Demšar, to be listed seventh among the eight candidates, served as defence minister between 1999 and 2000. He was also a researcher at the Jožef Stefan Institute, the director of the Slovenian Research Agency and Slovenia's ambassador to Russia.

The NSi slate will be topped by its former leader and former MEP Ljudmila Novak, followed by deputy group leader Jožef Horvat, while Lojze Peterle, the party's only MEP, who has been serving since Slovenia took part in the first EU elections in 2004, was placed on spot no. 3.

The list moreover includes Iva Dimic, Mojca Erjavec, Katja Berk Bevc, as well as former Democrats (SDS) Education Minister Žiga Turk, who was placed eighth.

Meanwhile, NSi president Matej Tonin commented today on the decision of the SDS and the non-parliamentary People's Party (SLS) to form a joint list of candidates.

He said that some similarities in the two parties' platforms had already indicated this could happen and that the decision was definitely good in term of the result for the European People's Party (EPP).

As for the decision of the NSi to go it alone, he said certain differences in "the political culture and operational fashion" as well as significant platform differences had emerged between these parties recently.