decisive on their own, but they become effective when they reflect shared goals and authentic national behaviour.
The GOVSI podcast is available on all major podcast platforms and on the YouTube channel of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia.