By: C. R.
The SDS Council today confirmed the candidate list of the party for the European elections in June. Once again, they will rely on experienced personnel in the European political arena. The leading candidate on the list will be the current Member of the European Parliament Romana Tomc, and the second position on the list will be filled by her Brussels colleague, Member of the European Parliament Milan Zver.
The list will be in the following order: Vice President of SDS and former Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs, in the fourth and fifth positions, SDS members of parliament Franc Breznik and Branko Grims, in the sixth position, former Mayor of Maribor and current president of the Maribor branch of SDS Franc Kangler, and in the seventh position, former State Secretary at the Ministry of Health Alenka Forte. The list concludes with SDS Youth member Karin Planinšek and the International Secretary of the Slovenian Democratic Youth Zala Tomašič.
“This candidate list is exceptionally strong, with seasoned candidates and, of course, those who bring with them new, youthful energy. Therefore, I consider it a great honour to be the leading candidate,” said Tomc in a media statement after today’s council session. SDS is once again aiming for victory in the upcoming European elections. According to Tomc, they will fight to the best of their abilities, but they will not burden themselves with predicting the number of parliamentary mandates they will win. “I believe, however, that we will be a winning list in the Slovenian space. At the same time, it is crucial that our colleagues in other European countries also achieve such winning results because it is high time for Europe to slowly turn to the right,” she is convinced.
According to Tomc, the campaign will be marked by topics that concern all Europeans and also align with the concerns of Slovenes. She highlighted security, stating that peace is no longer taken for granted. Tomc is also convinced that discussions about the continuation of the green transition, which, in her words, is already showing some negative effects that will need to be addressed in the future, are necessary. She also emphasised the concern for European farmers and the management of illegal migration.
Tomc also reflected on her expiring parliamentary mandate on the European stage. As she stated, upon reviewing her work, she is proud that she has always “worked for Slovenia and had my country in mind, which sent me to Brussels and Europe to advocate for our positions”.
The party’s candidates also presented themselves at the celebratory academy of the SDS, marking the 35th anniversary of its establishment.
Current MEP Zver highlighted that European parliamentarians have two paths for their work. The first is easier, simpler, while the second is steeper, thornier, and involves addressing burning issues, which are not always necessarily highlighted in the public eye. However, he is convinced that all SDS candidates, if elected, will choose the second, more challenging path.
Other candidates expressed confidence in a strong list, which, according to their assessment, as MP Breznik mentioned, is the right combination of youthful energy and political experience, including international experience. SDS Vice President Hojs also hopes that a coalition will be established in the European Parliament after the elections, which will not be a “coalition of prestige or a coalition of euro collectors, but a coalition that will lead Europe in a direction where all people in Europe will live better”.
In the last elections in 2019, the party celebrated with over 26% on a joint list with SLS, winning three seats. Zver and Tomc made it to Brussels from the ranks of SDS, and SLS’ MEP Franc Bogovič also secured a seat. All three are part of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) on the European stage. Bogovič is expected to run again on the SLS list, with Peter Gregorčič likely to be the leading candidate. As for NSi, there is currently no information available.