Logar's new party, the Democrats, to hold founding congress

Logar's own party is becoming reality almost exactly two years after the former head of the Government Communication Office and foreign minister from 2020 to 2022 first hinted at an independent political path as he emerged as the runner-up in the country's 2022 presidential election.

The election propelled him to the top of popularity rankings for politicians, where he has mostly been switching the very top spot with President Nataša Pirc Musar ever since, keeping a rather low profile besides establishing his pre-party Platform for Cooperation in the spring of 2023.

While facing repeated accusations that the new party is a project orchestrated in agreement with SDS leader Janez Janša, who needs another strong centre-right party to form a government, Logar argues that he recognised after the 2022 presidential election defeat that "repeating the same thing over and over again is doomed to failure" and that Slovenia needs a third political pillar.

Logar, who has continued to serve as MP, first resigned as the chairman of the SDS party council in November 2023 and last month also left the SDS after 25 years of membership.

"The future is our own decision. We can either continue on the current path or pursue a prosperous Slovenia. There are no shortcuts. The Democrats will do everything in our power," Logar told the STA about the message he will deliver at the congress.

According to legislation, a party must be established by at least 200 adult citizens. Logar says they are currently approaching 300 members.

Several former SDS members are joining his new project, including MPs Eva Irgl and Dejan Kaloh, current National Council member and former MP Elena Zavladav Ušaj, Ljubljana city councillors Igor Horvat and Matjaž Vede, and Maribor SDS branch members Renato Škerbinc and Vladimira Cokoja.

Former MEP Romana Jordan, who left the SDS in mid-2023 after already staying out of the limelight for some time, is also expected to join the party, having served as the vice-president of Logar's Platform of Cooperation.

While Logar speaks of building a politically broad party, there is speculation about members from other parties joining. Logar denied personally inviting any current coalition party members to join, though he says anyone who identifies with the party is welcome.

"I hope this will be a party people join without prejudice, and that we'll attract those who haven't been politically active before," said Logar, who has announced he is ready to cooperate with all parties except the Left, which he labelled extreme.

He meanwhile summarised the Democrats' programme priorities in five points he considers crucial for the next two terms: security; modern society, including via the digitalisation of all state systems and promotion of lifelong learning and educational excellence; favourable economic environment, essential for a welfare state; clear steps for healthcare system reform; and fighting corruption.

Logar, who also served three terms as a city councillor in Ljubljana and came second in the race for mayor in 2018, added the party will address all those who are tired of political conflicts and want concrete measures.

Although he said when announcing the party's launch that every party runs to win elections, he is unwilling to predict their target result for the next parliamentary elections. He wants to build the party's success gradually from the ground up.

"I'm a politician who grew through party work, from the ground up through the party hierarchy. And I see creating a new party alternative in the same way," he said, while announcing that he will personally participate in establishing each local branch.

Meanwhile, commenting on topical issues, including the US election, Logar said he believes Donald Trump's victory means Europe no longer has time to take it slow with its reform process.

The EU must ensure self-sufficiency, develop its economic champions, increase its global role, and invest in knowledge and development in the next five years, Logar argued.

He also hopes Slovenia will leverage the Trump family connections and maintain the strategic dialogue with the USA that began when he led the Foreign Ministry.

Regarding Slovenia's EU commissioner-designate Marta Kos, he said Slovenia must primarily choose candidates with strong domestic support for international organisation positions.

"When they do step onto the international scene, Slovenia must support them," he said, seeming to distance himself from the attacks that continue to be levied against Kos by the SDS, whose MEPs voted against the former diplomat in the European Parliament.

With Kos also having received the support of the European People's Party (EPP), which has been labelled "a degenerated and decadent EPP" in the SDS, Logar moreover distanced himself from such discourse. "The EPP remains the strongest force in the European Parliament, and as a politician, I won't use such expressions," Logar said.