New Slovenia
New Slovenia | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Ljudmila Novak |
| Founded | 4 August 2000 |
| Split from | SLS+SKD |
| Headquarters | Ljubljana |
| Ideology | Christian democracy Social conservatism[1] |
| Political position | Centre-right[2] |
| European affiliation | European People's Party |
| International affiliation | Centrist Democrat International |
| European Parliament group | European People's Party |
| Colours | Blue |
| National Assembly | 4 / 90 |
| European Parliament | 1 / 8 |
| Website | |
| http://www.nsi.si | |
The New Slovenia – Christian People's Party or simply New Slovenia, NSi (Slovene: Nova Slovenija – krščanska ljudska stranka, or only [Nova Slovenija] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) is a Christian democratic political party in Slovenia. Since 2008, it is led by Ljudmila Novak. The party was formed on 4 August 2000 following a split in the unified Slovenian People's Party and Slovene Christian Democrats (SLS+SKD) party. NSi is a member of the European People's Party (EPP) and in the European Parliament its MEP Lojze Peterle sits with the EPP Group. NSi won 4.88% of the vote at the early 2011 Slovenian parliamentary election on 4 December 2011, thus gaining 4 seats in the National Assembly.[3]
Establishment
In July 2000, Andrej Bajuk, by the time Prime Minister of a centre-right coalition, and other centrist Christian democrats disagreed with the rest of the Slovenian People's Party (SLS+SKD) over the question of a new electoral system. While Bajuk wanted the National Assembly to abandon proportional representation, the SLS+SKD party voted against any changes. Therefore, Bajuk retired from the party and created New Slovenia as his prime ministerial vehicle. Other former members of the Slovene Christian Democrats opposed to the merger of SKD and SLS, followed the foundation appeal. At elections in October 2000, the new party won 8.6% and eight seats. Thereupon, Bajuk resigned as Prime Minister and New Slovenia went into opposition.[4]
Objectives
New Slovenia has taken a staunchly Christian conservative position on some issues, advocating traditional social values and defending the position of the Catholic Church on moral questions.[1][5] It has also been opposed to same sex marriage and adoption by same sex couples, although it does support (and it also voted for) the current legislation, which gives certain rights to registered same sex couples.
In economic issues, it is generally liberal, but it defends a social market economy. It is a decidedly pro-European party.[1]
Since 2004
From 2004 to 2008, New Slovenia was part of the centre-right coalition led by Prime Minister Janez Janša.
The first European Parliament election with Slovenian participation in 2004 was won by New Slovenia which received 24% of the votes and secured two of the seven Slovenian seats.[6]
At the 2008 legislative elections, the party won only 3.4% of the popular vote and did not win any seats in the 90-seat National Assembly. After the elective failure of 2008, Bajuk announced his immediate resignation and retirement from politics. Ljudmila Novak succeeded him as party president.
At the 2011 Slovenian parliamentary election on 4 December 2011, it won 4.88% of votes, thus gaining four seats in the National Assembly.[7]
Parliamentary representation
Prominent members
- Andrej Bajuk (deceased in 2011)
- Lojze Peterle
- Ljudmila Novak
- Lovro Šturm
- Jure Zupan
- Mojca Kucler Dolinar
- Janez Drobnič (left the party in 2008)
- Andrej Capuder
References
- ^ a b c Zajc, Drago; Boh, Tomaž (2004), "Slovenia", The handbook of political change in Eastern Europe, Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 351, retrieved 9 December 2011
- ^ Fink-Hafner, Danica (2010), "Slovenia since 1989", Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989, Cambridge University Press, p. 244, retrieved 9 November 2011
- ^ "Republic of Slovenia Early Elections for Deputies to the National Assembly 2011". National Electoral Commission. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
- ^ Day, Alan John; East, Roger; Thomas, Richard (2002), "New Slovenia – Christian People's Party", A political and economic dictionary of Eastern Europe, Routledge, p. 410, retrieved 9 December 2011
- ^ Kuhar, Roman (2006), "Homosexuality as a Litmus Test for Democracy and Postmodern Value Orientations", Democratic transition in Slovenia: Value transformation, education, and media, Texas A&M University Press, p. 240, retrieved 9 December 2011
- ^ Cox, John K. (2005), Slovenia: evolving loyalties, Routledge, p. 122, retrieved 9 December 2011
- ^ "Republic of Slovenia Early Elections for Deputies to the National Assembly 2011: Election results". National Electoral Commission. 7 December 2011.
External links
| National Assembly |
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| European Parliament | |||||||
