New Slovenia

New Slovenia – Christian Democrats (Slovene: Nova Slovenija – Krščanski demokrati, NSi) is a Christian-democratic,[5][3] conservative[3] political party in Slovenia. Since 2018, it is led by Matej Tonin. The party was formed on 4 August 2000 following a split in the unified Slovenian People's Party and Slovene Christian Democrats (SLS+SKD). NSi is a member of the European People's Party (EPP) and in the European Parliament its MEP Ljudmila Novak sits with the EPP Group. NSi won 7.16% of the vote at the 2018 Slovenian parliamentary election on 3 June 2018, thus gaining 7 seats in the National Assembly.[6]

New Slovenia – Christian Democrats

Nova Slovenija – Krščanski demokrati
LeaderMatej Tonin
Founded4 August 2000
Split fromSLS+SKD
HeadquartersLjubljana
IdeologyChristian democracy[1]
Social conservatism[1][2]
Conservatism[3]
Pro-Europeanism
Political positionCentre-right[4]
European affiliationEuropean People's Party
International affiliationCentrist Democrat International
European Parliament groupEuropean People's Party
ColoursBlue
National Assembly
7 / 90
European Parliament (Slovenian seats)
1 / 8
Mayors
12 / 212
Municipal council
243 / 2,750
Website
http://www.nsi.si

History

Establishment

In July 2000, Andrej Bajuk, by the time Prime Minister of a centre-right coalition government, 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. In the October 2000 parliamentary election, the new party won 8.6% of the vote and eight seats. Thereupon, Bajuk resigned as Prime Minister and New Slovenia went into opposition.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

In the 2014 European election, NSi ran in a joint electoral list with the Slovenian People's Party, which received 16.56% of the vote and came in second place, returning 2 MEPs.[10]

The party received 5.53% of the vote in the Slovenian parliamentary election on 13 July 2014, and won 5 seats in parliament.[11]

Ideology

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.[2][12] 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.[2]

In 2019, party leader Matej Tonin announced that the party would reposition itself in the political centre while refreshing its programme. Tonin reiterated its commitment to social market economy.[13]

Electoral performance

Parliamentary elections
Election Popular vote % of popular vote Rank Overall seats won Seat change Government
2000 93,247 8.66 5th
8 / 90
 8 Opposition
2004 88,073 9.09 4th
9 / 90
 1 Government
2008 35,774 3.40 8th
0 / 90
 9 Extraparliamentary
2011 53,758 4.88 7th
4 / 90
 4 Government 2012–2013
Opposition 2013–2014
2014 48,846 5.59 6th
5 / 90
 1 Opposition
2018 63,792 7.16 6th
7 / 90
 2 Opposition 2018–2020
Government 2020–


Prominent members

References
  1. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2018). "Slovenia". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  2. Zajc, Drago; Boh, Tomaž (2004), "Slovenia", The handbook of political change in Eastern Europe, Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 351, ISBN 9781840648546, retrieved 9 December 2011
  3. Susanne Jungerstam-Mulders (2006). Post-Communist EU Member States: Parties And Party Systems. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 215–. ISBN 978-0-7546-4712-6. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  4. Fink-Hafner, Danica (2010), "Slovenia since 1989", Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989, Cambridge University Press, p. 244, ISBN 9781139487504, retrieved 9 November 2011
  5. José Magone (26 August 2010). Contemporary European Politics: A Comparative Introduction. Routledge. p. 457–. ISBN 978-0-203-84639-1. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  6. "Predčasne volitve v Državni zbor 2018: Izidi glasovanja za celotno Slovenijo". Državna volilna komisija (in Slovenian). Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  7. 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, ISBN 9780203403747, retrieved 9 December 2011
  8. Cox, John K. (2005), Slovenia: evolving loyalties, Routledge, p. 122, ISBN 9780415274319, retrieved 9 December 2011
  9. "Republic of Slovenia Early Elections for Deputies to the National Assembly 2011: Election results". National Electoral Commission. 7 December 2011. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012.
  10. http://www.delo.si/assets/info5/20140525/EUvolitve2014/volitve.html
  11. Predčasne Volitve V Državni Zbor 2014 Republika Slovenija - Državna volilna komisija. Accessed 13 July 2014
  12. 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, ISBN 9781585445257, retrieved 9 December 2011
  13. "NSi Aims to Move to the Centre of Politics". www.total-slovenia-news.com. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
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