contact persons party profile current government election information

contact persons

President	Darko KRAJNC darkok@sms.si
Adviser for international relations	Dušan SKOCIR dusans@sms.si

party profile

The Youth Party of Slovenia was established in July 2000. The establishment of our party was the reflection of dissatisfaction with the political situation at that time and with the desire to bring our policy to a higher level. We wanted to bring some new approach to the political area in Slovenia. Something fresh, something positive and something filled with young energy. It is important to stress that our party is literally a youth party. It's not a party of young people but a party for people with a fresh new outlook and vision.
After Slovenian independence, the country overcame economic problems, and almost completely brought the law system in line with the new constitution and established the necessary institutions for a democratic and civil state. But overcoming economic issues, adjusting the law system and establishing necessary institutions does not automatically lead to a modern democratic state. However, as a result of the lack of power involved in the production of the changes necessary for transition, the youth group decided to go for a political response.
In the year 2000 the party participated for the first time in the general elections, for the National Assembly, where we went above the election limit with 4,34%. And so 4 members of parliament entered into the National Assembly. In the year 2002, the party participated in the local elections where our results were even improved compared to the national assembly elections. The party began with 122 town and district councillors.

Preamble and Basic Political Values

We are certain that politics needs a bit of youth - therefore the Youth Party. Out first aim was the establishment of a political party whose name already defines the purpose of opening the politics up to the generation that is most obviously estranged of it. But not to educate some kind of offspring of high politics; the young are, like all citizens, politically completely competent as voters and as representatives. At the same time the Youth Party is not defined as a party for a specific generation. Political values we represent are values of green politics, socialist principles and the utopian belief in unlimited possibilities.

1. Culture of democracy

People have a right to express an opinion on decisions that concern them, their lives and the environment they live in. The estrangement of people from politics is the cause of distrust in the political establishment that can lead to the lack of trust in democracy itself. The cause of this estrangement is politics itself. Therefore we are trying to increase the public involvement and control on all levels of the regime and we persist in the full and perpetual responsibility of political representatives of the people who voted for them. We support the notion that people should have a right to vote even at an earlier age, and the equal participation of all people in the political process, no matter if they are citizens of Slovenia or not. Equally important for democratic life, is the basic role that civil organizations and all the new forms of political organizations play.

2. Social equality

A society can be successful only if all the members share its profits. There is no other way. Therefore, it is our duty to ensure that all the riches society produces, and bounty from the environment, are distributed equally among all the members of society. We do not accept any compromises concerning welfare state and social rights: in the light of the existing social differences, social rights must only be increased and certainly not decreased. We do not see the progress in development that would bring the increase of social riches and at the same time put any social class of people in a worse position.

3. Environmentally conscious

The human society must accept responsibility towards non-human beings and environment. This responsibility comes from the fact that our lives depend on nature, as well as from the value we attribute to nature and its living beings. The fundamental principle of development is permanence: the advantage we have by using natural recourses must be subject to benefits of the future generation, and not abused in their damage. Therefore we encourage the green foreign policy - the straightforward and active involvement in the key international environmentalist initiatives and conventions, without analysing the current economic benefits. The strategic motto of agricultural policies should be the harmony with environment and natural agriculture. The value of diversity and numbers of wildlife is far higher than the direct damage it can cause. The access to natural environments is everyone's right, no matter who owns the land. We do not se the progress in the development that increases the mutual public wealth on one hand, with long-term degradation of natural environment on the other.

4. Non-violence

The creation of the culture of non-violence is a survival strategy. Because of global expansion of weapons and their global range this strategy is the only one which is effective. If we defend pacifist values, this in no way excludes the right to defend oneself and defend others who find themselves in dead-end situations. In our opinion, the long-lasting peace will not come by signing military coalition treaties and by strengthening defence forces, but with a change in our minds and by prevention of the material reasons for wars, where poverty and abuse of the countries of the third world are two most common reasons. The promotion of peace and non-violence, also on interpersonal level, must be one of the key elements of civic education. We will continue to defend neutrality and will oppose any kind of military action in foreign countries. The share of GNP for the financing of the Ministry of Defence should not be increased. We support the destruction of the weapons of mass destruction and we are completely against this kind of weaponry on our territory, be it land or sea. We are in favour of the zero tolerance policy for family, sexual and school violence.

5. Equality of the sexes

Concerning political positions, income and spare time, women are still in an inferior position to men. The formal equality is still not the usual practice; therefore, we must pay special attention to the informal obstacles that women must face in professional, private and political life. We encourage the special legal protection, which would give women the equal right to opportunities and representation. The incentive for female representative quotas in National Assembly can serve as an example. The equality of sexes is also not implemented by not permitting the marriage of same-sex partners.

6. Decentralisation

Centralization of economy and government instigates social and economic inequality, degradation of environment and a feeling of neglect in the majority of the population. Therefore the decentralization of power is just, democratic and wise. The first aim of local and regional politics is not the expected distribution of euro-funds, not even prestigious establishment of new centres, but democracy, which enables people to run things in their own environment by themselves and without the middlemen. This is their right, because all the power of the state comes from people and not the other way around. The local community can be seen as a dynamic environment, not necessarily restricted to the territory of residence; it can be an open street or the internet.

7. Internationalism

The responsibility towards fellow human beings does not end at the national borders. The community that lives in wealth has a moral duty to help less fortunate communities to try to achieve the same wealth or the desired way of life the communities want for themselves. The duty is so much greater, for the main reason for a community to become underprivileged is the economic abuse, and historical and modern colonialism. Therefore, we support the international political and economic initiatives, for example the Tobin tax, that could bring more equality to the distribution of wealth and power. The projects of help and investments in the third world must comprise a bigger part of GNP, and the amount must be established as a permanent budget item. Higher education must be again accessible for students from the countries of the third world - for this purpose a special state scholarship fund must be established. We completely disagree with the present attitude towards people, who find themselves on our territory when running away from political oppression and in search for a better life. We must treat them as we would like to be treated, if we found ourselves in their position.

8. Generational arrangement

Every person goes through all generational roles in life, from childhood to old age. Discrimination based on age is therefore irrational, for it hurts everyone, sooner or later. On the other hand, the cooperation among generations benefits everyone: a help for young people is an insurance policy for old age, the help for the elderly sets the measure of how you will be treated in your old age. We cannot say that the future lies in the hands of the young generation: the future of all is in the arrangement and solidarity among all generations. The right to a decent pension, the right to free education on all levels, the right to safe and peaceful childhood are the most important rights that come from the arrangement. From a broader perspective, the arrangement includes the responsibility for future generations, whose possibilities will be diminished in comparison to ours because of the present degradation of environment and use of natural resources- the long-term development is an indirect implication of generational concern.

9. Living Environment

A society of free, independent and responsible individuals can function only if every member has his or her own space for freedom, independence and responsibility - and most of the people see this space as their living environment. Every individual must have an opportunity to instantly, when he or she is ready, to live independently. This is, in our opinion, the first goal of the "housing policy" which today is not a real policy, for it lacks the vision as well as determination. Economic expenses of this project should be judged by the benefit they would bring. A person in charge of his or her own living environment is happier, more successful and creative.

10. Vision

We believe it is possible to create politics with a vision; we do not wish to deny the tradition, but we maintain the position that only a look into the future can produce a responsible management of the present.  

current government

National Government: Right wing oriented. Joined from 4 different political parties; Slovenian Democratic Party, New Slovenia, Slovenian People Party, and Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia.

Other Parties Represented in National Parliament : Liberal Democratic Party, Social Democrats, Slovenian Nationalistic Party, Zares and Lipa.

 

election information

Next National Elections:

Presidental Elections: 2007
National (Parliamentary) Elections: 2008
European Elections: 2009
Local Elections: 2010

Latest Green Party Election Results:

• National Election Year: 2004
  MPs:
  Total No. National Votes: 20.174
  % Gained:2,09
• European Elections: 2004
  MEPs:
  Total No. European Votes:10.027
  % Gained:2,30

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