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| New Slovenia (NSi) | |
|---|---|
| Name | New Slovenia – Christian Democrats |
| Native name | Nova Slovenija – Krščanski demokrati |
| Abbreviation | NSi |
| Leader | Matej Tonin |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Ljubljana |
| Ideology | Christian democracy, Conservatism |
| Position | Centre-right |
| European | European People's Party (associate) |
New Slovenia (NSi) is a centre-right Christian democratic political party in Slovenia founded in 2000 by splinters from the Slovenian People's Party and supporters of Janez Drnovšek's policies. The party has been led by figures such as Andreja Katič's contemporaries and Ljudmila Novak's successors and has participated in coalitions with parties like the Slovenian Democratic Party, Modern Centre Party, and Social Democrats. NSi's parliamentary presence has varied across elections including contests against Zoran Janković's Positive Slovenia and coalitional negotiations involving Miro Cerar's Cerar Cabinet.
NSi emerged in 2000 after a split from the Slovenian People's Party during a period marked by the political reconfiguration following Slovenia's 1990s transition and accession processes involving the European Union and NATO. Early figures included members linked to the Slovene Christian Democrats tradition and advocates associated with post-communist reformers who had collaborated with leaders such as Janez Drnovšek and opposed factions aligned with Andrej Bajuk. Throughout the 2000s NSi contested elections against parties like Liberal Democracy of Slovenia and later navigated coalition politics with actors including the Slovenian Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia. The party's fortunes fluctuated in the 2010s amid the rise of new movements such as SDS challengers and media controversies involving figures close to Zoran Janković and ownership disputes tied to entities like Pro Plus.
NSi officially espouses Christian democracy, social market principles associated with the European People's Party, and conservative positions on issues touching on family policy, bioethics, and regional development. The party's program references policy frameworks similar to those promoted by Angela Merkel's CDU, Jose Manuel Barroso-era European Commission priorities, and subsidiarity doctrines debated in the Council of Europe. NSi advocates for fiscal responsibility in contexts exemplified by austerity debates in countries like Greece and Spain, and supports policies to strengthen ties with institutions such as NATO and the European Union. On social questions NSi has clashed with progressive platforms advanced by groups like Freedom Movement and Levica, aligning instead with conservative currents represented by parties such as Poland's Law and Justice and Croatia's Croatian Democratic Union on select dossiers.
NSi's organizational structure features a party congress, executive board, and local branches operating across municipalities including Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, and Kranj. Key leaders through its history have included politicians who engaged with national institutions like the National Assembly (Slovenia), the Government of Slovenia, and the Office of the Prime Minister. Leadership contests have involved figures linked to parliamentary committees on finance and family policy, with some members holding ministerial portfolios in cabinets led by politicians such as Janez Janša and Miro Cerar. The party maintains youth and women's wings and cooperates with civil society organizations including faith-based groups and NGOs active in debates around legislation like the Marriage and Family Act and bioethical regulations.
NSi's electoral record spans parliamentary contests, local elections, and European Parliament races where it has competed for mandates alongside lists from parties such as SDS, SD, and LMŠ. The party achieved notable results in early 2000s and rebounded in subsequent cycles after periods of reduced representation that saw seats captured by newcomers like Alenka Bratušek's formations and Marjan Šarec's party. NSi's vote shares have been influenced by campaign dynamics involving media coverage from outlets such as POP TV and Delo, and by coalition negotiations with parties including DeSUS and SLS.
NSi has participated in governing coalitions and opposition benches, providing ministers and deputy ministers to cabinets led by coalitional partners including the Slovenian Democratic Party and the Modern Centre Party. Its members have been appointed to portfolios interfacing with institutions such as the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, and the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. Participation in government has required NSi to negotiate policy compromises with coalition partners like SDS and SD, and to respond to parliamentary confidence votes and motions of no confidence debated in the National Assembly (Slovenia).
NSi is affiliated at the European level with the European People's Party as an associate member and cooperates with like-minded parties across the European Union including CDU (Germany), ÖVP (Austria), and EPP Group allies in the European Parliament. The party engages with transatlantic organizations such as NATO and participates in inter-parliamentary forums alongside delegations from countries like Croatia, Hungary, Poland, and Italy. NSi representatives have attended conferences hosted by institutions such as the Council of Europe and the European Commission and have cultivated ties with Christian democratic parties across Central Europe.
NSi has faced controversies similar to other mainstream parties, including criticism over coalition deals with parties accused of corruption in cases involving figures from SDS and media scrutiny tied to high-profile business personalities like those associated with Mercator ownership disputes. Critics from parties such as Levica and Freedom Movement and civil society watchdogs including organizations modeled on Transparency International have challenged NSi on issues like transparency, positions on LGBT rights debated after rulings by the European Court of Human Rights, and stances during austerity discussions paralleling controversies in Greece and Spain. Internal debates have also surfaced over leadership direction and candidate selection ahead of elections involving opponents such as Zoran Janković and Marjan Šarec.