Slovenian ALDE Party member SMC confirmed on Saturday 10 March in Maribor another term for Miro Cerar as party leader. The Prime Minister, who was the only running candidate, was backed by 218 delegates, without a vote against or abstentions.

Following his re-election, Cerar said that SMC would remain a unifying party and encourage cooperation in the country, particularly ahead of the Slovenian parliamentary elections in coming June: "I wish to take you to the general election feeling optimistic, full of energy, armed with our programme and the faith that we've done many good things."

In his address before the vote, Cerar listed the achievements of SMC and the government, while arguing their work is not finished, "which is why a second mandate is necessary."

He said that the party had promised in 2014 it would "normalise and stabilise the country, get it running, only to be able to equally distribute the benefits of stable economic progress and social prosperity among the people in the second term."

https://twitter.com/MiroCerar/status/972446572075208704?s=20

European Commissioner Violeta Bulc, also a member of SMC, also addressed the participants: "Many doubted 4 years ago that Stranka SMC would lead the country so successfully and set Slovenia as an important partner in European integration."

https://twitter.com/StrankaSMC/status/972425415158530048?s=20

https://twitter.com/Bulc_EU/status/972574714056015874?s=20

SMC also received the support from the European family with speeches from ALDE Group leader Guy Verhofstadt MEP and ALDE Party Vice President Angelika Mlinar MEP.

In his address, Guy Verhofstadt emphasised that "Europe needs a new victory of the pro-European forces in Slovenia and not the arrival into power of the adepts of the so-called 'iliberal state'. Europe is much more than just the cooperation of France and Germany alone. That is why small but committed countries, like my country Belgium or your country Slovenia, as any other big country in the European Union to make Europe work."

https://twitter.com/MiroCerar/status/972464016189808640?s=20

Angelika Mlinar MEP stated: "The party led by Miro Cerar has developed as a serious political force with a special focus on the rule of law."

https://twitter.com/AngelikaMlinar/status/972788222785826816?s=20

Check out more highlights from SMC's Congress on their Facebook page and Twitter.