Liberal Democracy of Slovenia

Political party in Slovenia

Liberal Democracy of Slovenia

Liberalna demokracija Slovenije

Leader| Tone Anderlič
Founded| 12 March 1994
Merger of| Liberal Democratic Party
Democratic Party
Socialist Party of Slovenia
Greens – Ecological Social Party
Headquarters| Ljubljana
Youth wing| Young Liberal Democracy
Ideology| Liberalism[1][2][3]
Social liberalism[4]
Pro-Europeanism
Political position| Centre[5] to centre-left[6]
National affiliation| LIDE-DeSUS-LDS
European affiliation| ALDE (formerly)
European Parliament group| ALDE (2004–2014)
International affiliation| Liberal International (formerly)
Colours| Light blue
National Assembly|

0 / 90

European Parliament|

0 / 8

Municipal council|

4 / 2,750

Website
http://www.lds.si

* Politics of Slovenia
* Political parties
* Elections

Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (Slovene: Liberalna demokracija Slovenije, LDS) is a social-liberal[7] political party in Slovenia. Between 1992 and 2004, it (and its main predecessor, the Liberal Democratic Party) was the largest (and ruling) party in the country. In the 2011 Slovenian parliamentary election, it failed to win entry to the Slovenian National Assembly. The party was a member of the Liberal International and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

The LDS dominated Slovenian politics during the first decade following independence. Except for a brief interruption in 2000, it held the parliamentary majority between 1994 and 2004, when it lost the election to the conservative Slovenian Democratic Party. The loss was followed by decline, infighting and political fragmentation. In the runup to the 2008 parliamentary election the LDS joined in an unofficial coalition with the Social Democrats and Zares, but lost nearly 80% of its seats, dropping from 23 to just 5 and becoming the smallest parliamentary party. In the 2011 parliamentary election on 4 December 2011, its support collapsed even further: it won only 1.48% of the vote, not reaching the parliamentary threshold of 4%.[8] It has not regained seats in parliament or a place as a major political force since, only retaining minor relevance at a local level in some municipalities.

## History

[edit]

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In 1990, the well-known Slovenian sociologist, philosopher and cultural critic Slavoj Žižek was the candidate for the Presidency of Slovenia (an auxiliary body of the President of the Republic, abolished in 1992) for one of the LDS' predecessor parties, the Union of Socialist Youth of Slovenia – Liberal Party (later the Liberal Democratic Party).

The LDS formed a part of governing coalitions of Slovenia from 1992 to 2004, with an interruption for a few months in 2000. The first Prime Minister of Slovenia from LDS was Janez Drnovšek, who later became the President of Slovenia in 2002 and was succeeded by Anton Rop, former Finance Minister.

At the 2004 European election, LDS won 21.9% of the vote, which yielded two seats in the European Parliament out of Slovenia's allocation of seven. At the 2004 elections, the LDS party suffered a considerable loss of votes. The Slovenian Democratic Party became the largest party, and the LDS went into opposition. The party held 23 seats (22.8% votes) in the National Assembly until 2007, when 12 members resigned from the party.

Following the defeat of 2004, the party suffered a succession of severe internal crises and a steady exodus of prominent members. In 2005, Anton Rop resigned as president and was succeeded by Jelko Kacin. Two years later, a group led by Matej Lahovnik and the former Secretary General of the party Gregor Golobič left the LDS and founded a new social liberal political party called Zares, while several other prominent members left for the Social Democrats, including the former Prime Minister Anton Rop. Following these events, Jelko Kacin resigned as President and was succeeded by Katarina Kresal. Following Kresal's election as president, several other prominent members, including former Health Minister Dušan Keber, decided to leave the party as well.

In 2008, the party won 5,3% of the votes and five seats, entering the centre-left coalition of Social Democrat Borut Pahor, with two ministers in the government. In the snap elections of 2011, the party failed to enter the Parliament. Due to financial difficulties, the party did not field a slate of candidates in the 2014 (or any subsequent) parliamentary elections. It has not, however, dissolved or merged with another party. In the 2022 Slovenian Presidential Elections, the LDS endorsed Ivo Vajgl, a former member. As of that year, the only offices it still held were the mayoralty and four municipal council seats in the small municipality of Markovci near Ptuj.

## Parliamentary representation

[edit]

## Prominent members

[edit]

Presidents

* Jožef Školč (1990−1992)
* Janez Drnovšek (1992−2002)
* Anton Rop (2002−2005)
* Jelko Kacin (2005−2007)
* Katarina Kresal (2007−2011)
* Iztok Podbregar (2012−2013)
* Tone Anderlič (2013−Present)

Other prominent members

* Mojca Drčar Murko
* Jože Pirjevec

Other prominent former members

* Igor Bavčar
* Alenka Bratušek[9]
* Jože Dežman
* Gregor Golobič
* Dimitrij Rupel
* Ivo Vajgl
* Slavko Ziherl
* Slavoj Žižek
* Robert Golob

## Electoral results

[edit]

### Parliament

[edit]

Election  | Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/–  | Position  | Government

|
|
|
|
|
|

1990 | 156,843  | 14.5  |

12 / 80

| +12  | 2nd  | Opposition
1992 | 278,851  | 23.5  |

22 / 90

| +10  | 1st  | Coalition
1996 | 278,883  | 27.0  |

25 / 90

| +3  | 1st  | Coalition
2000 | 390,306  | 36.3  |

34 / 90

| +9  | 1st  | Coalition
2004 | 220,848  | 22.8  |

23 / 90

| -11  | 2nd  | Opposition
2008 | 54,771  | 5.2  |

5 / 90

| -18  | 7th  | Coalition
2011 | 16,268  | 1.5  |

0 / 90

| -5  | 9th  | Extraparliamentary

## See also

[edit]

* List of liberal parties
* Liberalism in Slovenia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ José Magone (26 August 2010). Contemporary European Politics: A Comparative Introduction. Routledge. pp. 457–. ISBN 978-0-203-84639-1. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
2. ^ Paul G. Lewis (2000). Political Parties in Post-Communist Eastern Europe. Routledge. pp. 51–. ISBN 978-0-415-20182-7. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
3. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2011). "Slovenia". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
4. ^ Hloušek, Vít; Kopeček, Lubomír (2010), Origin, Ideology and Transformation of Political Parties: East-Central and Western Europe Compared, Ashgate, pp. 114–115
5. ^ Day, Alan John; East, Roger; Thomas, Richard (2002), "Liberal Democracy of Slovenia", A political and economic dictionary of Eastern Europe, Routledge, p. 331, ISBN 9780203403747, retrieved 14 November 2011
6. ^ J. Lodge (2016). "desus"+centre-left&pg=PA223 The 2004 Elections to the European Parliament. Routledge. p. 223\. ISBN 9780230523821. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
7. ^ Igor Guardiancich (21 August 2012). Pension Reforms in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe: From Post-Socialist Transition to the Global Financial Crisis. Routledge. pp. 194–. ISBN 978-1-136-22595-6.
8. ^ "Republic of Slovenia Early Elections for Deputies to the National Assembly 2011: Election results". National Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
9. ^ Slovenskenovice.si - Vse stranke premierke Bratušek in ministra Jakiča

## External links

[edit]

* Liberal Democracy of Slovenia Official site

* v
* t
* e

Political parties in Slovenia

National Assembly|

| Government|

* GS (41)
* SD (7)
* Left (5)

|

Confidence and supply|

* Italian and Hungarian national minorities (2)

Opposition|

* SDS (27)
* NSi (8)

European Parliament|

* Slovenian Democratic Party (4)
* Freedom Movement (2)
* Vesna - Green Party (1)
* Social Democrats (1)
* New Slovenia - Christian Democrats (1)

* Portal:Politics
* List of political parties
* Politics of Slovenia

* v
* t
* e

Member parties of international liberal organisations

Liberal International

* Andorra: LA
* Belgium: MR, VLD
* Bosnia and Herzegovina: LDS*
* Botswana: BMD*
* Bulgaria: DPS, NDSV
* Burkina Faso: ADF-RDA*
* Burma: NLD-LA*
* Burundi: ADR
* Cambodia: PSR
* Canada: Liberal Party
* Colombia: U*
* DR Congo: ANADER, ARC*, URC*
* Costa Rica: PML
* Côte d'Ivoire: RDR
* Croatia: HSLS
* Cuba: PLC, PSD, ULC
* Denmark: RV, Venstre
* Egypt: FEP, Ghad*
* Equatorial Guinea: UDENA
* Estonia: RE
* Ethiopia: EDP*
* Finland: Keskusta, SFP
* Georgia: RPG*
* Germany: FDP
* Gibraltar: Liberal Party
* Guatemala: MR*, PP
* Guinea: UFDG*, UFR*
* Honduras: PLH
* Hungary: MLP
* Iceland: FSF
* Indonesia: PD*
* Ireland: FF*
* Israel: Yesh Atid
* Italy: Rad, FdL*
* Kenya: LDP*
* Kosovo: PLK*
* Latvia: LPP/LC
* Lebanon: Future Movement*
* Lithuania: LCU
* Luxembourg: DP
* Madagascar: MFM*
* Malawi: UDF
* Malaysia: Gerakan*
* Mali: PCR*
* Mexico: NA*
* Moldova: PRL*
* Mongolia: IZN
* Montenegro: LSCG
* Morocco: AdL*, UC, MP
* Mozambique: PPDD*
* Netherlands: D66 , VVD
* Nicaragua: PLI*
* North Macedonia: LDP
* Norway: Venstre
* Paraguay: PLRA
* Philippines: LP
* Romania: PNL
* Russia: Yabloko
* Senegal: PDS
* Serbia: LDP
* Seychelles: SNP*
* Slovakia: ANO
* Slovenia: LDS
* South Africa: DA
* Spain: CDC
* Sri Lanka: LP
* Sweden: C, L
* Switzerland: FDP.The Liberals
* Taiwan: DPP
* Tanzania: CCW/CUF
* Thailand: DP
* Ukraine: UM*
* United Kingdom: APNI, Lib Dems
* Zambia: UNDP*

National groups:

* Brazilian Group*
* German Group
* Israeli Group
* Netherlands Group
* Catalan Group
* British Group

* observer

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party

* v
* t
* e

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party

European Parliament group: Renew Europe

Parties|

| Member parties (EU)|

* NEOS
* Open Vld
* MR
* DPS/ДПС
* HNS
* HSLS
* IDS/DDI
* Glas
* Centar
* Fokus
* EDI/Ε.ΔΗ.
* DiPa/ΔηΠα
* B
* V
* K
* RE
* Kesk./C
* RKP/SFP
* PR
* UDI
* FDP
* Liberálisok
* Momentum
* FF
* A
* +E
* RI
* LDE
* TK
* LA
* Par!
* LP
* LRLS
* DP
* D66
* VVD
* Nowoczesna
* IL
* USR
* PS
* C's
* C
* L

|

Member parties (non-EU)|

* ACC!Ó
* PLA
* ANC/ՀԱԿ
* BA/ԼՀ
* Müsavat
* PFP/ПСП
* NS
* RP/რპ
* FD/თდ
* SA/სა
* Lelo/ლელო
* Girchi-MF/გირჩი-მთ
* Droa/დროა
* Viðreisn
* AKR
* PDK
* PL
* CUB
* LPCG
* LDP/ЛДП
* V
* RPR-PARNAS/РПР-ПАРНАС
* Yabloko/Я́блоко
* PSG
* FDP/PLR
* glp/pvl
* EPU/ЄПУ
* CP/ГП
* SL/Сл
* SN/СН
* Holos/Голос
* Alliance
* Lib Dems
* Libs

Party Presidents|

* Gaston Thorn
* Willy De Clercq
* Colette Flesch
* Willy De Clercq
* Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
* Werner Hoyer
* Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
* Graham Watson
* Hans van Baalen

European Parliament
Group Presidents|

* Yvon Delbos
* René Pleven
* Cornelis Berkhouwer
* Jean Durieux [fr]
* Jean-François Pintat
* Martin Bangemann
* Simone Veil
* Valery Giscard d'Estaing
* Yves Galland
* Gijs de Vries
* Pat Cox
* Graham Watson
* Guy Verhofstadt
* Dacian Cioloș
* Stéphane Séjourné
* Valérie Hayer
* see European Parliament

* * *

European Commissioners|

* Věra Jourová
* Janez Lenarčič
* Didier Reynders
* Kadri Simson
* Margrethe Vestager
* see Von der Leyen Commission

Heads of government
at the European Council|

* Alexander De Croo (Belgium)
* Kristen Michal (Estonia)
* see European Council

Affiliated organisations|

* European Liberal Youth (LYMEC)
* European Liberal Forum

* Category

Liberal South East European Network

* Bosnia and Herzegovina: LDS
* Bulgaria: DPS, NSDV
* Croatia: HNS-LD, HSLS, IDS
* Hungary: SzDSz
* Kosovo: PLK
* North Macedonia: LPM, LDP
* Romania: PNL
* Serbia: LS
* Slovenia: LDS

Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats

* Cambodia: PSR
* Hong Kong: DP (represented through two individual members)
* Indonesia: PDI-P, PKB**
* Japan: DPJ**
* Malaysia: PGRM
* Mongolia: IZN
* Myanmar: NCUB
* Pakistan: LFP*
* Philippines: LP
* Singapore: SDP
* Sri Lanka: LP
* ROC Taiwan: DPP
* Thailand: DP

*associate member **observer

Africa Liberal Network

* Angola: PLD
* Burkina Faso: ADF-RDA
* DR Congo: ANADER
* Côte d'Ivoire: RDR
* Equatorial Guinea: UDENA
* Madagascar: MFM
* Malawi: UDF
* Morocco: MP, UC
* Mozambique: PDD
* Senegal: PDS
* Seychelles: SNP
* South Africa: DA
* Tanzania: CUF, UDP
* Tunisia: PSL
* Zambia: UNDP

Liberal Network for Latin America

* Argentina: Recrear, PPG
* Costa Rica: PML
* Guatemala: MR
* Mexico: NA
* Peru: JN

Arab Liberal Federation

* Comoros: NAC
* Egypt: DFP, FEP, GTP
* Lebanon: NLP, FM
* Morocco: MP, UC
* Sudan: LDP
* Tunisia: PR

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany

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