Dominika Švarc Pipan is the well-known former Justice Minister, and a figure of impressive credentials, with a PhD from the prestigious London School of Economics, she built a career as a legal advisor before entering politics. Appointed Slovenia’s Minister of Justice in June 2022 under Prime Minister Robert Golob’s government. She served until February 2024. Her resignation stemmed from the so-called Litijska Affair, a corruption case over the Ministry of Justice’s purchase of an overpriced building on Litijska Road in Ljubljana. The building was purchased at an inflated price, and was unsuitable for the purposes the Ministry needed it for. The scandal led to public outcry, with the coalition demanding her resignation. Post-resignation, she founded Lexpert Advisory. In tandem, she actively circumvents the prohibition of lobbying, and offers access to Golob and his government.

Dominika Švarc Pipan illustrates her various connections to other power brokers, as well as describes the manner in which she conducts lobbying activities in spite of those being during her legally required cooling-off period. The persons whom she specifically refers to as contacts of hers are: Tina Gaber, the First Lady; Prime Minister Robert Golob; Damir Črnčec, former State Secretary for Defense; Dr. Emilija Stojmenova, former Minister of Digital Transformation; Vojko Volk, State Secretary for National and International Security; Žiga Debeljak, President of the Management Board of SDH, Maks Helbl, President of the Management Board of GEN-I, and his wife Barbara Kolenko Helbl, the Secretary General of the Slovenian Government.

Švarc Pipan demonstrates how little independence GEN-I has, and is completely captured by Robert Golob, the former CEO. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Golob was the acting CEO (and founder). Since then, GEN-I grew into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise that is supposed to be run apolitically. According to Švarc Pipan, all decisions at GEN-I run through Golob and the Golob-appointed Board, although this is not advertised nor shown to the public. The means through which Golob retains control are said by Švarc Pipan to be appointment of people which are both indebted to him and pre-approve their actions and decisions with him, paving the way for crony capitalism.

Zoran Jankovic is the influential mayor of Ljubljana. He has been mayor for many years and started off at a company called Mercator. Since becoming mayor, Jankovic has been hit by a wave of corruption claims and investigations. Despite the apparent criminality, Jankovic has remained in his mayoral position. Milan Kucan is the former President of Slovenia, a largely symbolic title, but one that carries much prestige, and evidently – power.
According to Švarc Pipan, Jankovic and Kucan are still running the show, and Golob is their accomplice. The connections are supported by mutual commercial and political interests.