SDS leader Janez Jansa described the 61-year-old physician as "a humanist by calling" and "a democrat who has proved himself through his work".
The election of Cukjati as Parliament Speaker was opposed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDS) of the previous prime minister, Anton Rop, which referred to him as "a soldier of Jansa's party" and "a person unable to bring together different political options".
LDS deputy Majda Sirca challenged Cukjati's democratic credentials, saying that he was one of the initiators of the referendum on the so-called "erased non-Slovenes", which was initiated by the opposition six months ago. She added that Cukjati had also opposed a bill on same-sex unions and supported a referendum that rejected a government bill on artificial insemination.
Fifty-eight members of Parliament voted in favour of Cukjati as Parliament Speaker and 28 were against.