Is this wacky woman worth paying over €200,000 per year?

Slovenia has had rather a rough ride over its choice of EU commissioner. The European Parliament, which has the power ultimately to vote down the entire Commission, has been keen to flex its muscles and grill some of the candidates not to its liking. Ultimately, most of the candidates, including Britain’s great nonentity Lord Hill, managed to survive. Not so Alenka Bratusek of Slovenia, who withdrew her candidacy for the post of Vice-President for Energy Union after a being effectively vetoed by MEPs.

So it was back to the drawing board for the small Alpine republic. The replacement for Mrs Bratusek is Violeta Bulc, the Slovenian Development Minister, who will face the music from MEPs as they assess her suitability for the transport portfolio.

However, according to Open Europe, to whose blog this article is indebted, this woman is suitable for the crackpot portfolio and nothing more. She certainly doesn’t seem to have much experience in transport matters. Even the EU Observer magazine describes her as a “political novice” who “switched to politics less than a month ago, when she was appointed minister without portfolio responsible for development, strategic projects, and cohesion.” The article also describes her as “unconventional” – and with good reason.

Firstly, she has some interesting ideas about energy generation. “Natural environmental heat can transformed directly into electrical energy,” she is quoted as saying.

Secondly, she is a qualified shaman – in other words, a medium or witch doctor. She even has a certificate to this effect after studying at a college in Scotland. She is also a fire walker.

Thirdly, she is a great believer in “the power of positive energy and pure thoughts.” This, she claims, “creates the conditions for prosperity and thrivability.” (sic)

Then there is her blog, http://www.violeta.si/ which includes an entry (26th September) entitled “The vibration of the white lions in the new era.”

However, she is clearly not a woman to be messed with, for she holds a black belt in Tae Kwan Do. Even so, it is highly disturbing that such a complete nutcase is not only going to be paid over €200,000 per year but will also have more say over the lives of the EU’s 500 million people – including the population of the UK – than our own elected representatives.

Our one hope of escape is that the European Parliament will reject her. However, given her general level of wackiness, they will no doubt decide she is just the right sort of person to become a European Commissioner. Even Peter Mandelson can’t hold a candle to a CV like hers.