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| Party of Alenka Bratušek | |
|---|---|
| Name | Party of Alenka Bratušek |
| Native name | Stranka Alenke Bratušek |
| Abbreviation | SAB |
| Leader | Alenka Bratušek |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Split from | Positive Slovenia |
| Headquarters | Ljubljana |
| Ideology | Social liberalism |
| Position | Centre |
| Europarl group | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| Colors | Green, Blue |
Party of Alenka Bratušek
The Party of Alenka Bratušek is a Slovenian political party founded in 2014 by Alenka Bratušek after a split from Positive Slovenia, and it has participated in national elections, coalition negotiations, and European Parliament activities involving figures from Ljubljana, Maribor, and EU institutions. The party has been involved with Slovenian institutions such as the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court, and the Office for Prevention of Corruption while interacting with European institutions like the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union. Leaders associated with the party have engaged with regional actors including the Social Democrats, New Slovenia, and the Democratic Party of Pensioners amid debates linked to the Bank of Slovenia, Slovenian Railways, and public sector reforms.
The party was formed in 2014 after Alenka Bratušek left Positive Slovenia following internal disputes involving Zoran Janković, Milan Kučan, and Janez Janša, and it quickly entered the political landscape alongside parties such as the Social Democrats, Modern Centre Party, and New Slovenia. In its early phase the party contested the 2014 European Parliament election and the 2014 Slovenian parliamentary election, interacting with European actors including Guy Verhofstadt, Martin Schulz, and Jean-Claude Juncker while local negotiations referenced Borut Pahor, Miro Cerar, and Karl Erjavec. Throughout subsequent terms the party engaged in coalition talks with the Slovenian Democratic Party, the Alliance of Alenka Bratušek formed alliances reminiscent of arrangements involving the Democratic Party of Pensioners, United Left, and the National Party, and it confronted issues linked to the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, the Constitutional Court of Slovenia, and the President of Slovenia.
The party describes itself in the tradition of social liberalism and centrism, aligning rhetorically with European liberal currents such as those championed by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Emmanuel Macron's supporters, and liberal factions within the European Parliament. Its platform emphasizes regulatory approaches comparable to policies debated by the European Commission, fiscal measures discussed by the European Central Bank, market oversight related to the Bank of Slovenia, and social policies echoing priorities of the Council of Europe and United Nations human rights bodies. Policy proposals reference debates involving the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, and public enterprises like Slovenian Railways while positioning itself relative to parties such as the Social Democrats, the Economic and Social Council, and liberal parties across the Adriatic region.
Leadership centers on Alenka Bratušek, who previously served as Prime Minister and interacted with institutions such as the Government of Slovenia, the National Assembly, and the Office of the Prime Minister; other notable figures have included Maja Makovec Brenčič-style technocrats, former ministers with ties to the Ministry of Finance, and municipal politicians from Ljubljana and Maribor. Organizational structure includes a presidium and local branches active in municipal councils, working with entities like the Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Public Legal Records and Related Services and municipal administrations, and collaborating with parliamentary groupings in the National Assembly and committees such as the Committee on EU Affairs. Internal governance has referenced statutes similar to those used by established parties like the Social Democrats, New Slovenia, and the Slovenian Democratic Party.
Electoral contests have included the 2014 European Parliament election, the 2014 parliamentary election, subsequent local elections in Ljubljana and Maribor, and participation in coalition negotiations following votes that involved parties such as the Social Democrats, Modern Centre Party, and New Slovenia. Vote shares and seat counts were compared to results achieved by parties including the Slovenian Democratic Party, the Left, and the Democratic Party of Pensioners, with representation in the National Assembly and presence in municipal councils and delegations to the European Parliament. Performance in elections brought scrutiny from the State Election Commission, commentary from media outlets like RTV Slovenia and POP TV, and analysis by academic institutions such as the University of Ljubljana and the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The party has advocated positions on energy policy referencing the Ministry of Infrastructure, nuclear issues tied to the Krško Nuclear Power Plant, and regional projects involving the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative and transnational cooperation with Croatia and Italy. Economic policy proposals intersected with debates involving the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Slovenia, the European Central Bank, and fiscal rules discussed at the Council of the European Union, while social policy initiatives referred to the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, and public healthcare institutions. The party's stances on European integration align with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and positions similar to those of centrist liberal parties in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands, engaging with EU mechanisms such as cohesion policy, the Stability and Growth Pact, and the EU budget.
Controversies have involved leadership disputes connected to Positive Slovenia, public debates over financial oversight involving the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, media scrutiny by RTV Slovenia and commercial broadcasters, and judicial attention from the Constitutional Court and prosecutorial bodies. Critics from parties such as the Slovenian Democratic Party, the Left, and the Social Democrats have challenged the party on issues including transparency, coalition conduct, and administrative appointments tied to ministries and state-owned enterprises like Slovenian Railways. Commentary and investigative reporting by newspapers such as Delo, Dnevnik, and Žurnal have amplified disputes involving municipal administrations in Ljubljana and Maribor, regulatory scrutiny by the Competition Protection Office, and debates in the National Assembly.
Internationally, the party affiliated with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and engaged with members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and bilateral contacts in neighboring countries including Croatia, Italy, Austria, and Hungary. It has participated in European Party meetings alongside delegations from Renew Europe, liaised with liberal parties such as the Free Democratic Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the Democratic Party (Italy), and engaged with international organizations like the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the United Nations delegations. Relations have included cooperation with regional actors in the Western Balkans, involvement in EU accession discussions, and participation in transnational initiatives connected to the Adriatic region and Central European formats.