When the groups announced the establishment of a joint party earlier this month, they said that Solidarity was one of the names being considered for the party which wished to fight for the welfare state and the rule of law.

Representatives of the All-Slovenia People's Uprising (VLV), the Committee for Justice and Solidarity in Society and the Network for Direct Democracy said that solidarity is a fundamental value, on which the programme of the new party is based.

"We are aware that a competitive fight is needed for the society to advance, to come to some new solutions. Solidarity is the thing which enables the society to utilise all of its potentials," Damjan Mandeljc of the Committee for Justice and Solidarity in Society told the STA.

Lenart Zajc of the Network for Direct Democracy added that the three movements had agreed on the party's programme, which puts an emphasis on "different solutions which will better tackle the social problems of our society".

Uroš Lubej of the VLV noted that the necessary 200 signatures for the establishment of a political party had already been collected, adding that the emerging party wanted to attract as many people as possible.

"We want to give a voice to the people, an opportunity to present their ideas and problems," he said.

Some familiar faces could also be recognised among the supporters of the party, including the health minister under the 2000-2004 LibDems government Dušan Keber, former LibDems vice-president Božidar Flajšman, Liberal Academy head Darko Štrajn and historian Jože Pirjevec.

Another civil movement, called the Initiative for Democratic Socialism, has also recently presented its political platform and announced it would establish a party.