July 04, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Two parties are practically tied in Slovenia, according to a poll by Ninamedia. 22.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the opposition Social Democracy (SD) in the next legislative election, while 20.6 per cent would support the governing Social Democratic Party of Slovenia (SDS).

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Two parties are practically tied in Slovenia, according to a poll by Ninamedia. 22.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the opposition Social Democracy (SD) in the next legislative election, while 20.6 per cent would support the governing Social Democratic Party of Slovenia (SDS).

For Real (Zares) is third with 9.4 per cent, followed by the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (LDS) with 7.9 per cent, and the Democratic Party of Retired People of Slovenia (DeSUS) with 5.2 per cent. Support is lower for the Slovenian National Party (SNS), the Slovenian People’s Party (SLS), and New Slovenia (NSi).

In 2004, Slovenia joined both the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In the October 2004 legislative ballot, the SDS secured 29 seats, followed by the LDS with 23 mandates. SDS leader Janez Jansa took over as prime minister.

Each EU member state presides over the Council of the EU for a period of six months, in accordance with a pre-established rotation. This month, France took over these responsibilities from Slovenia.

On Jun. 30, Slovenian foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel handed over the EU presidency to his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner in a symbolic ceremony, declaring, "I have to say that the EU, in the moment when I hand it over to you, is in good shape." Kouchner replied: "It is true that Slovenia is not a large country and that its population is small, but it has done a great job with its foreign minister and his team."

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for if the legislative election took place today?

	Jun. 2008	May 2008
Social Democracy (SD)	22.1%	22.1%
Social Democratic Party of Slovenia (SDS)	20.6%	18.9%
For Real (Zares)	9.4%	8.6%
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (LDS)	7.9%	6.6%
Democratic Party of Retired People of Slovenia (DeSUS)	5.2%	4.2%
Slovenian National Party (SNS)	4.3%	6.8%
Slovenian People’s Party (SLS)	3.8%	2.4%
New Slovenia (NSi)	2.1%	1.9%
Other / Undecided / Would not vote	24.6%	37.1%

Source: Ninamedia
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Slovenian adults, conducted from Jun. 17 to Jun. 19, 2008. No margin of error was provided.