Gregor Virant's Civic List
Encyclopedia
Gregor Virant's Civic List is a classical liberal
political party
in Slovenia
, led by Gregor Virant
.
Virant, former Minister of Public Administration in Janez Janša
's government between 2004–2008 and chairman of the civil platform Rally for the Republic (Slovene: Zbor za republiko) announced on 10 October 2011, that he would form a list to participate in the early parliamentary election
, following the fall of the government of Borut Pahor
.
The party was officially chartered on 21 October 2011 in Ljubljana. Among the supporters of the party is the entrepreneur and owner of Pipistrel
company Ivo Boscarol, who stated he will not join the party but will help as an expert counselor, and the economist and Liberal activist Rado Pezdir. The public intellectual Peter Jambrek
and jurist Tone Jerovšek, both former members of the Constitutional Court of Slovenia
and prominent members of the Rally for the Republic, also voiced their support for Virant's political project.
Prominent members include economists Janez Šušteršič, former chairman of the Office for the Protection of Competition Jani Soršak, former Minister of Transport and former vice-president of the National Assembly Marko Pavliha (former member of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
).
and Party for Sustainable Development. The responses to the creation of the new party were mixed. The Slovenian Democratic Party
, with which Virant cooperated closely in the past, though without ever being a member, called his action "unfair and treacherous". Responses from other parties were more reserved, with the Social Democrats
considering the new parties as serious competitors while Zares
, Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia
, and Slovenian National Party
welcomed the new political programs, offering a more diverse choice at the election.
The new party gained significant public support even before it was officially chartered, placing among the top three in an opinion poll by the newspaper Delo
and three other organizations. According to an opinion poll released soon after the announcement of the new party, Virant was seen as the most appropriate choice for prime minister by the plurality of voters.
Classical liberalism
Classical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, led by Gregor Virant
Gregor Virant
Gregor Virant is a Slovenian politician and public servant. He is heading the Gregor Virant's Civic List, a liberal political party, established in October 2011, as a civic list to compete on the 2011 Slovenian parliamentary election....
.
Virant, former Minister of Public Administration in Janez Janša
Janez Janša
Janez Janša is a Slovenian politician who was Prime Minister of Slovenia from November 2004 to November 2008. He has also been President of the Slovenian Democratic Party since 1993...
's government between 2004–2008 and chairman of the civil platform Rally for the Republic (Slovene: Zbor za republiko) announced on 10 October 2011, that he would form a list to participate in the early parliamentary election
Slovenian parliamentary election, 2011
A parliamentary election for the 90 deputies to the National Assembly of Slovenia will be held on 4 December 2011. This will be the first early election in Slovenia's history.-Background:...
, following the fall of the government of Borut Pahor
Borut Pahor
Borut Pahor is a Slovenian politician who has been Prime Minister of Slovenia since 2008. A longtime president of the Social Democrats party, Pahor served several terms as a member of the National Assembly and was its chairman from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, Pahor was elected as member of the European...
.
The party was officially chartered on 21 October 2011 in Ljubljana. Among the supporters of the party is the entrepreneur and owner of Pipistrel
Pipistrel
Pipistrel d.o.o Ajdovščina is a Slovenian light aircraft manufacturerbased in Ajdovščina. Its owner and director is Ivo Boscarol.- Aircraft :* Pipistrel Alpha Trainer* Pipistrel Sinus* Pipistrel Virus* Pipistrel Virus SW* Pipistrel Taurus...
company Ivo Boscarol, who stated he will not join the party but will help as an expert counselor, and the economist and Liberal activist Rado Pezdir. The public intellectual Peter Jambrek
Peter Jambrek
Peter Jambrek is a Slovenian sociologist, jurist, politician and intellectual. He is considered among the fathers of the current Slovenian Constitution and among the most influential public intellectuals in Slovenia....
and jurist Tone Jerovšek, both former members of the Constitutional Court of Slovenia
Constitutional Court of Slovenia
The Constitutional Court of Slovenia is a special court established by the Slovenian Constitution. Since its inception, the Court has been located in the city of Ljubljana.-Jurisdiction:...
and prominent members of the Rally for the Republic, also voiced their support for Virant's political project.
Prominent members include economists Janez Šušteršič, former chairman of the Office for the Protection of Competition Jani Soršak, former Minister of Transport and former vice-president of the National Assembly Marko Pavliha (former member of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia is a liberal political party in Slovenia. It is led by Katarina Kresal and is a member of the Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party...
).
Responses to the new party
Virant's decision to create a new political party came together with announcements of other new parties, such as Positive SloveniaPositive Slovenia
Positive Slovenia is a Slovenian centre-left political party, led by Zoran Janković.On 11 October 2011, Janković, the mayor of Ljubljana, announced that he would participate at the early parliamentary election, following the fall of the government of Borut Pahor. The charter of the new party was...
and Party for Sustainable Development. The responses to the creation of the new party were mixed. The Slovenian Democratic Party
Slovenian Democratic Party
The Slovenian Democratic Party , known until 2003 as the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia is a Slovenian centre-right liberal conservative and Christian democratic party...
, with which Virant cooperated closely in the past, though without ever being a member, called his action "unfair and treacherous". Responses from other parties were more reserved, with the Social Democrats
Social Democrats (Slovenia)
The Social Democrats is a centre-left political party in Slovenia, currently led by Borut Pahor. From 1993 until 2005, the party was known as the United List of Social Democrats .-Origins:...
considering the new parties as serious competitors while Zares
Zares
Zares – Social Liberals is a social-liberal political party in Slovenia. Its president is Gregor Golobič, former Secretary General of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia and former close advisor to the late Janez Drnovšek, who had previously abandoned active political involvement due to...
, Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia
Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia
The Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia is a Slovenian political party led by Karl Erjavec.DeSUS was a member of the government led by prime minister Janez Janša until 2008...
, and Slovenian National Party
Slovenian National Party
The Slovenian National Party is a extreme nationalist political party in Slovenia, led by Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti. The party is renowned for its euroscepticism and opposes Slovenia's membership in NATO...
welcomed the new political programs, offering a more diverse choice at the election.
The new party gained significant public support even before it was officially chartered, placing among the top three in an opinion poll by the newspaper Delo
Delo
Delo is the largest national daily newspaper in Slovenia. It was established on May 1st, 1959, when two newspapers Ljudska pravica and Slovenski poročevalec merged. Nowadays, it is the most influential and credible daily newspaper in Slovenia...
and three other organizations. According to an opinion poll released soon after the announcement of the new party, Virant was seen as the most appropriate choice for prime minister by the plurality of voters.