Lojze Peterle
Encyclopedia
Alojz "Lojze" Peterle is a Slovenia
n politician. He was the leader of the Slovene Christian Democrats
from the founding of the party in 1990 until it merged with the Slovenian People's Party
in 2000. Between 1990 and 1992, he was the president of the first freely elected Slovenian government, and he was among those who led Slovenia to independence from Yugoslavia
. He is currently a Member of the European Parliament
.
n village of Čužnja vas
near Trebnje
. He frequented the Novo mesto Grammar School. In 1967, he enrolled to the University of Ljubljana
, where he studied history and geography, and later also economy. During his student years, he started collaborating with the Christian left
intellectual circle around the journal Revija 2000.
In the 1980s, he started working at the Institute for Urban planning of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
. In the mid 1980s, he was involved in several projects of trans-regional cooperation within the Alpe-Adria
regional cooperation network.
In 1990, he was elected president of the newly founded Slovene Christian Democrats
.
of Slovenia in May 1990 after parliamentary elections of April 1990 won by the DEMOS coalition (which included Christian Democrats and was created in the opposition to the Communist rule). In 1991, the DEMOS-led Slovene Parliament declared the country's independence from Yugoslavia, in compliance with the result of a referendum
held in December the previous year. He served as prime minister until May 1992, when due to an internal crisis in the DEMOS coalition, a new coalition government under Janez Drnovšek
was established by a constructive vote of no confidence
. In the elections of 1992, the Christian Democrats gained some support and became the second largest party in a highly fragmented National Assembley, after the Liberal Democratic Party
. The Christian Democrats entered a cross-party coalition with the Liberal Democrats and the United List of Social Democrats
(former Communist Party of Slovenia) under the leadership of Janez Drnovšek
. Peterle served as deputy prime minister and foreign minister
from January 1993 until October 1994. Tensions were deep in the coalition, however, and Peterle resigned from his posts in 1994 when Drnovšek nominated Jožef Školč
, a member of his own Liberal Democratic Party, to be speaker of Parliament, against the wishes of Peterle who believed that a Christian Democrat should be the speaker. The Christian Democrats did remain in the coalition, which was often divided over specific policy issues. In 1996, Peterle called for the dismissal of foreign minister Zoran Thaler
because of his belief that Thaler did not do enough to help Slovenia's relations with Italy
.
In 1996 elections, Peterle's party suffered a decisive defeat, losing popular support to the other two centre-right parties, the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia
and the Slovene People's Party, that had remained in the opposition and had criticised what they called a "unprincipled coalition between Christian Democracy and former Communists".
Between 1996 and 2000, the Christian Democrats remained in opposition, and Peterle's leadership was frequently challenged by different fractions within the party. He nevertheless managed to remain the chairman of the Party until 2000, when the Christian Democrats merged with the Slovenian People's Party
, which had until then supported Janez Drnovšek
's third term as Prime Minister. As a consequence, Drnovšek's government fell in 2000, and Peterle became foreign minister again in the short-lived centre-right government of Andrej Bajuk
from June 2000 to November 2000.
, while the Slovenian Social Democratic Party
assumed the undisputed leadership of the centre-right opposition.
In the 2004 elections
to the European Parliament
, Peterle was elected for the New Slovenia Christian People's Party, a member of the European People's Party
(EPP). In March 2006, he was elected as Vice President of the European People's Party
for a three-year term after recovering from cancer in April 2003.
In November 2006, he announced that he will be running for President of Slovenia
in the 2007 presidential election
. He was considered the front-runner before the first round of the election, but ultimately lost in a landslide to Danilo Türk
in the second round.
He is a founder and current President of the group MEPs Against Cancer (MAC).
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...
n politician. He was the leader of the Slovene Christian Democrats
Slovene Christian Democrats
The Slovene Christian Democrats was a Christian Democrat political party in Slovenia between 1989 and 2000.It was founded as the Slovene Christian Social Movement in March of 1989. Its first president was Peter Kovačič Peršin...
from the founding of the party in 1990 until it merged with the Slovenian People's Party
Slovenian People's Party
The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000...
in 2000. Between 1990 and 1992, he was the president of the first freely elected Slovenian government, and he was among those who led Slovenia to independence from Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. He is currently a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
.
Early life
Lojze Peterle was born to a peasant family in the Lower CarniolaLower Carniola
Lower Carniola was a kreis of the historical Habsburg crown land of Carniola from 1849 till 1919 and is nowadays a traditional region of Slovenia. Its center is Novo Mesto, while other urban centers include Kočevje, Grosuplje, Krško, Trebnje, Mirna, Črnomelj, Semič, and Metlika.-See also:* Upper...
n village of Čužnja vas
Čužnja vas
Čužnja vas is a village in the hills to the southeast of Mokronog in the Mokronog-Trebelno municipality in southeastern Slovenia. The area is part of the historical region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical region....
near Trebnje
Trebnje
Trebnje is a city in Slovenia. The city lies on the Temenica River in the traditional region of Lower Carniola. The settlement developed on the main regional road and railway line from Ljubljana to Novo Mesto. The settlement had a population of about 3,520 in 2010...
. He frequented the Novo mesto Grammar School. In 1967, he enrolled to the University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With 64,000 enrolled graduate and postgraduate students, it is among the largest universities in Europe.-Beginnings:...
, where he studied history and geography, and later also economy. During his student years, he started collaborating with the Christian left
Christian left
The Christian left is a term originating in the United States, used to describe a spectrum of left-wing Christian political and social movements which largely embraces social justice....
intellectual circle around the journal Revija 2000.
In the 1980s, he started working at the Institute for Urban planning of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
Socialist Republic of Slovenia
The Socialist Republic of Slovenia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1943 until 1990...
. In the mid 1980s, he was involved in several projects of trans-regional cooperation within the Alpe-Adria
Alpe-Adria
Alpe-Adria is a bioregion in Central Europe, embracing all of Slovenia, the Austrian states of Carinthia and Styria, and the Italian regions of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia and Veneto. , it is the subject of a proposal to create the world's first organic bioregion....
regional cooperation network.
In 1990, he was elected president of the newly founded Slovene Christian Democrats
Slovene Christian Democrats
The Slovene Christian Democrats was a Christian Democrat political party in Slovenia between 1989 and 2000.It was founded as the Slovene Christian Social Movement in March of 1989. Its first president was Peter Kovačič Peršin...
.
Leader of the Christian Democrats (1990-2000)
Peterle became prime ministerPrime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Slovenia in May 1990 after parliamentary elections of April 1990 won by the DEMOS coalition (which included Christian Democrats and was created in the opposition to the Communist rule). In 1991, the DEMOS-led Slovene Parliament declared the country's independence from Yugoslavia, in compliance with the result of a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
held in December the previous year. He served as prime minister until May 1992, when due to an internal crisis in the DEMOS coalition, a new coalition government under Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek was a Slovenian liberal politician, President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Prime Minister of Slovenia and President of Slovenia . He was born in Celje, Slovenia, then the Socialist Republic of Slovenia...
was established by a constructive vote of no confidence
Constructive vote of no confidence
The constructive vote of no confidence is a variation on the motion of no confidence which allows a parliament to withdraw confidence from a head of government only if there is a positive majority for a prospective successor...
. In the elections of 1992, the Christian Democrats gained some support and became the second largest party in a highly fragmented National Assembley, after the Liberal Democratic Party
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...
. The Christian Democrats entered a cross-party coalition with the Liberal Democrats and the United List of 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:...
(former Communist Party of Slovenia) under the leadership of Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek was a Slovenian liberal politician, President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Prime Minister of Slovenia and President of Slovenia . He was born in Celje, Slovenia, then the Socialist Republic of Slovenia...
. Peterle served as deputy prime minister and foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
from January 1993 until October 1994. Tensions were deep in the coalition, however, and Peterle resigned from his posts in 1994 when Drnovšek nominated Jožef Školč
Jožef Školc
Jožef Školč is a Slovenian left liberal politician. He is currently serving as State Secretary for the Relations with NGOs in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Slovenia....
, a member of his own Liberal Democratic Party, to be speaker of Parliament, against the wishes of Peterle who believed that a Christian Democrat should be the speaker. The Christian Democrats did remain in the coalition, which was often divided over specific policy issues. In 1996, Peterle called for the dismissal of foreign minister Zoran Thaler
Zoran Thaler
Zoran Thaler is a Slovenian politician and businessman. He is a former Slovenian Foreign Minister and a former Member of European Parliament.- Political career :...
because of his belief that Thaler did not do enough to help Slovenia's relations with Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
In 1996 elections, Peterle's party suffered a decisive defeat, losing popular support to the other two centre-right parties, the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia
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...
and the Slovene People's Party, that had remained in the opposition and had criticised what they called a "unprincipled coalition between Christian Democracy and former Communists".
Between 1996 and 2000, the Christian Democrats remained in opposition, and Peterle's leadership was frequently challenged by different fractions within the party. He nevertheless managed to remain the chairman of the Party until 2000, when the Christian Democrats merged with the Slovenian People's Party
Slovenian People's Party
The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000...
, which had until then supported Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek was a Slovenian liberal politician, President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Prime Minister of Slovenia and President of Slovenia . He was born in Celje, Slovenia, then the Socialist Republic of Slovenia...
's third term as Prime Minister. As a consequence, Drnovšek's government fell in 2000, and Peterle became foreign minister again in the short-lived centre-right government of Andrej Bajuk
Andrej Bajuk
Andrej Bajuk, also known in Spanish as Andrés Bajuk was a Slovene politician and economist. He served shortly as Prime Minister of Slovenia in the year 2000, and Minister of Economy in the centre right government of Janez Janša between 2004 and 2008...
from June 2000 to November 2000.
After the elections of 2000
Due to a disagreement over the election legislation, Peterle left the Slovene People's Party shortly after its unification with the Christian Democrats and joined the newly founded New Slovenia Christian People's Party. In the elections of 2000, both of Slovenia's conservative and christian democratic parties suffered a defeat against Drnovšek's Liberal Democracy of SloveniaLiberal 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...
, while the Slovenian Social 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...
assumed the undisputed leadership of the centre-right opposition.
In the 2004 elections
European Parliament election, 2004
Elections to the European Parliament were held from 10 June 2004 to 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom...
to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, Peterle was elected for the New Slovenia Christian People's Party, a member of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
(EPP). In March 2006, he was elected as Vice President of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
for a three-year term after recovering from cancer in April 2003.
In November 2006, he announced that he will be running for President of Slovenia
President of Slovenia
The function of President of the Republic of Slovenia was established on 23 December 1991, when the National Assembly of Slovenia passed a new constitution as a result of independence from Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
in the 2007 presidential election
Slovenian presidential election, 2007
The 2007 Slovenian presidential election was held in order to elect the successor to the second President of Slovenia Janez Drnovšek for a five-year term...
. He was considered the front-runner before the first round of the election, but ultimately lost in a landslide to Danilo Türk
Danilo Türk
- Early life :Türk was born in a lower middle class family in Maribor, Slovenia . His father died when he was a child. He attended the prestigious II. Gymnasium High school in Maribor. In 1971 he enrolled to the University of Ljubljana where he studied law...
in the second round.
He is a founder and current President of the group MEPs Against Cancer (MAC).
Peterle's Government (1990-1992)
| Prime Minister Prime Minister of Slovenia There have been six Prime Ministers of Slovenia since that country gained its independence in the breakup of Yugoslavia. Unlike the President of Slovenia, who is directly elected, the Prime Minister is appointed by the National Assembly, and must control a majority there in order to... |
|
| Vice President of Government for Economic Coordination |
Jože Mencinger Jože Mencinger is a Slovenian lawyer, economist, and politician.Born in Jesenice, Slovenia, then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. After finishing the study of law at the University of Ljubljana in 1964, he obtained an MA at the University of Belgrade in 1966... (Slovenian Social Democratic Union) Slovene Christian Democrats The Slovene Christian Democrats was a Christian Democrat political party in Slovenia between 1989 and 2000.It was founded as the Slovene Christian Social Movement in March of 1989. Its first president was Peter Kovačič Peršin... ) |
| Secretary of International Cooperation (Foreign Affairs) |
Dimitrij Rupel Dimitrij Rupel is a Slovenian politician.- Biography :Rupel was born in Ljubljana, in what was then the Socialist Republic of Slovenia, into a bourgeois family of former anti-fascist political emigrants from the Julian March .After receiving a bachelor's degree in comparative literature and... (Slovenian Democratic Union Slovenian Democratic Union The Slovenian Democratic Union was a Slovenian liberal political party, active between 1989 and 1991, during the democratization and the secession of the Republic of Slovenia from Yugoslavia.... ) |
| Secretary of Interior |
Igor Bavčar Igor Bavčar is a Slovenian politician and manager. He rose to prominence during the Slovenian spring, when he served as chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, the largest independent civil society movement in the Socialist Republic of Slovenia... (Slovenian Democratic Union Slovenian Democratic Union The Slovenian Democratic Union was a Slovenian liberal political party, active between 1989 and 1991, during the democratization and the secession of the Republic of Slovenia from Yugoslavia.... ) |
| Secretary of Justice |
Slovenian Democratic Union The Slovenian Democratic Union was a Slovenian liberal political party, active between 1989 and 1991, during the democratization and the secession of the Republic of Slovenia from Yugoslavia.... ) |
| Secretary of People's Defence |
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... (Slovenian Democratic Union Slovenian Democratic Union The Slovenian Democratic Union was a Slovenian liberal political party, active between 1989 and 1991, during the democratization and the secession of the Republic of Slovenia from Yugoslavia.... ) |
| Secretary of Finance |
Slovene Christian Democrats The Slovene Christian Democrats was a Christian Democrat political party in Slovenia between 1989 and 2000.It was founded as the Slovene Christian Social Movement in March of 1989. Its first president was Peter Kovačič Peršin... ) |
| Secretary of Education |
Slovene Christian Democrats The Slovene Christian Democrats was a Christian Democrat political party in Slovenia between 1989 and 2000.It was founded as the Slovene Christian Social Movement in March of 1989. Its first president was Peter Kovačič Peršin... ) |
| Secretary of Culture |
Slovene Christian Democrats The Slovene Christian Democrats was a Christian Democrat political party in Slovenia between 1989 and 2000.It was founded as the Slovene Christian Social Movement in March of 1989. Its first president was Peter Kovačič Peršin... ) |
| Secretary of Social Affairs |
|
| Secretary of Health |
Katja Boh Katja Boh was a Slovenian sociologist, diplomat and politician.-Early life and career:She was born in a wealthy middle class family in Ljubljana, Kingdom of Yugoslavia . Her father was an Austrian Jew who had converted to Roman Catholicism, her mother was Slovene. During World War II, she was... (Slovenian Social Democratic Union) |
| Secretary of Industry |
Slovene Christian Democrats The Slovene Christian Democrats was a Christian Democrat political party in Slovenia between 1989 and 2000.It was founded as the Slovene Christian Social Movement in March of 1989. Its first president was Peter Kovačič Peršin... ) |
| Secretary of Agriculture |
Slovenian People's Party The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000... ) |
| Secretary of Environment |
Greens of Slovenia The Greens of Slovenia is a political party in Slovenia.At the parliamentary election in September 2008, the party won no seats.-External links:*... ) |
| Secretary of Transport |
|
| Secretary of Research and Technology |
Greens of Slovenia The Greens of Slovenia is a political party in Slovenia.At the parliamentary election in September 2008, the party won no seats.-External links:*... ) |
| Secretary of Information |
Jelko Kacin Jelko Kacin is a Slovenian politician and Member of the European Parliament. During the Slovenian Independence War he was the Secretary of Information of Slovenia. He founded the Slovenian Press Agency on 3 June 1991 and the war started on 27 June 1991... (Slovenian Democratic Union Slovenian Democratic Union The Slovenian Democratic Union was a Slovenian liberal political party, active between 1989 and 1991, during the democratization and the secession of the Republic of Slovenia from Yugoslavia.... ) |