Pahor Says Grand Coalition in Slovenia Possible
The president of the Social Democrats (SD), Borut Pahor, was in Berlin on Monday to explore the workings of Germany's "grand coalition", which he believes might take shape in Slovenia considering the current balance of power.
"I am realistic enough not to exclude the possible emergence of conditions for a grand coalition," Pahor said after talks with the leader of the German Social Democrats (SPD), Kurt Beck.
The SD sees itself as a serious rival to the ruling Slovenian Democrats (SDS) in the 2008 general election and the latest surveys indicate an obvious trend that may not be underestimated, Pahor said.
He was referring to recent surveys by the daily Vecer and weekly Mladina that put the Social Democrats ahead of Prime Minister Janez Jansa's SDS for the first time.
As the erstwhile largest coalition party, the Liberal Democracy (LDS), continues to lose high-profile members, the SD has become the dominant opposition party.
The party is drafting a new government programme and expanding its team, becoming an influential political force, Pahor said.
Pahor said his talks in Berlin were aimed at establishing whether a grand coalition was an impetuous or obstacle to reform, and how the compromises affect economic growth, unemployment and welfare.
The visit offered an opportunity to clear up dilemmas about the work of a grand coalition before the party might face such dilemmas, he said.
More articles from this issue:
Archive
|