Democratic Party (Serbia)
{{Short description|Political party in Serbia}}
{{For|the Democratic Party that existed in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Democratic Party (Yugoslavia)}}
{{Distinguish|text=the Democratic Party of Serbia}}
{{Good article}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Democratic Party
| native_name = Демократска странка
| native_name_lang = sr
| abbreviation = DS
| colorcode = {{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}
| logo = Logo of the Democratic Party (Serbia).svg
| logo_alt = Logo of the Democratic Party
| president = Srđan Milivojević
| leader1_title = Deputy President
| leader1_name = Dragana Rakić
| leader2_title = Vice-Presidents
| leader2_name = {{ubl|Nenad Mitrović|Nebojša Novaković|Branimir Jovančićević|Tijana Blagojević}}
| leader3_title = {{nowrap|Parliamentary leader}}
| leader3_name = Srđan Milivojević
| founder = The Founding Committee of the Democratic Party
| founded = 3 February 1990
| registered = 27 July 1990
| headquarters = Nušićeva 6/II, Belgrade
| newspaper = Bedem
| youth_wing = Democratic Youth
| womens_wing = Women's Forum
| ideology = Social democracy
| position = Centre-left
| affiliation1_title = Parliamentary group
| affiliation1 = Democratic Party
| european = Party of European Socialists (associate)
| international = {{ubl|Progressive Alliance|Socialist International}}
| colours = {{ubl|{{color box|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}|border=silver}} Yellow|{{color box|#0F3979|border=silver}} Blue}}
| seats1_title = National Assembly
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|8|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}}
| seats2_title = Assembly of Vojvodina
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|4|120|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}}
| seats3_title = City Assembly of Belgrade
| seats3 = {{Composition bar|2|110|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}}
| flag = Flag of the Democratic Party (Serbia).svg
| flag_alt = Flag of the Democratic Party
| website = {{URL|ds.org.rs}}
| country = Serbia
}}
The Democratic Party ({{langx|sr|Демократска странка|Demokratska stranka}}; {{audio|DemokratskaStranka.ogg|listen}}, abbr. DS) is a social democratic political party in Serbia. Srđan Milivojević has led the party as its president since 2024. The party is colloquially known as the žuti (yellows) because of one of its main colours.
DS was founded in 1990 by a group of intellectuals who sought to revive the Democratic Party, which was active in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Dragoljub Mićunović was the first president of DS until 1994 and under his leadership DS gained representation in the National Assembly of Serbia and took part in anti-government protests against Slobodan Milošević. After Zoran Đinđić's election as president of DS in 1994, DS was reorganised. Đinđić led the party into the Together coalition, and DS took part in the 1996–1997 protests that occurred after the Electoral Commission invalidated local election results in cities in which the Together coalition had won. DS later led the {{Ill|Alliance for Change (Serbia)|lt=Alliance for Change|sr|Савез за промене}}, which became part of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) in January 2000. DOS won the 2000 Yugoslav general election, but Milošević, the president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and president of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), declined to accept the results, culminating in his overthrow.
DS assumed power in Serbia after winning parliamentary elections in December 2000 and Đinđić then became prime minister. Đinđić was assassinated in March 2003 and succeeded by Boris Tadić as president of DS. Tadić also became president of Serbia while DS was in opposition from 2004 to 2007, when it became part of a coalition government led by DSS. Tadić led DS to victory in 2008 when a coalition government with SPS was formalised. DS was defeated by the Serbian Progressive Party in 2012 and went into opposition. Dragan Đilas became the president of DS in December 2012; he was ousted as mayor of Belgrade in 2013 but survived an internal motion of no confidence in January 2014. He was succeeded by Bojan Pajtić in May 2014. Dragan Šutanovac became the president of DS after Pajtić's resignation in 2016. Šutanovac was then succeeded by Zoran Lutovac in 2018. Lutovac led DS into several opposition coalitions and boycotted the 2020 parliamentary election, causing a schism in the party. He successfully led DS back into the National Assembly in the 2022 election.
DS was a catch-all party in its early years, occupying the centrist and centre-right position. It supported the establishment of a market economy, denationalisation, and union rights. DS shifted to a centrist and socially liberal profile under Tadić and became the leading party of the pro-European bloc of Serbian politics. It shifted towards social democracy in 2013, and is now positioned on the centre-left on the political spectrum. Its supporters tend to be female, high school or university educated, tolerant towards diversity, socially progressive, and opposed to authoritarianism and nationalism. DS is an associate member of the Party of European Socialists and a member of the Progressive Alliance and Socialist International.
History
= Formation =
File:Stevan Kragujevic, Dragoljub Micunovic Skupstina 90tih (cropped).jpg
On 11 December 1989, a group of intellectuals{{Emdash}}including anti-communist dissidents, liberal academics, poets, writers, and film and theatre directors{{Emdash}}held a press conference announcing the revival of the Democratic Party (DS), at which they also released a written proclamation.{{Cite journal |last1=Matarić |first1=Maja J. |last2=Ninković |first2=Višnja |date=2006 |title=Remembering the Beginnings of the (re-established) Democratic Party |journal=The South Slav Journal |publisher=Dositej Obradović Circle |publication-place=London |volume=27 |issue=3–4 |pages=62–71 |issn=0141-6146 |via=British Library}}{{Cite book |last=Orlović |first=Slaviša |title=Partije i izbori u Srbiji: 20 godina |publisher=Friedrich Ebert Foundation |year=2011 |isbn=978-86-84031-49-7 |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Parties and Elections in Serbia: 20 Years |oclc=951723578}}{{Rp|page=142}} DS had existed in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia until 1945, when the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, later known as League of Communists of Yugoslavia (SKJ),{{Cite book |last=Biondich |first=Mark |title=The Balkans: Revolution, War, and Political Violence Since 1878 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-19-929905-8 |location=Oxford |pages=180 |oclc=718575569 |author-link=Mark Biondich}} came to power;{{Cite book |last=Bugajski |first=Janusz |title=Political Parties of Eastern Europe: A Guide to Politics in the Post-Communist Era |date=2019 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-56324-676-0 |location=Abingdon, Oxon |pages=582 |orig-date=2002}}{{Cite book |last1=Stojiljković |first1=Zoran |title=(Ne)demokratsko redizajniranje političkih partija Srbije |last2=Pilipović |first2=Gordana |last3=Spasojević |first3=Dušan |date=2013 |publisher=Konrad Adenauer Foundation |isbn=978-86-86661-69-2 |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=The (Un)Democratic Redesign of Serbia's Political Parties}}{{Rp|page=26}} as such, DS claims that it was "re-founded" (obnovljena), instead of categorising itself as a new political party.{{Cite journal |last=Velikić |first=Dragan |date=2012 |title=Izlet u pamet |trans-title=A trip to the mind |journal=Helsinška povelja |language=sr |issue=163 |page=14 |id={{CEEOL|240714}} |via=}} The original thirteen signatories of the proclamation of the Founding Committee included Kosta Čavoški, Milovan Danojlić, Zoran Đinđić, Gojko Đogo, Vladimir Gligorov, Slobodan Inić, Marko Janković, Vojislav Koštunica, Dragoljub Mićunović, Borislav Pekić, Miodrag Perišić, Radoslav Stojanović, and Dušan Vukajlović.{{Cite web |date=3 February 2018 |title=Demokratska stranka obeležila 28 godina postojanja |work=Novinska agencija Beta |trans-title=Democratic Party celebrates 28 years of existence |url=https://beta.rs/politika/83138-demokratska-stranka-obelezila-28-godina-postojanja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118202914/https://beta.rs/politika/83138-demokratska-stranka-obelezila-28-godina-postojanja |archive-date=18 January 2023 |access-date=18 January 2023 |language=sr |agency=Novinska agencija Beta}}{{Cite web |date=22 March 2008 |title=Osnivači Demokratske stranke |trans-title=Founders of the Democratic Party |url=https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/37076/Osnivaci-Demokratske-stranke |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118201408/https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/37076/Osnivaci-Demokratske-stranke |archive-date=18 January 2023 |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=Politika |language=sr}} Their programmatic proclamation, named Letter of Intents (Pismo o namerama), attracted even more intellectuals who eventually joined DS.{{Cite web |date=12 July 2012 |title=Rascepi i ujedinjenja u Demokratskoj stranci |trans-title=Splits and mergers in the Democratic Party |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/rascepi-i-ujedinjenja-u-demokratskoj-stranci/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120192529/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/rascepi-i-ujedinjenja-u-demokratskoj-stranci/ |archive-date=20 January 2023 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}}
In 1989, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was still a one-party state; DS thus became the first opposition, non-communist party in Yugoslavia.{{Rp|page=25}}{{Cite book |last1=DeRouen |first1=Karl R. |title=Civil Wars of the World: Major Conflicts Since World War II |last2=Heo |first2=Uk |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-85109-919-1 |location=Santa Barbara, California |pages=312 |oclc=76864224}}{{Cite news |date=10 February 2010 |title=Tri lidera na jednom putu |language=sr |trans-title=Three leaders on one road |work=NIN |url=https://www.nin.co.rs/pages/article.php?id=49870 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120175953/https://www.nin.co.rs/pages/article.php?id=49870 |archive-date=20 January 2023}} With the disintegration of the SKJ that began in January 1990, its constituent republics, later including Serbia in July 1990, adopted multi-party systems.{{Cite journal |last=Sotirović |first=Vladislav B. |date=2010 |title=The Multiparty Elections in Serbia in 1990 |journal=Politikos mokslų almanachas |issue=6 |page=9 |issn=1822-9212}}{{Cite journal |last=Pauković |first=Davor |date=22 December 2008 |title=Posljednji kongres Saveza komunista Jugoslavije: uzroci, tijek i posljedice raspada |trans-title=Last Congress of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia: Causes, Consequences and Course of Dissolution |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/35202 |journal=Suvremene Teme |language=sr |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=29 |issn=1849-2428}} DS organised its founding assembly on 3 February 1990 at the Belgrade Youth Center.{{Rp|page=142}} The first presidency of the DS was contested between Čavoški and Mićunović, with the latter ultimately winning the position. Ideological differences between the two existed;{{Rp|page=27}} Čavoški wanted the party to adopt a more nationalist and anti-communist rhetoric,{{Cite web |last=Zlojutro |first=Darko |date=12 December 2019 |title=Njih 13 obnovilo je rad Demokratske stranke i sebi potpisalo smrtnu presudu! Mnogi su pobegli iz DS u druge tabore |trans-title=13 of them renewed the Democratic Party and signed themselves a death sentence! Many fled from DS to other political camps |url=https://www.espreso.co.rs/vesti/politika/480367/njih-13-obnovilo-je-rad-demokratske-stranke-i-sebi-potpisali-smrtnu-presudu-mnogi-su-pobegli-iz-ds-u-druge-tabore |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120192535/https://www.espreso.co.rs/vesti/politika/480367/njih-13-obnovilo-je-rad-demokratske-stranke-i-sebi-potpisali-smrtnu-presudu-mnogi-su-pobegli-iz-ds-u-druge-tabore |archive-date=20 January 2023 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Espreso |language=sr}}{{Rp|page=|pages=60}} while Mićunović was viewed as a liberal. Although Čavoški lost in the leadership election, he was elected president of the party's executive board; Pekić became the deputy president of the DS.{{Cite web |last1=Miladinović |first1=Veljko |last2=Telesković |first2=Dušan |date=3 February 2020 |title=30 godina od obnove Demokratske stranke: Od intelektualne elite preko "žutog preduzeća" do velike neizvesnosti |trans-title=30 years since the restoration of the Democratic Party: From the intellectual elite to the "yellow company" to great uncertainty |url=https://www.nedeljnik.rs/uspon-i-pad-demokratske-stranke-od-intelektualne-elite-do-zutog-preduzeca/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922141619/https://www.nedeljnik.rs/uspon-i-pad-demokratske-stranke-od-intelektualne-elite-do-zutog-preduzeca/ |archive-date=22 September 2022 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Nedeljnik |language=sr}}
According to Mićunović, Čavoški initially registered the party in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in March 1990 because Serbia had not yet adopted a law authorising a multi-party system. DS was later registered in Serbia on 27 July 1990.{{Cite web |date=21 August 1990 |title=Rešenje o registraciji Demokratske stranke |trans-title=The Decision for Registration of the Democratic Party |url=https://ds.org.rs/documents/osnovni_dokumenti/1990-07-27_Resenje_DS_Registar_politickih_organizacija.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202071633/https://ds.org.rs/documents/osnovni_dokumenti/1990-07-27_Resenje_DS_Registar_politickih_organizacija.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=30 January 2023 |website=Democratic Party |language=sr}}
= 1990–1993: the Mićunović years =
After its establishment, the DS began publishing its newspaper, Demokratija ({{Langx|en|Democracy}}), and it also established the Democratic Youth, its youth wing.{{Cite book |last1=Popović |first1=Srđa |url=https://canvasopedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Nenasilna-Borba-u-50-tacaka-fin.pdf |title=Nenasilna borba u 50 tačaka: strateški pristup svakodnevnoj taktici |last2=Milivojević |first2=Andrej |last3=Đinović |first3=Slobodan |date=2007 |publisher=Samizdat B92 |isbn=978-86-908997-0-8 |location=Belgrade |pages=174 |language=sr |trans-title=Nonviolent Struggle in 50 Points: A Strategic Approach to Everyday Tactics |author-link=Srđa Popović (activist) |access-date=20 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202071634/https://canvasopedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Nenasilna-Borba-u-50-tacaka-fin.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2023 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=12 May 2020 |title=Demokratska omladina danas proslavlja svoj trideseti rođendan |trans-title=Democratic Youth celebrates its thirtieth birthday today |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/demokratska-omladina-danas-proslavlja-svoj-trideseti-rodjendan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120212102/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/demokratska-omladina-danas-proslavlja-svoj-trideseti-rodjendan/ |archive-date=20 January 2023 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}}{{Cite news |date=13 February 1999 |title=Devet godina Demokratske stranke |language=sr |trans-title=Nine years of the Democratic Party |work=Vreme |url=https://www.vreme.rs/arhiva_html/434/6.html |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120213628/https://www.vreme.rs/arhiva_html/434/6.html |archive-date=20 January 2023}} Gligorov and Inić, who worked on the economic programme of the party, left DS also shortly after its formation due to ideological disagreements. At its second assembly in September 1990, Mićunović was re-elected president of DS while Koštunica and {{Ill|Desimir Tošić|sr|Desimir Tošić}} were elected vice-presidents.{{Cite web |last=Tomić |first=N. |date=17 December 2010 |title=Sve skupštine demokrata |trans-title=All assemblies of the Democrats |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/sve-skupstine-demokrata/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120212100/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/sve-skupstine-demokrata/ |archive-date=20 January 2023 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} A month later, DS announced that it would take part in the 1990 Serbian parliamentary election. This decision was opposed by Čavoški and Nikola Milošević, who advocated for an election boycott instead.{{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=Robert |url=|title=Serbia Under Milošević: Politics in the 1990s |date=1999 |publisher=Hurst & Co. Publishers |isbn=978-1-85065-341-7 |location=London |language=en |oclc=41355127}}{{Rp|page=73}} Čavoški previously proposed that opposition parties should receive television air time, representation on electoral bodies, and for the campaign to last 90 days in total.{{Rp|page=|pages=71}} Čavoški and Milošević left DS shortly before the December 1990 election, claiming that fair electoral conditions had not been created. They then formed the Serbian Liberal Party (SLS) in January 1991.{{Rp|page=80|pages=}} Đinđić succeeded Čavoški as the president of the party's executive board. Despite winning 7% of the popular vote in the 1990 election, DS only won 7 seats in the National Assembly due to Serbia's new first-past-the-post electoral system, which favoured the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), the then-ruling and largest party of Serbia.{{Cite web |last=Kojić |first=Nikola |date=10 February 2020 |title=Izbori 1990: Rekordna izlaznost, glumački okršaj i istorijska pobeda socijalista |trans-title=1990 election: Record turnout, acting battle, and historic victory of the Socialists |url=https://rs.n1info.com/vesti/a568114-Izbori-1990-Rekordna-izlaznost-glumacki-okrsaj-i-istorijska-pobeda-socijalista/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111141915/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a568114-izbori-1990-rekordna-izlaznost-glumacki-okrsaj-i-istorijska-pobeda-socijalista/ |archive-date=11 January 2023 |access-date=5 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite book |last1=Egeresi |first1=Zoltán |url=https://www.bib.irb.hr/1102880/download/1102880.Web_PDF_Political_history_of_the_Balkans__1989_2018_.pdf |title=Political History of the Balkans (1989{{endash}}2018) |publisher=Dialóg Campus |date=2020 |isbn=978-963-531-161-3 |editor-last=Dúró |editor-first=József |location=Budapest |page=142 |language=en |chapter=Serbia: Belated Democratisation |oclc=1292456936 |access-date=5 January 2023 |editor-last2=Egeresi |editor-first2=Zoltán |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111141821/https://www.bib.irb.hr/1102880/download/1102880.Web_PDF_Political_history_of_the_Balkans__1989_2018_.pdf |archive-date=11 January 2023 |url-status=live}}
Together with the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), DS organised mass protests in Belgrade in March 1991, demanding reforms of the Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).{{Cite web |last=Miladinović |first=Aleksandar |date=9 March 2021 |title=Tri decenije protesta Devetog marta u Beogradu: "Dan sa više suza nego suzavca" |trans-title=Three decades since the March 9 protests in Belgrade: "A day with more tears than tear gas" |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-56288602 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120220502/https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-56288602 |archive-date=20 January 2023 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=BBC News |language=sr}}{{Cite book |last=Goati |first=Vladimir |url=http://www.cesid.rs/images/IZBORI%20U%20SRJ%20OD%201990_%20DO%201998.pdf |title=Izbori u SRJ od 1990. do 1998.: volja građana ili izborna manipulacija? |date=2001 |publisher=CeSID |edition=2nd |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Elections in the FRY from 1990 to 1998: the will of the citizens or electoral manipulation? |oclc=499043191 |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429223546/http://www.cesid.rs/images/IZBORI%20U%20SRJ%20OD%201990_%20DO%201998.pdf |archive-date=29 April 2021 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=44}} As a result of the protests, SPO leader Vuk Drašković was briefly imprisoned but later let go, and the RTS director resigned.{{Cite web |date=9 March 2021 |title=Tri decenije od prvih velikih demonstracija protiv vladavine Slobodana Miloševića |trans-title=Three decades since the first large demonstrations against the rule of Slobodan Milošević |url=https://www.rts.rs/lat/vesti/drustvo/4286549/tri-decenije-od-prvih-velikih-demonstracija-protiv-vladavine-slobodana-milosevica.html |access-date=18 August 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}} After the break-up of Yugoslavia in early 1992, Serbia became a part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.{{Cite web |title=What Is the former Yugoslavia? |url=https://www.icty.org/en/about/what-former-yugoslavia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105154324/https://www.icty.org/en/about/what-former-yugoslavia |archive-date=5 January 2023 |access-date=5 January 2023 |website=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia}}{{Cite book |last=de Casadevante Romani |first=Carlos Fernández |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-04609-4 |title=Legal Implications of Territorial Secession in Spain |date=2022 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-031-04609-4 |editor-last1=Fernández De Casadevante Romani |editor-first1=Carlos Fernández |pages=307 |language=en |chapter=There Is No Right to Succession in the Membership of International Organizations as a Result of Secession |doi=10.1007/978-3-031-04609-4 |url-access=subscription |s2cid=252658164}} DS boycotted the May 1992 federal parliamentary elections and declined to accept the results, claiming that free and fair conditions had not been created for the election.{{Rp|page=84–85}}{{Cite book |last1=Nohlen |first1=Dieter |url=|title=Elections in Europe: A Data Handbook |last2=Stöver |first2=Philip |date=2010 |publisher=Nomos |isbn=978-3-8329-5609-7 |location=Baden-Baden |pages= |oclc=631695067 |access-date= }}{{Rp|page=1678}} Instead of campaigning, DS preferred to organise anti-government protests to force the government to call new fair elections.{{Rp|page=84–85}} In June 1992, DS decided not to join the Democratic Movement of Serbia (DEPOS) coalition that had been created a month earlier. Koštunica led the "DS for DEPOS" faction that was in favour of joining DEPOS.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2007 |title=U dve reči |trans-title=In two words |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/u-dve-reci-401/ |access-date=22 May 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} He left the party after DS decided not to join the coalition, claiming that Mićunović and Đinđić were in a "secret alliance" with SPS.{{Cite web |last=Ljuboja |first=Branko |date=17 May 2007 |title=Toliko o doslednosti |trans-title=So much for consistency |url=https://www.vreme.com/posta/toliko-o-doslednosti/ |access-date=22 May 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} After leaving DS, he partnered with Mirko Petrović, Draško Petrović, and Vladan Batić and formed the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).{{Cite web |date=13 March 2012 |title=Demokratska stranka Srbije |trans-title=Democratic Party of Serbia |url=https://www.b92.net/info/izbori2012/stranacki_leksikon.php?dd=13&mm=03&nav_id=590347&yyyy=2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120224135/https://www.b92.net/info/izbori2012/stranacki_leksikon.php?dd=13&mm=03&nav_id=590347&yyyy=2012 |archive-date=20 January 2023 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}
After the mass protests, another federal parliamentary election was organised for December 1992.{{Rp|page=1704}} DS decided to take part in this election and it won 6% of the popular vote and 5 seats in the Federal Assembly.{{Rp|page=1724}}{{Cite web |date=29 April 2008 |title=Izbori 1992 |trans-title=1992 elections |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/izbori-1992/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120233036/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/izbori-1992/ |archive-date=20 January 2023 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} DS then joined the government led by Milan Panić, the then-incumbent prime minister of FR Yugoslavia. Simultaneously, in December 1992, general elections were organised in Serbia as a result of an October 1992 early elections referendum.{{Rp|page=84}} Although DS opposed the referendum, it participated in the election, winning 6 seats.{{Rp|page=|pages=85–89}}{{Cite web |last=Kojić |first=Nikola |date=18 February 2020 |title=Izbori 1992: Prvi Šešeljev milion, Arkan u parlamentu i manjinska vlada SPS |trans-title=1992 elections: Šešelj's first million, Arkan in the Parliament, and a SPS minority government |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a570469-Izbori-1992-Prvi-Seseljev-milion-Arkan-u-parlamentu-i-manjinska-vlada-SPS/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120233037/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a570469-izbori-1992-prvi-seseljev-milion-arkan-u-parlamentu-i-manjinska-vlada-sps/ |archive-date=20 January 2023 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} In the presidential election, DS supported Panić, who placed second behind Slobodan Milošević, the leader of SPS and president of Serbia.{{Rp|page=|pages=89–90}}{{Cite web |date=25 March 2017 |title=Predsednički izbori 1992. godine |trans-title=1992 presidential elections |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-1992-godine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120233825/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-1992-godine/ |archive-date=20 January 2023 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}}
In 1993, Đinđić asserted himself in the party and led its operations going into the 1993 parliamentary election.{{Cite web |date=8 March 2020 |title=Treći republički izbori (1993) |trans-title=The third parliamentary election (1993) |url=https://www.b92.net/info/izbori2020/vremeplov.php?yyyy=2020&mm=03&dd=08&nav_id=587179 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105215021/https://www.b92.net/info/izbori2020/vremeplov.php?yyyy=2020&mm=03&dd=08&nav_id=587179 |archive-date=5 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}} Milošević ended his coalition with the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) in mid-1993 and turned towards DS for negotiations instead.{{Cite web |last=Drčelić |first=Zora |date=14 March 2012 |title=Kanabe nas je održalo |trans-title=Kanabe kept us going |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/kanabe-nas-je-odrzalo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121110842/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/kanabe-nas-je-odrzalo/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} Mićunović claimed that there was a meeting between Milošević and DS, although Zoran Živković has denied that claim. Đinđić invited several entrepreneurs to join DS during this period, which resulted in DS being dubbed the "yellow company" (žuta kompanija) from its opponents. Yellow was both an official colour of DS and the colour of Centromarket, a company owned by Slobodan Radulović, one of the entrepreneurs invited to join the party.{{Cite book |last=Milošević |first=Milan |title=Politički vodič kroz Srbiju 2000. |publisher=Medija centar |year=2000 |isbn=978-86-82827-13-9 |location=Belgrade |pages=70 |language=sr |trans-title=Political Guide to Serbia 2000}} Shortly before the 1993 election, DS agreed that Đinđić should be their ballot representative. He led DS under the "Honestly" (Pošteno) banner and visited over 100 locations in Serbia during the campaign period. Đinđić also said that he would retire from politics if DS won less than 20 seats.{{Cite web |last=Kojić |first=Nikola |date=25 February 2020 |title=Izbori 1993: Radikal Vučić i demokrata Vesić kao studenti u Skupštini Srbije |trans-title=1993 elections: Radical Vučić and Democrat Vesić as students in the Serbian Parliament |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a572331-Izbori-1993-Radikal-Vucic-i-demokrata-Vesic-kao-studenti-u-Skupstini-Srbije/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121110856/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a572331-izbori-1993-radikal-vucic-i-demokrata-vesic-kao-studenti-u-skupstini-srbije/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} The campaign was successful: DS won 29 seats in the National Assembly.{{Cite web |date=29 April 2008 |title=Izbori 1993 |trans-title=1993 elections |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/izbori-1993/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121110841/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/izbori-1993/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} DS remained in opposition after the election as Đinđić was unable to bring DS into the SPS-led government.{{Cite web |title=Parlamentarni izbori 1993 - raspodela mandata |trans-title=1993 parliamentary elections - distribution of mandates |url=https://www.b92.net/info/izbori/parlament.php?year=1993 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121110841/https://www.b92.net/info/izbori/parlament.php?year=1993 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}
= 1994–2000: the Đinđić years =
At a party congress on 25 January 1994, Đinđić was elected president, and Perišić and Miroljub Labus were elected vice-presidents of the party. Mićunović and Vida Ognjenović also resigned from their positions in DS during the congress. Đinđić commented that "Mićunović's time has passed... Mićunović is no Tina Turner who sounds better now than when she was 30" (Mićunovićevo vreme je prošlo... Mićunović nije Tina Tarner pa da bolje zvuči sada nego sa trideset godina).{{Cite web |last=Vukadinović |first=Đorđe |date=16 January 2002 |title=Čovek na mestu ili konac delo krasi |trans-title=A man in a place or a thread adorns the work |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/covek-na-mestu-ili-konac-delo-krasi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121124311/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/covek-na-mestu-ili-konac-delo-krasi/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} By contrast, Mićunović characterised the manner of Đinđić's takeover of DS as a "combination of Machiavellianism and a revolutionary technique" (spoj makijavelizma i revolucionarne tehnike).{{Cite web |last=Nikčević |first=Tamara |date=6 March 2013 |title=O sukobu, pomirenju i saradnji sa Zoranom Đinđićem |trans-title=About the conflict, reconciliation, and cooperation with Zoran Đinđić |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/o-sukobu-pomirenju-i-saradnji-sa-zoranom-djindjicem/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121124329/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/o-sukobu-pomirenju-i-saradnji-sa-zoranom-djindjicem/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} During this period, Đinđić also benefited from discreet support in the Milošević-controlled state-run media. After Đinđić became the president of DS, the party was reorganised and moved away from Mićunović's "intellectualistic" approach.{{Cite web |last=Vukadinović |first=Đorđe |author-link=Đorđe Vukadinović |date=12 February 2010 |title=Dvadeset godina DS-a – istorija i izazovi |trans-title=Twenty years of DS – history and challenges |url=http://www.nspm.rs/politicki-zivot/dvadeset-godina-ds-a-%E2%80%93-istorija-i-izazovi.html?alphabet=l |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724164728/http://www.nspm.rs/politicki-zivot/dvadeset-godina-ds-a-%E2%80%93-istorija-i-izazovi.html?alphabet=l |archive-date=24 July 2014 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Nova srpska politička misao |language=sr}} In 1995, DS rejected Slobodan Gavrilović's proposal to reunite with DSS, while later that year, Mićunović left DS and then formed the Democratic Centre (DC) in 1996.{{Rp|page=255|pages=}}
In September 1996, DS formed the Together coalition with SPO and the Civic Alliance of Serbia (GSS) to take part in the federal parliamentary election and local elections, which were organised for November 1996.{{Rp|page=1715}}{{Cite web |date=2 September 2019 |title=Na današnji dan 1996. godine posejana je klica pobede nad Slobodanom Miloševićem |trans-title=On this day in 1996, the seed of victory over Slobodan Milošević was sown |url=https://direktno.rs/politika/226228/na-danasnji-dan-1996-godine-posejana-je-klica-pobede-nad-slobodanom-milosevicem.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121140458/https://direktno.rs/politika/226228/na-danasnji-dan-1996-godine-posejana-je-klica-pobede-nad-slobodanom-milosevicem.html |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Direktno |language=sr}}{{Cite news |last=Miladinović |first=Aleksandar |date=5 May 2018 |title=Koliko su uspešna septembarska okupljanja opozicije |language=sr |trans-title=How successful were the September gatherings of the opposition |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-45408747 |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921221100/https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-45408747 |archive-date=21 September 2022}} DSS also took part in the coalition, although only at the federal level.{{Rp|page=285|pages=}} Together won 23% of the popular vote in the federal parliamentary elections; it also won local elections in key cities such as Belgrade, Niš, and Novi Sad.{{Rp|page=|pages=286–287}}{{Rp|page=72|pages=}} However, the Electoral Commission invalidated those local election results, which ultimately led to mass protests that were attended by hundreds of thousands of people in total.{{Rp|page=79|pages=}}{{Cite web |date=17 November 2016 |title=Studenti su ozbiljno uzdrmali režim Slobodana Miloševića |trans-title=Students seriously shook the regime of Slobodan Milošević |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/studenti-su-ozbiljno-uzdrmali-rezim-slobodana-milosevica/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121142002/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/studenti-su-ozbiljno-uzdrmali-rezim-slobodana-milosevica/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} The aftermath of the protests resulted in Đinđić and Živković becoming mayors of Belgrade and Niš respectively, after the Electoral Commission recognised the results. In September 1997, Đinđić was removed from office after losing a motion of no confidence staged by SPO.{{Rp|page=125|pages=}}
The Together coalition was dissolved shortly before the 1997 general elections.{{Cite web |last=Kojić |first=Nikola |date=3 March 2020 |title=Izbori 1997: Bojkot dela opozicije, Šešelj i Vučić na vlasti sa socijalistima |trans-title=1997 elections: Opposition boycotts, Šešelj and Vučić in power with the Socialists |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a574442-izbori-1997-bojkot-dela-opozicije-seselj-i-vucic-na-vlasti-sa-socijalistima/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121140500/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a574442-izbori-1997-bojkot-dela-opozicije-seselj-i-vucic-na-vlasti-sa-socijalistima/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} DS, DSS, and GSS opted to boycott the election, while SPO did not because the government partially accepted their demands.{{Cite web |last=Dedeić |first=Siniša |date=8 March 2020 |title=Kako su bojkotovani izbori 1997. godine? (1. deo) |trans-title=How were the 1997 elections boycotted? (part 1) |url=https://www.istinomer.rs/amnezija/kako-su-bojkotovani-izbori-1997-godine-1-deo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121140503/https://www.istinomer.rs/amnezija/kako-su-bojkotovani-izbori-1997-godine-1-deo/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Istinomer |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Dedeić |first=Siniša |date=10 March 2020 |title=Kako su bojkotovani izbori 1997. godine? (2. deo) |trans-title=How were the 1997 elections boycotted? (part 2) |url=https://www.istinomer.rs/amnezija/kako-su-bojkotovani-izbori-1997-godine-2-deo/ |access-date=22 May 2023 |website=Istinomer |language=sr}} Čedomir Jovanović and Čedomir Antić, who led the Student Political Club during the 1996–1997 protests, joined DS in 1998.{{Cite web |last=Antić |first=Čedomir |author-link=Čedomir Antić |date=5 April 2020 |title=Zašto sam napustio DS, stranka u vreme najveće pobede i jedno pitanje koje glasi: "A ti bi odbio Arkanov poziv" - Sećanja Čedomira Antića na "žutu stranku" |trans-title=Why I left DS, the party at the time of its greatest victory and one question that reads: "And you would refuse Arkan's invitation" - Memories of Čedomir Antić on the "yellow party" |url=https://www.nedeljnik.rs/zasto-sam-napustio-ds-boris-tadic-sa-bubicom-u-uhu-kako-su-se-dos-u-delili-mandati-secanja-cedomira-antica-na-zutu-stranku-4/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121140502/https://www.nedeljnik.rs/zasto-sam-napustio-ds-boris-tadic-sa-bubicom-u-uhu-kako-su-se-dos-u-delili-mandati-secanja-cedomira-antica-na-zutu-stranku-4/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Nedeljnik |language=sr}}{{Cite news |last=Grujić |first=Dragoslav |date=11 January 2001 |title=Lik i delo: Čedomir Jovanović |language=sr |trans-title=Character and work: Čedomir Jovanović |work=Vreme |url=https://old.vreme.com/arhiva_html/523/03.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121140458/https://old.vreme.com/arhiva_html/523/03.html |archive-date=21 January 2023}} In the same year, DS became part of the {{Ill|Alliance for Change (Serbia)|lt=Alliance for Change|sr|Савез за промене}}, a moderate opposition coalition.{{Rp|page=233|pages=}}{{Cite news |last=Kojić |first=Nikola |date=10 March 2020 |title=Izbori 2000: Debakl Miloševića i Šešelja, Vuk ispod cenzusa, DOS "brojao" do 176 |language=sr |trans-title=2000 elections: Debacle between Milošević and Šešelj, Vuk under the threshold, DOS "counted" up to 176 |work=N1 |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a576572-izbori-2000-debakl-milosevica-i-seselja-vuk-ispod-cenzusa-dos-brojao-do-176/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121143016/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a576572-izbori-2000-debakl-milosevica-i-seselja-vuk-ispod-cenzusa-dos-brojao-do-176/ |archive-date=21 January 2023}} This coalition later became part of a wider alliance, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) that was formed in January 2000.{{Rp|page=234|pages=}}
Đinđić faced Slobodan Vuksanović at a party congress in February 2000, with Đinđić ultimately retaining the position of party president. Živković and Gavrilović remained vice-presidents of DS and were joined by Predrag Filipov and Boris Tadić. Vuksanović left DS in October 2000 and formed the People's Democratic Party (NDS) in 2001. Milošević, now president of FR Yugoslavia, amended the federal constitution to provide for direct, rather than indirect, elections in the 2000 general elections. DOS nominated Koštunica as their presidential candidate,{{Cite web |last=Vujić |first=Predrag |date=24 September 2020 |title=Dan kada je opozicija pobedila Slobodana Miloševića |trans-title=The day when the opposition defeated Slobodan Milošević |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-54277802 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106150928/https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-54277802 |archive-date=6 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=BBC News |language=sr}} who faced Milošević in the presidential election which he won in the first round.{{Rp|page=245|pages=}}{{Cite web |date=27 March 2017 |title=Izbori za predsednika SRJ, 24. septembar 2000. |trans-title=Elections for the President of the FRY, 24 September 2000 |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/izbori-za-predsednika-srj-24-septembar-2000/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121160309/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/izbori-za-predsednika-srj-24-septembar-2000/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} However, Milošević declined to accept the results, and the Electoral Commission reported that Koštunica had not won more than 50% of the votes in the first round and that a second round would be scheduled instead. This culminated in mass protests which led to the overthrow of Milošević on 5 October 2000. The Electoral Commission published the actual results two days later, confirming that Koštunica had won in the first round.{{Cite book |last=Nedović |first=Slobodanka |url=http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%204.pdf |title=Oko izbora 4: izveštaj sa parlamentarnih i predsedničkih izbora u SRJ i pokrajinskih izbora u Vojvodini, septembar-oktobar 2000 |date=2001 |publisher=CeSID |publication-place=Belgrade |pages=64 |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 4: Report from the Parliamentary and Presidential elections in the FRY and the provincial elections in Vojvodina, September–October 2000 |oclc=56212038 |access-date=6 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106150928/http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%204.pdf |archive-date=6 January 2023 |url-status=live}} Together with SPS and SPO, DOS agreed to organise a snap parliamentary election in December 2000 in which DOS won 176 out of 250 seats in the National Assembly.{{Rp|page=271|pages=}}
= 2001–2004: Post-Milošević period =
In January 2001, Đinđić was elected prime minister of Serbia; his cabinet was composed of 16 ministers.{{Cite web |date=25 January 2022 |title=Đinđić je na današnji dan pre 21 godinu postao premijer |trans-title=Đinđić became prime minister on this day 21 years ago |url=https://direktno.rs/politika/394635/zoran-djindjic-prva-demokratska-vlada-godisnjica.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121164500/https://direktno.rs/politika/394635/zoran-djindjic-prva-demokratska-vlada-godisnjica.html |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Direktno |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=25 January 2011 |title=Decenija od formiranja vlade Zorana Đinđića |trans-title=A decade since the formation of Zoran Đinđić's government |url=https://rtv.rs/rsn/politika/decenija-od-formiranja-vlade-zorana-djindjica_235263.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121164506/https://rtv.rs/rsn/politika/decenija-od-formiranja-vlade-zorana-djindjica_235263.html |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Vojvodina |language=sr}} Following the extradition of Milošević to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in June 2001, members of DSS left his cabinet.{{Cite web |date=25 January 2021 |title=Dvadeset godina od formiranja vlade Zorana Đinđića |trans-title=Twenty years since the formation of Zoran Đinđić's government |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/dvadeset-godina-od-formiranje-vlade-zorana-djindjica/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121165202/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/dvadeset-godina-od-formiranje-vlade-zorana-djindjica/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}}{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=R. Jeffrey |date=29 June 2001 |title=Serb Leaders Hand Over Milosevic For Trial by War Crimes Tribunal |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/06/29/serb-leaders-hand-over-milosevic-for-trial-by-war-crimes-tribunal/a209e0ed-e7d5-428e-a462-d0999d29961c/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119070636/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/06/29/serb-leaders-hand-over-milosevic-for-trial-by-war-crimes-tribunal/a209e0ed-e7d5-428e-a462-d0999d29961c/ |archive-date=19 November 2022}} DS also adopted its new programme that marked the beginning of the party's shift towards the left. DS nominated Labus, who, at the time, was the leader of a citizens' group, in the presidential election that was organised for September 2002.{{Cite book |last=Nedović |first=Slobodanka |url=http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%209%20.pdf |title=Oko izbora 9: izveštaj sa predsedničkih izbora u Republici Srbiji (septembar-oktobar 2002) |date=2002 |publisher=CeSID |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 9: Report from the Presidential elections in the Republic of Serbia (September–October 2002) |oclc=61325884 |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111141837/http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%209%20.pdf |archive-date=11 January 2023 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=81|pages=}} The election proceeded to a second round, in which Labus placed second. However, the election was invalidated because less than 50% of registered voters turned out to vote, and another election was organised for December 2002.{{Rp|page=24|pages=}}{{Cite web |date=25 March 2017 |title=Predsednički izbori 2002. godine (I) |trans-title=2002 presidential elections (I) |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-2002-godine-i/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111141826/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-2002-godine-i/ |archive-date=11 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} Labus subsequently became the president of G17 Plus (G17+), a think tank that he registered as a political party.{{Cite web |last=Kojić |first=Nikola |date=15 May 2020 |title=Izbori 2003: Raspad DOS, Pirova pobeda Tome i Vučića i manjinska vlada Koštunice |trans-title=2003 elections: Dissolution of DOS, pyrrhic victory of Toma and Vučić, and Koštunica's minority government |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a599742-Izbori-2003-Raspad-DOS-Pirova-pobeda-Tome-i-Vucica-i-manjinska-vlada-Kostunice/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121184953/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a599742-izbori-2003-raspad-dos-pirova-pobeda-tome-i-vucica-i-manjinska-vlada-kostunice/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} DS initially stated its intent to support Koštunica in the presidential election but DSS declined their support.{{Cite book |last=Nedović |first=Slobodanka |url=http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%2010%20.pdf |title=Oko izbora 10: izveštaj sa ponovljenih predsedničkih izbora u Srbiji (8. decembar 2002. godine) |date=2002 |publisher=CeSID |location=Belgrade |pages= |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 10: Report from the repeated Presidential elections in Serbia (8 December 2002) |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124173718/http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%2010%20.pdf |archive-date=24 January 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=21|pages=}} The December 2002 presidential election was also invalidated as a result of low turnout, and a third presidential election was organised for November 2003.{{Cite web |date=25 March 2017 |title=Predsednički izbori 2002. godine (II) |trans-title=2002 presidential elections (II) |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-2002-godine-ii/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121173250/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-2002-godine-ii/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}}
Đinđić, who was opposed to organised crime, escaped an assassination attempt in February 2003.{{Cite news |last=Wood |first=Nicholas |date=19 July 2004 |title=Greeks Hold Man in Serb Killing |language=en-US |page=A6 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/19/world/greeks-hold-man-in-serb-killing.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121175055/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/19/world/greeks-hold-man-in-serb-killing.html |archive-date=21 January 2023}} Đinđić sought to tackle and reduce organised crime and corruption while he also previously introduced security measures due to the growing threats from paramilitary groups and organised crime.{{Cite web |last=Vasić |first=Miloš |date=15 March 2012 |title=Prošlo Vreme: Policija, mafija i politika - Ministar na službenom odmoru |trans-title=In the past: Police, mafia, and politics - Minister on official vacation |url=https://www.vreme.com/projekat/proslo-vreme-policija-mafija-i-politika-ministar-na-sluzbenom-odmoru/ |access-date=22 May 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=10 March 2023 |title=Zoran Đinđić u BBC programu "HARDtalk", manje od godinu pre ubistva |trans-title=Zoran Đinđić in the BBC programme "HARDtalk", less than a year before his murder |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-64909866 |access-date=22 May 2023 |website=BBC News |language=sr}} One month later, on 12 March 2003, Zvezdan Jovanović, a member of the Serbian Mafia's Zemun Clan, assassinated Đinđić as he was exiting a vehicle in front of a government building.{{Cite web |date=12 March 2003 |title=Ubijen predsednik Vlade Srbije Zoran Đinđić |trans-title=Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić killed |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2003&mm=03&dd=12&nav_category=16&nav_id=103256 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121175057/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2003&mm=03&dd=12&nav_category=16&nav_id=103256 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Tran |first=Mark |date=12 March 2003 |title=Serbian PM Shot Dead |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/mar/12/balkans |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213003715/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/mar/12/balkans |archive-date=13 December 2022 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=25 March 2003 |title=Suspected Djindjic Assassin Arrested |url=https://www.dw.com/en/suspected-djindjic-assassin-arrested/a-817291 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121175055/https://www.dw.com/en/suspected-djindjic-assassin-arrested/a-817291 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en}}
Živković succeeded Đinđić as prime minister of Serbia and as the acting president of DS.{{Cite web |date=19 March 2003 |title=New Serbian Leader Pledges Further Reforms |url=https://www.dw.com/en/new-serbian-leader-pledges-further-reforms/a-812162 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121175456/https://www.dw.com/en/new-serbian-leader-pledges-further-reforms/a-812162 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en}} In the presidential election in 2003, DS supported Mićunović as part of the DOS coalition.{{Cite web |date=25 March 2017 |title=Predsednički izbori 2003. godine |trans-title=2003 presidential elections |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-2003-godine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111141827/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-2003-godine/ |archive-date=11 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} He placed second, but the election was invalidated as a result of low (38%) voter turnout.{{Cite book |last=Nedović |first=Slobodanka |url=http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%2012.pdf |title=Oko izbora 12: izveštaj sa ponovljenih predsedničkih izbora u Republici Srbiji, 16. novembar 2003 |date=2003 |publisher=CeSID |isbn=978-86-83491-27-8 |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 12: report from the repeated Presidential elections in the Republic of Serbia, 16 November 2003 |oclc=262616515 |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120214116/http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%2012.pdf |archive-date=20 January 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=90|pages=}} During his premiership, Živković lost confidence from the Social Democratic Party, after which he announced that he would not reshuffle his cabinet but prefer to organise a snap parliamentary election instead; Nataša Mićić, the president of the National Assembly, called for the election to be held in December 2003.{{Cite book |last=Lučić |first=Zoran |url=http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%2013.pdf |title=Oko izbora 13: izveštaj sa vanrednih parlamentarnih izbora u Republici Srbiji, 28. decembar 2003. godine |date=2004 |publisher=CeSID |isbn=978-86-83491-28-5 |location=Belgrade |publication-date=21 January 2023 |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 13: report from the extraordinary parliamentary elections in the Republic of Serbia, 28 December 2003 |oclc=262616269 |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121013848/http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%2013.pdf |archive-date=21 January 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=12|pages=}} DOS then disbanded, and DS nominated Tadić to represent its list in the election instead. DS was on a joint ballot list with DSS, DC, Social Democratic Union (SDU), and List for Sandžak (LZS).{{Rp|page=19|pages=}} The DS list won 37 seats in the National Assembly, out of which 22 went to DS alone, resulting in DS being in opposition.{{Rp|page=19|pages=}}
At the party congress in February 2004, Tadić and Živković nominated themselves as candidates for the presidency, with the former ultimately becoming the president on 22 February 2004. Mićunović's party merged with DS after Tadić's election as president of DS. Otpor, an organisation that played a key role in the overthrow of Milošević, also merged into DS in 2004.{{Cite web |last1=Živanović |first1=Igor |last2=Tošović |first2=Ivana |date=11 November 2008 |title=Vođe pobune otišle u politiku, biznis ili anonimnost |trans-title=The leaders of the rebellion went into politics, business, or anonymity |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/vodje-pobune-otisle-u-politiku-biznis-ili-anonimnost/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126130350/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/vodje-pobune-otisle-u-politiku-biznis-ili-anonimnost/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}}
The National Assembly amended the Law on the Election of the President of the Republic in February 2004, abolishing the 50% voter turnout requirement in presidential elections.{{Cite web |date=25 March 2017 |title=Predsednički izbori 2004. godine |trans-title=2004 presidential elections |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-2004-godine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106200715/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-2004-godine/ |archive-date=6 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} DS then nominated Tadić as its presidential candidate in the election that was scheduled for June 2004.{{Cite report |url=https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/8/c/37536.pdf |title=Republic of Serbia, Serbia and Montenegro, Presidential Election, 13 and 27 June 2004: OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Final Report |last=Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe |first=Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights |date=22 September 2004 |location=Warsaw |author-link=Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights |access-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201133733/https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/8/c/37536.pdf |archive-date=1 February 2023 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=5|pages=}}{{Cite web |date=28 June 2004 |title=Serbs Face Clear Choice in Presidential Polls |url=https://www.dw.com/en/serbs-face-clear-choice-in-presidential-polls/a-1247564 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121194015/https://www.dw.com/en/serbs-face-clear-choice-in-presidential-polls/a-1247564 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en}} Tadić placed second in the first round, but won in the second round with 53% of the popular vote, defeating Tomislav Nikolić of SRS. In December 2004, Tadić expelled Jovanović from the party for breaching party protocol; Jovanović formed the Liberal Democratic Party a year later.
= 2005–2012: the Tadić years =
File:Završna konvencija DS u Beogradu.jpg
During Tadić's first term as president of Serbia, he apologised to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia for Serbia's role in the Yugoslav Wars and pursued a pro-Western foreign policy.{{Cite news |date=6 December 2004 |title=Serb Leader Apologises in Bosnia |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4072949.stm |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012113039/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4072949.stm |archive-date=12 October 2021}}{{Cite web |date=24 June 2007 |title=Tadić se izvinio građanima Hrvatske |trans-title=Tadić apologises to the citizens of Croatia |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2007&mm=06&dd=24&nav_category=11&nav_id=252551 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121222811/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2007&mm=06&dd=24&nav_category=11&nav_id=252551 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=3 February 2008 |title=Pro-Western Tadic Wins New Term in Serbia Runoff |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/03/serbia/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121222811/https://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/03/serbia/index.html |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=CNN}} He was reelected, unopposed, as DS president at the party's congress in 2006. In late 2006, G17+ withdrew from Koštunica's government which led Tadić to schedule a snap parliamentary election for January 2007.{{Cite web |last=Kojić |first=Nikola |date=22 May 2020 |title=Izbori 2007: SRS ponovo pobedio, ali vladu formirali Tadić, Koštunica i Dinkić |trans-title=2007 elections: SRS won again, but the government was formed by Tadić, Koštunica, and Dinkić |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a602199-Izbori-2007-SRS-ponovo-pobedio-ali-vladu-formirali-Tadic-Kostunica-i-Dinkic/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121231634/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a602199-izbori-2007-srs-ponovo-pobedio-ali-vladu-formirali-tadic-kostunica-i-dinkic/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite book |last=Mihailović |first=Srećko |url=http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%2015.pdf |title=Oko izbora 15: parlamentarni izbori u Republici Srbiji, 21. januara 2007 |date=2007 |publisher=CeSID |isbn=978-86-83491-43-8 |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 15: Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Serbia, 21 January 2007 |oclc=262615553 |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120230957/http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%2015.pdf |archive-date=20 January 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=23|pages=}} DS chose Ružica Đinđić, the spouse of Zoran Đinđić, as their ballot representative, campaigning on continuing Đinđić's legacy and fighting against corruption. DS also promised not to form a coalition government with SPS or SRS.{{Cite web |last=Milošević |first=Milan |date=15 November 2006 |title=Duga vrela zima |trans-title=A long hot winter |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/duga-vrela-zima/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124230057/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/duga-vrela-zima/ |archive-date=24 January 2023 |access-date=24 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} DS won over 900,000 votes{{Cite web |date=29 April 2008 |title=Izbori 2007 |trans-title=2007 election |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/izbori-2007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124230058/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/izbori-2007/ |archive-date=24 January 2023 |access-date=24 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} and negotiated with DSS and G17+ to form a coalition government; Koštunica remained as prime minister and Božidar Đelić of DS was appointed deputy prime minister in his cabinet. In December 2007, Oliver Dulić, the president of the National Assembly, announced that he had scheduled presidential elections for January 2008.{{Cite web |date=13 December 2007 |title=Predsednički izbori 20. januara |trans-title=Presidential elections on 20 January |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/predsednicki-izbori-20-januara/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125131807/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/predsednicki-izbori-20-januara/ |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} DS nominated Tadić for reelection.{{Cite book |last=Mihailović |first=Srećko |url=http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%2016.pdf |title=Oko izbora 16: predsednički izbori 20. januara i 3. februara 2008. godine |date=2008 |publisher=CeSID |isbn=978-86-83491-46-9 |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 16: Presidential elections on 20 January and 3 February 2008 |oclc=823319307 |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121035323/http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/OKO%20IZBORA%2016.pdf |archive-date=21 January 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=46|pages=}} He again faced Nikolić in the second round of the election and was successfully re-elected.{{Rp|page=19|pages=}}{{Cite web |date=25 March 2017 |title=Predsednički izbori 2008. godine |trans-title=2008 presidential elections |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-2008-godine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106220934/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-2008-godine/ |archive-date=6 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}}
Shortly after the 2008 presidential election, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia.{{Cite news |date=17 February 2008 |title=Proglašena nezavisnost |language=sr |trans-title=Independence has been proclaimed |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/992097.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125131811/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/992097.html |archive-date=25 January 2023}} Kosovo's declaration of independence, as well as the issue of European integration, resulted in a political crisis between DS and G17+ on one side and DSS on the other.{{Cite web |last=Kojić |first=Nikola |date=27 May 2020 |title=Izbori 2008: DS ispred SRS, Dačić izabrao Tadića i ostavio Koštunicu bez vlasti |trans-title=2008 elections: DS ahead of SRS, Dačić chose Tadić and left Koštunica without power |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a603770-Izbori-2008-DS-ispred-SRS-Dacic-izabrao-Tadica-i-ostavio-Kostunicu-bez-vlasti/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125135521/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a603770-izbori-2008-ds-ispred-srs-dacic-izabrao-tadica-i-ostavio-kostunicu-bez-vlasti/ |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} Koštunica embraced anti-Western positions and was a hardliner on the Kosovo issue; he blamed his coalition partners for "creating an unworkable rift in the government" during his resignation speech.{{Cite news |date=8 March 2008 |title=FACTBOX: Serbia's Kostunica, Western ally turned adversary |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-serbia-kosovo-kostunica-idUSL0872298020080308 |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Cvetković |first=Ljudmila |date=25 September 2007 |title=Koštunica, Kosovo i SAD |language=sr |trans-title=Koštunica, Kosovo and USA |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/707230.html |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Tran |first=Mark |date=15 February 2008 |title=Kostunica, the main loser over Kosovo |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/15/serbia.kosovo |access-date=22 May 2023 |issn=0261-3077}} Koštunica also said that "he could no longer govern in a coalition with DS", and as a result, Tadić announced a snap parliamentary election for May 2008.{{Cite news |last=Bilefsky |first=Dan |date=9 March 2008 |title=Serbian Elections Loom as President and Prime Minister Spar |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/world/europe/09iht-serbia.1.10833934.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125135517/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/world/europe/09iht-serbia.1.10833934.html |archive-date=25 January 2023 |issn=}}{{Cite web |last=Stratton |first=Allegra |date=13 March 2008 |title=Serbian President Dissolves Parliament |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/13/serbia.kosovo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125135521/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/13/serbia.kosovo |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} Prior to the election, DS formed the For a European Serbia (ZES) coalition composed of DS, G17+, SDP, SPO, the Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina (DSHV), and the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV).{{Cite book |last=Mihailović |first=Srećko |url=http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/Oko%20izbora%2017.pdf |title=Oko izbora 17: parlamentni izbori u Srbiji, 11. maj 2008. godine |date=2008 |publisher=CeSID |isbn=978-86-83491-47-6 |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 17: Parliamentary elections in Serbia, 11 May 2008 |oclc=643900495 |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121004218/http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/Oko%20izbora%2017.pdf |archive-date=21 January 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=45|pages=}} This coalition nominated Mićunović as their ballot representative and campaigned on continuing negotiations for the accession of Serbia to the European Union. ZES placed first, winning 102 seats in the National Assembly; DS won 64 seats out of those 102.{{Rp|page=142|pages=}}{{Cite web |date=23 May 2008 |title=Izbori 2008 |trans-title=2008 elections |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/izbori-2008/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106220937/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/izbori-2008/ |archive-date=6 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} After the election, DS was excluded from government formation talks, and in June 2008, it entered talks with SPS to form a coalition government.{{Rp|page=|pages=153–154}} DS and SPS agreed to continue Serbia's accession to the European Union, work on fighting crime and corruption, and enact social justice reforms to help the vulnerable sections of the population.{{Rp|page=|pages=154–156}} DS and SPS formalised their cooperation after the election by signing a reconciliation agreement.{{Cite web |last=Kojić |first=Nikola |date=5 June 2020 |title=Izbori 2012: Poraz Tadića i DS, Dačićev preokret i dolazak SNS na vlast |trans-title=2012 elections: Defeat of Tadić and DS, Dačić's turnaround and SNS coming to power |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a606907-izbori-2012-poraz-tadica-i-ds-dacicev-preokret-i-dolazak-sns-na-vlast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121142011/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a606907-izbori-2012-poraz-tadica-i-ds-dacicev-preokret-i-dolazak-sns-na-vlast/ |archive-date=21 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} The new government was formed in July 2008, with Mirko Cvetković, an independent politician affiliated with DS,{{Cite web |title=Mirko Cvetković |url=https://www.istinomer.rs/akter/mirko-cvetkovic/ |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Istinomer |language=sr |archive-date=21 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621074405/https://www.istinomer.rs/akter/mirko-cvetkovic/ |url-status=live }} serving as prime minister and Ivica Dačić, the leader of SPS, serving as deputy prime minister.
The DS-led government was faced with the arrest and trial of Radovan Karadžić, the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence, and the 2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession.{{Cite book |last=Vuković |first=Đorđe |url=http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/Oko%20izbora%2018.pdf |title=Oko izbora 18: predsednički i parlamentarni izbori maj 2012 |date=2012 |publisher=CeSID |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 18: May 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections |access-date=6 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923145813/http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/Oko%20izbora%2018.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2021 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|pages=11–13}} The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), now led by Nikolić, arranged mass protests in 2011, demanding that Tadić call snap elections;{{Cite news |last=Vasović |first=Aleksandar |date=5 February 2011 |title=Serbia holds biggest opposition protest in years |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-serbia-rally-idUKTRE71418Q20110205 |url-status=live |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202191638/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-serbia-rally-idUKTRE71418Q20110205 |archive-date=2 December 2021}} Tadić called an election in March 2012 to be held two months later in May.{{Cite web |date=29 June 2011 |title=Report: Elections to be held in spring 2012 |url=https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2011&mm=06&dd=29&nav_id=75165 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205812/https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2011&mm=06&dd=29&nav_id=75165 |archive-date=30 November 2022 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=13 March 2012 |title=Raspisani parlamentarni izbori |trans-title=Parliamentary elections have been called |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/1950/izbori-2012/1061888/raspisani-parlamentarni-izbori.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125180153/https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/1950/izbori-2012/1061888/raspisani-parlamentarni-izbori.html |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}} In April, however, Tadić announced that he would resign as president and that presidential elections would be held on the same day as the parliamentary election.{{Cite web |date=4 April 2012 |title=Tadić odlučio da "skrati mandat" |trans-title=Tadić decided to "shorten his mandate" |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/tadic-odlucio-da-skrati-mandat/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125180156/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/tadic-odlucio-da-skrati-mandat/ |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} DS led the Choice for a Better Life (IZBŽ) coalition that also included DSHV, LSV, the Social Democratic Party of Serbia, the Greens of Serbia, and the Christian Democratic Party of Serbia.{{Cite web |title=Članice koalicije "Izbor za bolji život" |trans-title=Members of the "Choice for a Better Life" coalition |url=http://izbori2012.istinomer.rs/koalicije-stranke/izbori-za-bolji-zivot-boris-tadic/clanice/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425030607/http://izbori2012.istinomer.rs/koalicije-stranke/izbori-za-bolji-zivot-boris-tadic/clanice/ |archive-date=25 April 2012 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Istinomer |language=sr}} Dragan Đilas, the deputy president of DS and mayor of Belgrade, was chosen as the coalition's ballot representative. DS campaigned on economic recovery, emphasising attracting foreign investments and developing small business. IZBŽ placed second, winning 67 seats, and 49 of those were won by DS alone.{{Rp|pages=|page=34}}{{Cite news |date=6 May 2012 |title=SNS najjači u Skupštini, Nikolić i Tadić u drugom krugu, Đilas vodi u Beogradu |language=sr |trans-title=SNS the strongest in the Assembly, Nikolić and Tadić in the second round, Đilas leads in Belgrade |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija_izbori_rezultati_preliminarni/24572065.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610064115/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija_izbori_rezultati_preliminarni/24572065.html |archive-date=10 June 2016}} In the presidential election, Tadić placed first in the first round of voting, but lost to Nikolić in the second.{{Rp|pages=|page=22}}{{Cite web |last=Janković |first=Marija |date=20 May 2022 |title=Izbori koji su promenili sve: Kako su naprednjaci 2012. preuzeli vlast u Srbiji |trans-title=Elections that changed everything: How Progressives took power in Serbia in 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-61229550 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107004103/https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-61229550 |archive-date=7 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=BBC News |language=sr}}
Following the 2012 parliamentary election, SPS successfully formed a government with SNS, and DS went into opposition.{{Cite book |last=Orlović |first=Slaviša |url=https://www.fpn.bg.ac.rs/wp-content/uploads/Izbori-i-formiranje-vlade-u-Srbiji-2012..pdf |title=Izbori i formiranje Vlade u Srbiji 2012. |date=2012 |publisher=Fakultet političkih nauka {{endash}} Centar za demokratiju |isbn=978-86-84031-55-8 |editor-last=Čupić |editor-first=Čedomir |location=Belgrade |pages=110 |language=sr |trans-title=Elections and formation of the government in Serbia in 2012 |oclc=880959865 |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125183934/https://www.fpn.bg.ac.rs/wp-content/uploads/Izbori-i-formiranje-vlade-u-Srbiji-2012..pdf |archive-date=25 January 2023 |url-status=live}} Đilas, who was re-elected as mayor of Belgrade, was positioned as a prominent candidate to succeed Tadić as president of DS.{{Cite news |last=Krtinić |first=M. |date=13 June 2012 |title=Dragan Đilas ponovo gradonačelnik |language=sr |trans-title=Dragan Đilas is the mayor again |website=Danas |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/beograd/dragan-djilas-ponovo-gradonacelnik/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194130/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/beograd/dragan-djilas-ponovo-gradonacelnik/ |archive-date=25 January 2023}}{{Cite news |date=21 May 2012 |title=Former Nationalist Ousts Tadic |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/eastern-approaches/2012/05/21/former-nationalist-ousts-tadic |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194131/https://www.economist.com/eastern-approaches/2012/05/21/former-nationalist-ousts-tadic |archive-date=25 January 2023}} An extraordinary party congress was called for 25 November 2012, with Đilas and Branimir Kuzmanović put forward as the only candidates to succeed Tadić as president of DS.{{Cite web |date=21 November 2012 |title=Đilas i Kuzmanović kandidati za lidera DS-a |trans-title=Đilas and Kuzmanović are candidates for the leader of the DS |url=https://balkans.aljazeera.net/news/balkan/2012/11/21/dilas-i-kuzmanovic-kandidati-za-lidera-ds |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194148/https://balkans.aljazeera.net/news/balkan/2012/11/21/dilas-i-kuzmanovic-kandidati-za-lidera-ds |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Al Jazeera |language=sr}} Đilas was elected president in a landslide victory and Tadić was awarded the title of an honorary president.{{Cite web |date=25 November 2012 |title=Uskoro plan za izlazak iz krize |trans-title=A plan to get out of the crisis soon |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=11&dd=25&nav_category=11&nav_id=663294 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194140/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=11&dd=25&nav_category=11&nav_id=663294 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=25 November 2012 |title=Đilas novi predsednik DS-a |trans-title=Đilas is the new president of DS |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/1217724/djilas-novi-predsednik-ds-a.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194158/https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/1217724/djilas-novi-predsednik-ds-a.html |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}} Additionally, Pajtić was re-elected as vice-president and was joined by Nataša Vučković, Vesna Martinović, Dejan Nikolić, Miodrag Rakić, Goran Ćirić, and Jovan Marković.{{Cite web |last=Barlovac |first=Bojana |date=26 November 2012 |title=Belgrade Mayor Djilas Takes Over Helm of Democrats |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2012/11/26/belgrade-mayor-djilas-takes-over-helm-of-democrats/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194139/https://balkaninsight.com/2012/11/26/belgrade-mayor-djilas-takes-over-helm-of-democrats/ |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US}} Živković criticised the measure to award Tadić the honorary president title and described it as a "rotten compromise between Đilas and Tadić"; this led to his departure from DS.{{Cite news |last=Trivić |first=Branka |date=17 December 2012 |title=Zamislite da je Đinđić imao kiosk, a kamoli medijsku agenciju |language=sr |trans-title=Imagine if Đinđić had a kiosk, let alone a media agency |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/zivkovic-djilasovi-istupi-nemaju-veze-sa-nacelima-ds/24800476.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194135/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/zivkovic-djilasovi-istupi-nemaju-veze-sa-nacelima-ds/24800476.html |archive-date=25 January 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Petrović |first=Ivica |date=5 November 2012 |title=Odlazak Tadića u političku penziju |trans-title=Tadić's political retirement |url=https://www.dw.com/sr/odlazak-tadi%C4%87a-u-politi%C4%8Dku-penziju/a-16355433 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194129/https://www.dw.com/sr/odlazak-tadi%C4%87a-u-politi%C4%8Dku-penziju/a-16355433 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=sr}} After leaving DS, Živković announced the formation of the New Party (Nova).{{Cite web |date=7 April 2013 |title=Osnovana Nova stranka |trans-title=The New Party was founded |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/1300384/osnovana-nova-stranka.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194147/https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/1300384/osnovana-nova-stranka.html |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Radio-televizija Srbije |language=sr}} As president of DS, Đilas ordered former government ministers to resign from the National Assembly.{{Cite web |date=27 December 2012 |title=Đilas: Jedna stranka, jedna politika |trans-title=Đilas: One party, one policy |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=12&dd=27&nav_category=11&nav_id=672644 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194135/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=12&dd=27&nav_category=11&nav_id=672644 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}} This order received support from Tadić, but was criticised by Mićunović and Dušan Petrović, the former minister of agriculture, who refused to resign.{{Cite web |date=11 December 2012 |title=Neću da vratim mandat |trans-title=I will not return the mandate |url=https://www.b92.net/info/intervju/index.php?yyyy=2012&nav_id=668179 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194150/https://www.b92.net/info/intervju/index.php?yyyy=2012&nav_id=668179 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}
= 2013–2017: Internal crisis =
Petrović was expelled from DS in January 2013{{Cite web |date=31 January 2013 |title=DS: Petrović i još troje isključeni |trans-title=DS: Petrović and three others expelled |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=01&dd=31&nav_category=11&nav_id=682603 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125211426/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=01&dd=31&nav_category=11&nav_id=682603 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}} and subsequently formed a parliamentary group named Together for Serbia (ZZS) which was later registered as a political party.{{Cite web |date=25 February 2013 |title=Zajedno za Srbiju - novi poslanički klub |trans-title=Together for Serbia - a new parliamentary group |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/1273540/zajedno-za-srbiju---novi-poslanicki-klub.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125211420/https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/1273540/zajedno-za-srbiju---novi-poslanicki-klub.html |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=20 October 2013 |title=Zajedno za Srbiju postaje stranka |trans-title=Together for Serbia becomes a political party |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/1423138/zajedno-za-srbiju-postaje-stranaka-.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125211419/https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/1423138/zajedno-za-srbiju-postaje-stranaka-.html |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}} Former minister of foreign affairs Vuk Jeremić was expelled from DS in February 2013.{{Cite web |date=14 February 2013 |title=I Vuk Jeremić isključen iz DS-a |trans-title=And Vuk Jeremić has been expelled from DS |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=02&dd=14&nav_category=11&nav_id=686906 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194132/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=02&dd=14&nav_category=11&nav_id=686906 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}} Jeremić claimed that the party's decision was unconstitutional and filed a suit in the Constitutional Court.{{Cite web |date=19 February 2013 |title=Odluka DS o mandatima krši Ustav |trans-title=DS' decision on mandates violates the Constitution |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=02&dd=19&nav_category=11&nav_id=688164 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123113005/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=02&dd=19&nav_category=11&nav_id=688164 |archive-date=23 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}} His appeal was rejected; Jeremić complied with the decision and left DS, although he kept his seat in the National Assembly.{{Cite web |date=23 April 2013 |title=USS nenadležan za mandat Jeremića |trans-title=Constitutional Court of Serbia has no jurisdiction over Jeremić's mandate |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=04&dd=23&nav_category=11&nav_id=707539 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123114033/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=04&dd=23&nav_category=11&nav_id=707539 |archive-date=23 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}} DS also dropped to 13 percent support amongst the public while SNS received over 40 percent.{{Cite web |date=27 February 2013 |title=SNS na istorijskom maksimumu - 41% |trans-title=SNS at historical maximum - 41% |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=02&dd=27&nav_category=11&nav_id=690602 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025165227/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=02&dd=27&nav_category=11&nav_id=690602 |archive-date=25 October 2022 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}} In September 2013, SNS filed a motion of no confidence against Đilas, resulting in his dismissal.{{Cite web |date=24 September 2013 |title=Đilas smenjen sa mesta gradonačelnika |trans-title=Đilas dismissed from the post of mayor |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/1400948/djilas-smenjen-sa-mesta-gradonacelnika.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125213215/https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/1400948/djilas-smenjen-sa-mesta-gradonacelnika.html |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}}{{Cite news |last=Glavonjić |first=Zoran |date=24 September 2013 |title=Gradonačelnik Beograda Đilas smenjen, optužuje Vučića za koncentraciju vlasti |language=sr |trans-title=Mayor of Belgrade Đilas dismissed, accuses Vučić of concentration of power |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/beograd-gradska-skupstina-o-smeni-djilasa/25116219.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125213239/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/beograd-gradska-skupstina-o-smeni-djilasa/25116219.html |archive-date=25 January 2023}} SNS cited DS' poor results and asserted that "DS lost legitimacy" as reasons for the motion while Đilas stated that "this is the beginning of a dictatorship and a one-party system" (smatra da je to uvod u diktaturu i jednopartijski sistem).{{Cite web |last=Petrović |first=Ivica |date=26 September 2013 |title=Smjena Đilasa - uvod u diktaturu u Srbiji? |trans-title=The removal of Đilas - an introduction to dictatorship in Serbia? |url=https://www.dw.com/hr/smjena-%C4%91ilasa-uvod-u-diktaturu-u-srbiji/a-17114766 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125213213/https://www.dw.com/hr/smjena-%C4%91ilasa-uvod-u-diktaturu-u-srbiji/a-17114766 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=hr}} As a consequence, local boards of DS called for Đilas to resign as president of DS. Tadić was accused of conspiring against Đilas in a bid to return to the post of president of DS, and the accusations called attention to the conflict between Đilas and Tadić.{{Cite news |last=Mihajlović |first=Branka |date=13 January 2014 |title=Demokratska stranka na udaru Tadića i Đilasa |language=sr |trans-title=The Democratic Party under attack from Tadić and Đilas |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/demokrastak-stranka-na-udaru-tadica-i-djilasa/25228419.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125215719/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/demokrastak-stranka-na-udaru-tadica-i-djilasa/25228419.html |archive-date=25 January 2023}} This resulted in an internal party motion of no confidence against Đilas, which he survived.{{Cite web |date=19 January 2014 |title=Đilas ostaje na čelu DS |trans-title=Đilas remains head of DS |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=01&dd=19&nav_category=11&nav_id=801742 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125215714/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=01&dd=19&nav_category=11&nav_id=801742 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=20 January 2014 |title=Serbia's Democrats Reaffirm Djilas as Leader |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2014/01/20/djilas-remains-chief-of-democrats/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125215716/https://balkaninsight.com/2014/01/20/djilas-remains-chief-of-democrats/ |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US}} Đilas and Pajtić also suggested that an extraordinary congress should be held after the Belgrade City Assembly election which was ultimately scheduled for March 2014. Tadić left DS on 30 January 2014, citing his disagreement with party leadership.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2014 |title=Boris Tadić izašao iz DS |trans-title=Boris Tadić leaves DS |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=01&dd=30&nav_category=11&nav_id=806281 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125215713/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=01&dd=30&nav_category=11&nav_id=806281 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=30 January 2014 |title=Boris Tadic Quits Serbia's Democratic Party |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2014/01/30/boris-tadic-quits-democratic-party/ |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US |archive-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125215714/https://balkaninsight.com/2014/01/30/boris-tadic-quits-democratic-party/ |url-status=live }} Shortly after, Tadić announced that he would begin collecting signatures to register his new party, the New Democratic Party{{Cite web |date=4 February 2014 |title=Tadić od sutra prikuplja potpise |trans-title=Tadić is collecting signatures from tomorrow |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=02&dd=04&nav_category=11&nav_id=808093 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125215716/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=02&dd=04&nav_category=11&nav_id=808093 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}} later renamed the Social Democratic Party,{{Cite web |date=7 October 2014 |title=Former President's Party Changes Name |url=https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2014&mm=10&dd=07&nav_id=91820 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125215719/https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2014&mm=10&dd=07&nav_id=91820 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=en}} to participate in the snap parliamentary election scheduled to be held on the same day as the Belgrade City Assembly election.{{Cite web |date=29 January 2014 |title=Nek su nam srećni novi izbori |trans-title=Good luck with the new elections |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=01&dd=29&nav_category=11&nav_id=805708 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202191647/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=01&dd=29&nav_category=11&nav_id=805708 |archive-date=2 December 2021 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}
DS announced that it would take part in the 2014 parliamentary election with Nova, DSHV, Rich Serbia, and the United Trade Unions of Serbia "Sloga" as part of the With the Democratic Party for a Democratic Serbia coalition.{{Cite web |date=6 February 2014 |title=Democrats Announce Coalition for March Elections |url=https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2014&mm=02&dd=06&nav_id=89236 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125224731/https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2014&mm=02&dd=06&nav_id=89236 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=7 February 2014 |title=Formirana koalicija Sa DS za demokratsku Srbiju |trans-title=With DS for a Democratic Serbia coalition has been formed |url=https://www.rtv.rs/sr_ci/politika/formirana-koalicija-sa-ds-za-demokratsku-srbiju_459774.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125224729/https://www.rtv.rs/sr_ci/politika/formirana-koalicija-sa-ds-za-demokratsku-srbiju_459774.html |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Vojvodina |language=sr}} The coalition only won 19 seats in the National Assembly; DS won 17 seats and Nova won 2.{{Cite book |last=Klačar |first=Bojan |url=http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/Oko%20izbora%2019.pdf |title=Oko izbora 19: parlamentarni izbori u Republici Srbiji 16. marta 2014. godine |date=2014 |publisher=CeSID |isbn=978-86-83491-55-1 |location=Belgrade |pages= |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 19: Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Serbia on 16 March 2014 |oclc=1062285433 |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120134438/http://www.cesid.rs/pdfovi/Oko%20izbora%2019.pdf |archive-date=20 January 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=77}}{{Cite web |date=13 February 2014 |title=Kandidati za poslanike 2014 (3) |trans-title=2014 candidates for deputies (3) |url=https://www.vreme.com/projekat/kandidati-za-poslanike-2014-3/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125224726/https://www.vreme.com/projekat/kandidati-za-poslanike-2014-3/ |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} In the Belgrade City Assembly election, the DS coalition won 22 seats.{{Cite web |date=17 March 2014 |title=Konačni rezultati izbora za Beograd |trans-title=Final election results for Belgrade |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/2208/izbori-2014/1550749/konacni-rezultati-izbora-za-beograd.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427140856/http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/2208/izbori-2014/1550749/konacni-rezultati-izbora-za-beograd.html |archive-date=27 April 2016 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}} After the elections, an extraordinary congress was organised on 31 May 2014.{{Cite web |date=6 May 2014 |title=Pajtić ipak ide protiv Đilasa? |trans-title=Pajtić still going against Đilas? |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=05&dd=06&nav_category=11&nav_id=844311 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125224726/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=05&dd=06&nav_category=11&nav_id=844311 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=31 May 2014 |title=DS bira novog predsjednika: Đilas ili Pajtić? |trans-title=DS elects a new president: Đilas or Pajtić? |url=https://www.vijesti.me/svijet/balkan/232113/ds-bira-novog-predsjednika-dilas-ili-pajtic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125224742/https://www.vijesti.me/svijet/balkan/232113/ds-bira-novog-predsjednika-dilas-ili-pajtic |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Vijesti |language=sr}} Pajtić faced Đilas; the former was successfully elected as president of DS.{{Cite web |date=31 May 2014 |title=Bojan Pajtić novi predsednik DS |trans-title=Bojan Pajtić is the new president of DS |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=05&dd=31&nav_category=11&nav_id=855405 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125224728/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2014&mm=05&dd=31&nav_category=11&nav_id=855405 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}{{Cite news |last=Pančić |first=Teofil |date=2 June 2014 |title=Bojan Pajtić, ili: poslednja šansa za DS |language=sr |trans-title=Bojan Pajtić, or: the last chance for DS |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/bojan-pajtic-ili-poslednja-sansa-za-ds/25407238.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125224739/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/bojan-pajtic-ili-poslednja-sansa-za-ds/25407238.html |archive-date=25 January 2023}} Đilas subsequently resigned from his position as a member of the National Assembly and left DS in June 2016.{{Cite web |last=Kojić |first=Nikola |date=17 June 2020 |title=Izbori 2016: Bitka za cenzus, povratak Šešelja i Vučićev drugi mandat |trans-title=2016 elections: The battle for the threshold, the return of Šešelj and Vučić's second term |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a610728-Izbori-2016-Bitka-za-cenzus-povratak-Seselja-i-Vucicev-drugi-mandat/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126003232/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a610728-izbori-2016-bitka-za-cenzus-povratak-seselja-i-vucicev-drugi-mandat/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Valtner |first=Lidija |date=30 June 2016 |title=Đilas se iščlanio iz Demokratske stranke |trans-title=Đilas disaffiliated from the Democratic Party |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/djilas-se-isclanio-iz-demokratske-stranke/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124121544/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/djilas-se-isclanio-iz-demokratske-stranke/ |archive-date=24 November 2021 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} Borko Stefanović, a vice-president of DS, left the party in December 2015, citing ideological differences, and then formed the Serbian Left (LS).{{Cite web |last=Gedošević |first=L. |date=10 December 2015 |title=Borko Stefanović napustio DS: Sve najbolje im želim |trans-title=Borko Stefanović left DS: I wish them all the best |url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/politika/borko-stefanovic-napustio-ds-sve-najbolje-im-zelim/3t7qphr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027224643/https://www.blic.rs/vesti/politika/borko-stefanovic-napustio-ds-sve-najbolje-im-zelim/3t7qphr |archive-date=27 October 2021 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=Blic |language=sr}} In March 2016, Nikolić called for snap parliamentary elections to take place in April 2016.{{Cite web |date=4 March 2016 |title=Nikolić raspisao izbore: Želim da pobedi SNS |trans-title=Nikolić calls the elections: I want SNS to win |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2016&mm=03&dd=04&nav_category=11&nav_id=1103685 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202205806/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2016&mm=03&dd=04&nav_category=11&nav_id=1103685 |archive-date=2 December 2021 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}} DS then formed the "For a Just Serbia" coalition with Nova, ZZS, DSHV, and Together for Šumadija.{{Cite web |date=28 April 2016 |title=Izborni rezultat 2016 |trans-title=2016 election results |url=https://www.vreme.com/projekat/izborni-rezultat-2016/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925080108/https://www.vreme.com/projekat/izborni-rezultat-2016/ |archive-date=25 September 2022 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} The coalition won 16 seats in the National Assembly, 12 of which were occupied by DS.{{Cite book |last=Klačar |first=Bojan |url=http://www.cesid.rs/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Oko-izbora-20.pdf |title=Oko izbora 20: parlamentarni izbori 24. aprila 2016. godine i predsednički izbori 2. aprila 2017. godine u Republici Srbiji |date=2018 |publisher=CeSID |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 20: parliamentary elections on 24 April 2016 and presidential elections on 2 April 2017 in the Republic of Serbia |access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026122721/http://www.cesid.rs/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Oko-izbora-20.pdf |archive-date=26 October 2019 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|pages=|page=10}}{{Cite web |title=Poslanička grupa Demokratska stranka |trans-title=Democratic Party parliamentary group |url=https://otvoreniparlament.rs/poslanicki-klub/351 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129100437/https://otvoreniparlament.rs/poslanicki-klub/351 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Otvoreni Parlament |language=sr}} After the election, a party congress was organised for 24 September 2016.{{Cite web |last=Valtner |first=Lidija |date=7 September 2016 |title=Realan drugi krug izbora u DS |trans-title=A second round of elections in DS is realistic |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/realan-drugi-krug-izbora-u-ds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126003230/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/realan-drugi-krug-izbora-u-ds/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} Pajtić faced Dragan Šutanovac, Zoran Lutovac, and Srboljub Antić in the leadership election.{{Cite web |date=24 September 2016 |title=Novi lider demokrata Dragan Šutanovac obećao da DS ostaje jedan tim |trans-title=The new leader of the Democrats, Dragan Šutanovac, promises that DS would remain one team |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/novi-lider-demokrata-dragan-sutanovac-obecao-da-ds-ostaje-jedan-tim/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126003233/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/novi-lider-demokrata-dragan-sutanovac-obecao-da-ds-ostaje-jedan-tim/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} He ultimately lost to Šutanovac in the first round. Marković, Branislav Lečić, Nada Kolundžija, Goran Salak, and Tamara Tripić were elected vice-presidents.{{Cite web |date=24 September 2016 |title=Srbija: Dragan Šutanovac novi lider Demokratske stranke |trans-title=Serbia: Dragan Šutanovac is the new leader of the Democratic Party |url=https://www.vijesti.me/svijet/balkan/112837/srbija-dragan-sutanovac-novi-lider-demokratske-stranke |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126003506/https://www.vijesti.me/svijet/balkan/112837/srbija-dragan-sutanovac-novi-lider-demokratske-stranke |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Vijesti |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=24 September 2016 |title=Dragan Šutanovac izabran za novog predsednika DS |trans-title=Dragan Šutanovac has been elected as the new president of the DS |url=https://autonomija.info/dragan-sutanovac-izabran-za-novog-predsednika-ds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126003233/https://autonomija.info/dragan-sutanovac-izabran-za-novog-predsednika-ds/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Autonomija |language=sr}}
In January 2017, Šutanovac announced that DS would support Saša Janković in the 2017 presidential election instead of filing its own candidate.{{Cite web |last=Ćirić |first=S. |date=15 January 2017 |title=Podrška demokrata Jankoviću |trans-title=Democrats' support for Janković |url=https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/372136/%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%80%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B0-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%88%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%9B%D1%83 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126172510/https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/372136/%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%80%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B0-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%88%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%9B%D1%83 |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Politika |language=sr}}{{Cite news |last1=Mihajlović |first1=Branka |last2=Martinović |first2=Iva |date=19 February 2017 |title=Saša Janković: Vratićemo otetu državu |language=sr |trans-title=Saša Janković: We will return the stolen state |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/sasa-jankovic-prvi-skup-beograd/28318472.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126172511/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/sasa-jankovic-prvi-skup-beograd/28318472.html |archive-date=26 January 2023}} DS also called for other parties to rally around Janković as a joint opposition candidate.{{Cite web |date=17 February 2017 |title=DS: Okupiti se oko Jankovića |trans-title=DS: Gather around Janković |url=https://rtv.rs/sr_ci/politika/ds-okupiti-se-oko-jankovica_800814.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126172504/https://rtv.rs/sr_ci/politika/ds-okupiti-se-oko-jankovica_800814.html |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Vojvodina |language=sr}} During the campaign, Janković used the infrastructure of DS to position himself as the leader of the opposition.{{Rp|pages=|page=12}} He placed second behind Aleksandar Vučić of SNS, winning only 16% of the popular vote.{{Cite web |date=18 April 2017 |title=RIK rezultati izbora |trans-title=RIK's election results |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a242882-RIK-rezultati-izbora/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126221955/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a242882-rik-rezultati-izbora/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} After the election, Janković stopped cooperating with DS and formed the Movement of Free Citizens (PSG) in May 2017.{{Rp|pages=|page=93}}{{Cite news |last=Nešić |first=Milan |date=21 May 2017 |title=Osnovan Pokret "Slobodni građani Srbije" Saše Jankovića |language=sr |trans-title=Movement "Free Citizens of Serbia" of Saša Janković has been formed |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/sasa-jankovic-osnivanje-politickog-pokreta/28500382.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126172510/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/sasa-jankovic-osnivanje-politickog-pokreta/28500382.html |archive-date=26 January 2023}} In preparation for the 2018 Belgrade City Assembly election, DS advocated for the opposition parties to participate on a joint list.{{Cite web |date=7 June 2017 |title=DS želi da opozicija zajedno izađe na izbore u Beogradu |trans-title=DS wants the opposition to go to the elections in Belgrade together |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a274478-DS-zeli-da-opozicija-zajedno-izadje-na-izbore-u-Beogradu/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126221956/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a274478-ds-zeli-da-opozicija-zajedno-izadje-na-izbore-u-beogradu/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} By the end of 2017, DS had announced that it would take part in a coalition with Nova, with Šutanovac as their mayoral candidate.{{Cite web |date=29 December 2017 |title=DS i Nova stranka zajedno na beogradskim izborima |work=Novinska agencija Beta |trans-title=DS and the New Party together in the Belgrade elections |url=https://beta.rs/politika/80893-ds-i-nova-stranka-zajedno-na-beogradskim-izborima |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202071640/https://beta.rs/politika/80893-ds-i-nova-stranka-zajedno-na-beogradskim-izborima |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |language=sr |agency=Novinska agencija Beta}}
= 2018–2024: the Lutovac years =
DS and Nova were joined by Tadić's SDS in January 2018, while the Green Ecological Party – The Greens also appeared on the ballot.{{Cite news |last=Mihajlović |first=Branka |date=18 January 2018 |title=DS sabiranje posle rasula |language=sr |trans-title=DS gathering after scattering |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/ds-rasulo-sabiranje/28982510.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126184859/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/ds-rasulo-sabiranje/28982510.html |archive-date=26 January 2023}}{{Cite web |date=18 January 2018 |title=Beograd, do sada proglašeno šest izbornih lista |trans-title=Belgrade, six election lists have been announced so far |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/2728/izbori-2018/3006594/proglasene-jos-cetiri-liste-za-skupstinu-grada-beograda.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126184902/https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/2728/izbori-2018/3006594/proglasene-jos-cetiri-liste-za-skupstinu-grada-beograda.html |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}} However, the coalition did not win any seats as it only received 2% of the popular vote.{{Cite web |date=5 March 2018 |title=Konačni rezultati beogradskih izbora 2018. |trans-title=Final results of the 2018 Belgrade elections |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a369485-Konacni-rezultati-beogradskih-izbora-2018/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112145901/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a369485-konacni-rezultati-beogradskih-izbora-2018/ |archive-date=12 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite news |date=4 March 2018 |title=Pobeda SNS-a u Beogradu, još tri liste prešle cenzus |language=sr |trans-title=Victory of SNS in Belgrade, three more lists passed the threshold |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/beograd-lokalni-izbori-skupstina-grada-srbija/29076567.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112201120/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/beograd-lokalni-izbori-skupstina-grada-srbija/29076567.html |archive-date=12 January 2023}} This led to the resignations of Šutanovac and Balša Božović, the president of the DS branch in Belgrade.{{Cite web |date=7 March 2018 |title=Balša Božović podneo ostavku na mesto šefa beogradskog odbora DS |trans-title=Balša Božović resigned from the position as head of the Belgrade DS branch |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a369819-Balsa-Bozovic-podneo-ostavku-na-mesto-sefa-beogradskog-odbora-DS/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126190401/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a369819-balsa-bozovic-podneo-ostavku-na-mesto-sefa-beogradskog-odbora-ds/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=11 March 2018 |title=Šutanovac podnio ostavku, ali ostaje u DS-u |trans-title=Šutanovac resigns, but remains in DS |url=https://www.vijesti.me/svijet/balkan/39882/sutanovac-podnio-ostavku-ali-ostaje-u-ds-u |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126184859/https://www.vijesti.me/svijet/balkan/39882/sutanovac-podnio-ostavku-ali-ostaje-u-ds-u |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Vijesti |language=sr}}
In April 2018, DS announced that a party congress would be arranged for 2 June 2018.{{Cite web |date=5 April 2018 |title=Demokratska stranka novo rukovodstvo bira 2. juna |trans-title=Democratic Party to elect a new leadership on 2 June |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/3097064/demokratska-stranka-novo-rukovodstvo-bira-2.-juna.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126184950/https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/3097064/demokratska-stranka-novo-rukovodstvo-bira-2.-juna.html |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}} The leadership election was contested by Lutovac, Branislav Lečić, and Gordana Čomić.{{Cite news |date=2 June 2018 |title=Demokratska stranka bira novog predsednika |language=sr |trans-title=Democratic Party to elect a new president |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/29267108.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126192340/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/29267108.html |archive-date=26 January 2023}} Lutovac ultimately won the election. Nikolić, Aleksandra Jerkov, Dragana Rakić, Dragoslav Šumarac, and Saša Paunović were elected vice-presidents.{{Cite web |last=Štetin Lakić |first=Jovana |date=2 June 2018 |title=Zoran Lutovac novi predsednik Demokratske stranke |trans-title=Zoran Lutovac is the new president of the Democratic Party |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a393175-Zoran-Lutovac-novi-predsednik-Demokratske-stranke/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126192315/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a393175-zoran-lutovac-novi-predsednik-demokratske-stranke/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=2 June 2018 |title=Zoran Lutovac novi lider DS |trans-title=Zoran Lutovac is the new leader of DS |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2018&mm=06&dd=02&nav_category=11&nav_id=1399839 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126190859/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2018&mm=06&dd=02&nav_category=11&nav_id=1399839 |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}} Lutovac announced that DS "must organise itself" and that DS would cooperate with the Alliance for Serbia (SZS), a group in the City Assembly of Belgrade led by Đilas.{{Cite web |last=Rudić |first=Filip |date=5 June 2018 |title=New Serbian Opposition Leader Fuels Talk of United Front |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2018/06/05/new-serbian-opposition-leader-fuels-talk-of-united-front-06-05-2018/ |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US |archive-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126190811/https://balkaninsight.com/2018/06/05/new-serbian-opposition-leader-fuels-talk-of-united-front-06-05-2018/ |url-status=live }} However, SZS was reorganised as a nationwide coalition in September 2018 that, in addition to DS, included ZZS, Sloga, LS, Jeremić's People's Party (Narodna), Dveri, the Movement for Reversal (PZP), and Healthy Serbia.{{Cite web |last=Popović |first=A. |date=2 September 2018 |title=U Beogradu i zvanično formiran Savez za Srbiju |trans-title=Alliance for Serbia officially formed in Belgrade |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/u-beogradu-i-zvanicno-formiran-savez-za-srbiju/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126192550/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/u-beogradu-i-zvanicno-formiran-savez-za-srbiju/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}}{{Cite news |last=Miladinović |first=Aleksandar |date=27 July 2018 |title=Šta je važnije na izborima - principi ili ljudi |language=sr |trans-title=What is more important in elections - principles or people |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-44979373 |url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922062138/https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-44979373 |archive-date=22 September 2022}} In internal DS deliberations, founding members Mićunović and Ognjenović, as well as Čomić and Šutanovac, were opposed to joining SZS.{{Cite web |date=3 September 2018 |title=Ko je u DS protiv Saveza za Srbiju |trans-title=Who in the DS is against the Alliance for Serbia? |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a416958-Ko-je-u-DS-protiv-Saveza-za-Srbiju/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126223331/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a416958-ko-je-u-ds-protiv-saveza-za-srbiju/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} After the physical attack on the leader of LS in November 2018, SZS organised mass anti-government protests.{{Cite web |last=Arbutina |first=Zoran |date=27 November 2018 |title=Serbia's Opposition Crackdown |url=https://www.dw.com/en/serbian-opposition-politicians-becoming-frequent-targets-of-violent-attacks/a-46477901 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112220156/https://www.dw.com/en/serbian-opposition-politicians-becoming-frequent-targets-of-violent-attacks/a-46477901 |archive-date=12 January 2023 |access-date=12 January 2023 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=30 December 2018 |title=Serbia: Thousands Rally in Fourth Week of Anti-government Protests |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/30/serbia-thousands-rally-in-fourth-week-of-anti-government-protests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020090330/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/30/serbia-thousands-rally-in-fourth-week-of-anti-government-protests |archive-date=20 October 2022 |access-date=12 January 2023 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} In January 2019, DS announced its intent to boycott the sessions of the National Assembly, the City Assembly of Belgrade, and the Assembly of Vojvodina, claiming that the bodies did not have legitimacy due to the government's obstruction of the parliamentary opposition by allegedly "violating the rules of Parliament, as well as laws and the Constitution".{{Cite web |date=30 January 2019 |title=Predsedništvo DS: Demokrate napuštaju Skupštinu Srbije, Vojvodine, Beograda |trans-title=DS Presidency: Democrats are leaving the Parliament of Serbia, Vojvodina, and Belgrade |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a456327-Predsednistvo-DS-Demokrate-napustaju-Skupstinu-Srbije-Vojvodine-Beograda/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126215449/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a456327-predsednistvo-ds-demokrate-napustaju-skupstinu-srbije-vojvodine-beograda/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite news |last=Glavonjić |first=Zoran |date=11 February 2019 |title=Za i protiv bojkota rada Skupštine Srbije |language=sr |trans-title=For and against the boycott of the work of the Assembly of Serbia |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/29764010.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112222934/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/29764010.html |archive-date=12 January 2023}} DS also signed the Agreement with the People, which stated that if fair and free conditions for elections were not met, the signatory would boycott the 2020 parliamentary election.{{Cite news |date=6 February 2019 |title=Opozicija u Srbiji dogovorila Sporazum sa narodom |language=sr |trans-title=The opposition in Serbia agreed on the Agreement With the People |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/29754704.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206172843/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/29754704.html |archive-date=6 February 2019}}
In February 2019, Lutovac and Tadić began discussing merging their parties to become "the main option for civic-democratic voters that will be able to integrate voters that are against Aleksandar Vučić" (glavna opcija za građansko-demokratske birače i koja će biti u stanju da integriše snage koje su protiv Aleksandra Vučića).{{Cite web |last=Stanković |first=Stefan |date=28 February 2019 |title=Tadić i Lutovac o ujedinjenju DS: Da se suprotstavimo čudovištu stranci |trans-title=Tadić and Lutovac on the unification of DS: Let's oppose the monster party |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a464263-Tadic-i-Lutovac-o-ujedinjenju-DS-Da-se-suprotstavimo-cudovistu-stranci/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126215454/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a464263-tadic-i-lutovac-o-ujedinjenju-ds-da-se-suprotstavimo-cudovistu-stranci/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Petrović |first=Ivica |date=3 March 2019 |title=Kome još treba Demokratska stranka? |trans-title=Who still needs the Democratic Party? |url=https://www.dw.com/sr/kome-jo%C5%A1-treba-demokratska-stranka/a-47755963 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126213951/https://www.dw.com/sr/kome-jo%C5%A1-treba-demokratska-stranka/a-47755963 |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=sr}} This decision was approved by both DS and SDS.{{Cite web |date=3 March 2019 |title=Glavni odbor Demokratske stranke podržao ujedinjenje |trans-title=The main committee of the Democratic Party supports the unification |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a464967-Glavni-odbor-Demokratske-stranke-podrzao-ujedinjenje/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126215502/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a464967-glavni-odbor-demokratske-stranke-podrzao-ujedinjenje/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Mlađenović |first=Dušan |date=23 March 2019 |title=Tadićev SDS doneo odluku o integraciji sa DS-om i Zajedno za Srbiju |trans-title=Tadić's SDS made the decision on integration with DS and Together for Serbia |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a470391-Tadicev-SDS-doneo-odluku-o-integraciji-sa-DS-om-i-Zajedno-za-Srbiju/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126220959/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a470391-tadicev-sds-doneo-odluku-o-integraciji-sa-ds-om-i-zajedno-za-srbiju/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} ZZS, led by Nebojša Zelenović, also joined the talks.{{Cite web |date=4 March 2019 |title=Zelenović: Do ujedinjenja u jednu stranku potrebno vreme, do tada kao unija |trans-title=Zelenović: It will take time to unify into one party, until then as a union |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a465131-Zelenovic-Do-ujedinjenja-u-jednu-stranku-potrebno-vreme-do-tada-kao-unija/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126215458/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a465131-zelenovic-do-ujedinjenja-u-jednu-stranku-potrebno-vreme-do-tada-kao-unija/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} The merger was formalised as a union in May 2019 under the name United Democratic Party.{{Cite web |last=Tatalović |first=Žaklina |date=19 May 2019 |title=DS, ZZS i SDS se ujedinile u jedinstvenu Demokratsku stranku |trans-title=DS, ZZS, and SDS unite into the United Democratic Party |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a484933-DS-ZZS-i-SDS-se-ujedinile-u-jedinstvenu-Demokratsku-stranku/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126230340/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a484933-ds-zzs-i-sds-se-ujedinile-u-jedinstvenu-demokratsku-stranku/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} The merger was to be completed upon the relaxation of COVID-19 pandemic measures.{{Cite web |last=Milovančević |first=Vojislav |date=11 August 2020 |title=Saznajemo: Ujedinjenje DS čim popusti korona |trans-title=We find out: Unification of DS as soon as the corona subsides |url=https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/saznajemo-ujedinjenje-ds-cim-popusti-korona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126213959/https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/saznajemo-ujedinjenje-ds-cim-popusti-korona/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Nova |language=sr}} During the COVID-19 pandemic, SDS left the process, with Tadić later claiming that Lutovac allegedly put an end to the merger.{{Cite web |last=Dobrilović |first=Jasmina |date=30 April 2020 |title=Tadić gradi poziciju za predsedničkog kandidata velike DS |trans-title=Tadić is building a position for the presidential candidate for the United DS |url=https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/tadic-gradi-poziciju-za-predsednickog-kandidata-velike-ds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126213954/https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/tadic-gradi-poziciju-za-predsednickog-kandidata-velike-ds/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Nova |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=4 August 2020 |title=SDS: Lutovac jednostrano prekinuo proces ujedinjenja DS, SDS i Zajedno za Srbiju |trans-title=SDS: Lutovac unilaterally interrupted the unification process of DS, SDS, and Together for Serbia |url=https://insajder.net/arhiva/vesti/sds-lutovac-jednostrano-prekinuo-proces-ujedinjenja-ds-sds-i-zajedno-za-srbiju |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126214528/https://insajder.net/arhiva/vesti/sds-lutovac-jednostrano-prekinuo-proces-ujedinjenja-ds-sds-i-zajedno-za-srbiju |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Insajder |language=sr}} As part of SZS, in September 2019 DS announced that it would boycott the 2020 parliamentary election.{{Cite web |date=16 September 2019 |title=Savez za Srbiju bojkotuje izbore |trans-title=Alliance for Serbia is boycotting the elections |url=https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/437928/%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0/%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B7-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%A1%D1%80%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%98%D1%83-%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%98%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%83%D1%98%D0%B5-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B5) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113144106/https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/437928/%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0/%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B7-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%A1%D1%80%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%98%D1%83-%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%98%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%83%D1%98%D0%B5-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B5) |archive-date=13 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Politika |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=14 September 2019 |title=DS, SDS i Zajedno za Srbiju za bojkot izbora |trans-title=DS, SDS, and Together for Serbia to boycott the elections |url=https://rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/ds-sds-i-zajedno-za-srbiju-za-bojkot-izbora_1048281.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126213945/https://rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/ds-sds-i-zajedno-za-srbiju-za-bojkot-izbora_1048281.html |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Vojvodina |language=sr}} The decision to boycott the election received criticism from some DS members, such as Mićunović and Šutanovac, who stated that DS officials in response would create citizens' groups to encourage voting in the elections.{{Cite web |date=27 October 2019 |title=Šutanovac: Neki funkcioneri DS će organizovati grupe građana za izbore |trans-title=Šutanovac: Some DS officials will organise citizens' groups for the elections |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a538441-Sutanovac-Neki-funkcioneri-DS-ce-na-izbore/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126220955/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a538441-sutanovac-neki-funkcioneri-ds-ce-na-izbore/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=19 January 2020 |title=Mićunović: Bojkot izbora je besmislen |trans-title=Mićunović: Boycotting the elections is pointless |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2020&mm=01&dd=19&nav_category=11&nav_id=1643795 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126221204/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2020&mm=01&dd=19&nav_category=11&nav_id=1643795 |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Vučenić |first=Danica |date=30 October 2019 |title=Šutanovac: Brine me šta će biti sa DS posle bojkota |trans-title=Šutanovac: I am worried about what will happen to DS after the boycott |url=https://www.istinomer.rs/analize/sutanovac-brine-me-sta-ce-biti-sa-ds-posle-bojkota/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126213946/https://www.istinomer.rs/analize/sutanovac-brine-me-sta-ce-biti-sa-ds-posle-bojkota/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Istinomer |language=sr}} During a session of the party's main board in November 2019, Lečić, Jerkov, Božović, Radoslav Milojičić, and Slobodan Milosavljević left a meeting to attempt to break quorum after demanding a new leadership election.{{Cite web |date=30 November 2019 |title=Deo demokrata napustio sednicu Glavnog odbora stranke |trans-title=Part of the Democrats left the session of the Main Board |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a548352-Sednica-Glavnog-odbora-Demokratske-stranke/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126215450/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a548352-sednica-glavnog-odbora-demokratske-stranke/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=3 December 2019 |title=Lutovac: Na Glavnom odboru se desio pokušaj puča |trans-title=Lutovac: There was an attempted coup at the Main Board |url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/politika/lutovac-na-glavnom-odboru-se-desio-pokusaj-puca/fnzfpdj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624135125/https://www.blic.rs/vesti/politika/lutovac-na-glavnom-odboru-se-desio-pokusaj-puca/fnzfpdj |archive-date=24 June 2020 |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=Blic |language=sr}} Lutovac described the move as a coup d'état and claimed that Vučić was attempting to break up DS.{{Cite web |date=1 December 2019 |title=Lutovac: Vučić uporno pokušava da razbije Demokratsku stranku |trans-title=Lutovac: Vučić is persistently trying to break up the Democratic Party |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a548554-Lutovac-Vucic-uporno-pokusava-da-razbije-Demokratsku-stranku/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127000520/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a548554-lutovac-vucic-uporno-pokusava-da-razbije-demokratsku-stranku/ |archive-date=27 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} He also later claimed that a group inside DS was attempting to cooperate with Vučić.{{Cite web |date=21 May 2020 |title=Lutovac: Postoji grupa koja pokušava da okrene DS otvorenoj saradnji sa Vučićem |trans-title=Lutovac: There is a group that is trying to turn DS to open cooperation with Vučić |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a601746-Lutovac-Postoji-grupa-koja-pokusava-da-okrene-DS-otvorenoj-saradnji-sa-Vucicem/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126224208/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a601746-lutovac-postoji-grupa-koja-pokusava-da-okrene-ds-otvorenoj-saradnji-sa-vucicem/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} After attending a session in the National Assembly in February 2020, Čomić was expelled from DS.{{Cite web |date=15 May 2020 |title=Čomić obaveštena da je izbrisana iz članstva u DS |trans-title=Čomić was informed that she was deleted from the membership in DS |url=https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/454168/Comic-obavestena-da-je-izbrisana-iz-clanstva-u-DS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126221158/https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/454168/Comic-obavestena-da-je-izbrisana-iz-clanstva-u-DS |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Politika |language=sr}} She was later featured on United Democratic Serbia's ballot and became a government minister.{{Cite web |date=9 March 2020 |title=Predstavljena koalicija Ujedinjena demokratska Srbija, na listi i Gordana Čomić |trans-title=The United Democratic Serbia coalition has been presented, Gordana Čomić is also on the list |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a576264-Predstavljena-koalicija-Ujedinjena-demokratska-Srbija-na-listi-i-Gordana-Comic/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126221200/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a576264-predstavljena-koalicija-ujedinjena-demokratska-srbija-na-listi-i-gordana-comic/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Nešić |first=Nenad |date=26 October 2020 |title=Među nestranačkim kadrovima i oni koji to nisu, za fotelju - hvala predsedniku |trans-title=Among non-party cadres and those who are not, for the chair - thank you to the president |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a665096-Medju-nestranackim-kadrovima-i-oni-koji-to-nisu-za-fotelju-hvala-predsedniku/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126224211/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a665096-medju-nestranackim-kadrovima-i-oni-koji-to-nisu-za-fotelju-hvala-predsedniku/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}
DS' scheduled March 2020 party congress was postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled for 21 June 2020 when the parliamentary election was also scheduled to be take place.{{Cite web |date=12 March 2020 |title=Otkazan Glavni odbor Demokratske stranke |trans-title=Main Board of the Democratic Party has been cancelled |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a577256-Otkazan-Glavni-odbor-Demokratske-stranke/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126235729/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a577256-otkazan-glavni-odbor-demokratske-stranke/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=26 May 2020 |title=Politika: Sednica Glavnog odbora DS zakazana za 21. jun |trans-title=Politika: Session of the Main Board of DS scheduled for 21 June |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a603652-Politika-Sednica-Glavnog-odbora-DS-zakazana-za-21-jun/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126224210/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a603652-politika-sednica-glavnog-odbora-ds-zakazana-za-21-jun/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} During the party congress, a group of DS members left the congress to hold an alternate leadership election.{{Cite web |date=21 June 2020 |title=Sukob demokrata pred sednicu Glavnog odbora |trans-title=Clash of Democrats before the session of the Main Board |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a612077-Sukob-demokrata-pred-sednicu-Glavnog-odbora/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127005032/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a612077-sukob-demokrata-pred-sednicu-glavnog-odbora/ |archive-date=27 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} The congress continued on 28 June 2020; the dissatisfied group held its own congress in Belgrade with Tadić in attendance, while Lutovac held the official party congress in Šabac.{{Cite web |last=Gajić |first=Petar |date=28 June 2020 |title=Dva paralelna Glavna odbora DS-a: Optužbe, isključenja i ujedinjenja |trans-title=Two parallel Main Boards of DS: Accusations, exclusions, and unifications |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a614500-Dva-paralelna-Glavna-odbora-DS-a-Optuzbe-iskljucenja-i-ujedinjenja/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126232723/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a614500-dva-paralelna-glavna-odbora-ds-a-optuzbe-iskljucenja-i-ujedinjenja/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} Lutovac then expelled Lečić, Božović, Milojičić, and Milosavljević from DS.{{Cite web |date=31 August 2020 |title=Božović, Lečić, Milojičić i Milosavljević isključeni iz Demokratske stranke |trans-title=Božović, Lečić, Milojičić, and Milosavljević expelled from the Democratic Party |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a635109-Bozovic-Lecic-Milojicic-i-Milosavljevic-iskljuceni-iz-Demokratske-stranke/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126222702/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a635109-bozovic-lecic-milojicic-i-milosavljevic-iskljuceni-iz-demokratske-stranke/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} The dissatisfied group then chose Lečić as president. The Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government rejected Lečić's request to be recognised as the legal president of DS, concluding that Lutovac was its legitimate president.{{Cite web |date=26 September 2020 |title=Deo DS-a izabrao Lečića za predsednika, s centrale stranke skinuta tabla |trans-title=Part of the DS elects Lečić as president, board has been removed from party's headquarters |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a654221-Deo-DS-a-izabrao-Lecica-za-predsednika-s-centrale-stranke-skinuta-tabla/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126235511/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a654221-deo-ds-a-izabrao-lecica-za-predsednika-s-centrale-stranke-skinuta-tabla/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Anđelić |first=Bojana |date=22 February 2021 |title=Saznajemo: Odbačen zahtev Lečića da bude predsednik DS |trans-title=We learn: Lečić's request to be president of DS was rejected |url=https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/saznajemo-odbacen-zahtev-lecica-da-bude-predsednik-ds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222123707/https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/saznajemo-odbacen-zahtev-lecica-da-bude-predsednik-ds/ |archive-date=22 February 2021 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Nova |language=sr}} Lečić then formed the Democrats of Serbia that later merged into Tadić's SDS.{{Cite web |date=28 February 2021 |title=Održan skup "Demokrata Srbije", na čelu novog pokreta Branislav Lečić |trans-title=A meeting of Democrats of Serbia was held, a new movement headed by Branislav Lečić |url=https://insajder.net/arhiva/vesti/odrzan-skup-demokrata-srbije-na-celu-novog-pokreta-branislav-lecic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126221159/https://insajder.net/arhiva/vesti/odrzan-skup-demokrata-srbije-na-celu-novog-pokreta-branislav-lecic |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Insajder |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=9 February 2022 |title=SDS nakon ujedinjenja sa Demokratama Srbije izabrala novo rukovodstvo |trans-title=SDS elects new leadership after unification with the Democrats of Serbia |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/sds-nakon-ujedinjenja-sa-demokratama-srbije-izabrala-novo-rukovodstvo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126234856/https://n1info.rs/vesti/sds-nakon-ujedinjenja-sa-demokratama-srbije-izabrala-novo-rukovodstvo/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}
During the conflict between the two DS factions, SZS was dissolved and succeeded by the United Opposition of Serbia (UOPS).{{Cite web |last=Valtner |first=Lidija |date=29 June 2020 |title=Savez za Srbiju više ne postoji |trans-title=Alliance for Serbia does not exist anymore |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/savez-za-srbiju-vise-ne-postoji/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202183310/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/savez-za-srbiju-vise-ne-postoji/ |archive-date=2 February 2022 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}}{{Cite news |date=10 August 2020 |title=Formirana Udružena opozicija Srbije |language=sr |trans-title=United Opposition of Serbia formed |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/30776112.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006091847/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/30776112.html |archive-date=6 October 2020}} However, UOPS dissolved in January 2021 due to a dispute regarding inter-party dialogues on electoral conditions between Narodna and Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), the party led by Đilas.{{Cite web |date=16 December 2020 |title=UOPS više ne postoji? |trans-title=UOPS does not exist anymore? |url=https://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/uops-vise-ne-postoji_1189157.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702131502/https://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/uops-vise-ne-postoji_1189157.html |archive-date=2 July 2022 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Vojvodina |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=21 January 2021 |title=Aleksić: Udružena opozicija Srbije više ne funkcioniše |trans-title=Aleksić: United Opposition of Serbia does not function anymore |url=https://rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/aleksic-udruzena-opozicija-srbije-vise-ne-funkcionise_1200389.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213601/https://rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/aleksic-udruzena-opozicija-srbije-vise-ne-funkcionise_1200389.html |archive-date=2 June 2021 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Vojvodina |language=sr}} DS organised a congress on 4 July 2021; Lutovac was reelected president and Rakić was reelected deputy president. Tatjana Manojlović, Nenad Mitrović, Miodrag Gavrilović, and Branimir Jovančićević were elected vice-presidents.{{Cite web |date=15 December 2024 |title=Demokratska stranka izabrala novo rukovodstvo: Imenovani potpredsednici |trans-title=The Democratic Party elected a new leadership: Appointed vice-presidents |url=https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/demokratska-stranka-izabrala-novo-rukovodstvo-imenovani-potpredsednici/ |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2 January 2025 |website=NOVA portal |language=sr}} After the congress, DS, Narodna, SSP, and PSG announced that they would cooperate in the 2022 Serbian general election.{{Cite web |date=14 October 2021 |title=Mediji: SSP, DS i Narodna stranka postigli dogovor o zajedničkoj listi |trans-title=Media: SSP, DS, and the People's Party reached an agreement on a joint list |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/mediji-ssp-ds-i-narodna-stranka-postigli-dogovor-o-zajednickoj-listi/ |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Latković |first=Nataša |date=23 November 2021 |title=SSP, DS, Narodna stranka i PSG postigli dogovor: Zajedno izlaze na izbore |trans-title=SSP, DS, the People's Party, and PSG reached an agreement: they are going to the elections together |url=https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/ssp-ds-i-psg-postigli-dogovor-zajedno-izlaze-na-izbore/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123085620/https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/ssp-ds-i-psg-postigli-dogovor-zajedno-izlaze-na-izbore/ |archive-date=23 November 2021 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Nova |language=sr}} Their coalition was formalised in February 2022 under the name United for the Victory of Serbia (UZPS); they nominated Zdravko Ponoš of Narodna as their presidential candidate.{{Cite web |date=2 February 2022 |title=Predstavljanje kandidata dela opozicije - govore Tepić, Janković i Ponoš |trans-title=Presentation of candidates from the opposition - Tepić, Janković, and Ponoš speak |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/predstavljanje-kandidata-dela-opozicije-govore-tepic-jankovic-i-ponos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127075008/https://n1info.rs/vesti/predstavljanje-kandidata-dela-opozicije-govore-tepic-jankovic-i-ponos/ |archive-date=27 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=20 February 2022 |title=Ko su kandidati Ujedinjeni za pobedu Srbije za poslanike? |trans-title=Who are the United for the Victory of Serbia candidates for deputies? |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/izbori22/ko-su-kandidati-ujedinjeni-za-pobedu-srbije-za-poslanike/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407202515/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/izbori22/ko-su-kandidati-ujedinjeni-za-pobedu-srbije-za-poslanike/ |archive-date=7 April 2022 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} UZPS won 14 percent of the popular vote in the parliamentary election; DS won 10 seats.{{Cite web |date=4 April 2022 |title=Rezultati predsedničkih, parlamentarnih i beogradskih izbora 2022 |trans-title=Results of the 2022 presidential, parliamentary, and Belgrade elections |url=https://crta.rs/rezultati-predsednickih-parlamentarnih-i-beogradskih-izbora-2022/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404160230/https://crta.rs/rezultati-predsednickih-parlamentarnih-i-beogradskih-izbora-2022/ |archive-date=4 April 2022 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=CRTA |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Čekerevac |first=M. |date=6 April 2022 |title=U Skupštini Srbije 31 stranka i pokret |trans-title=In the Parliament of Serbia there are 31 parties and movements |url=https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/504183/U-Skupstini-Srbije-31-stranka-i-pokret |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922000456/https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/504183/U-Skupstini-Srbije-31-stranka-i-pokret |archive-date=22 September 2022 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Politika |language=sr}} Ponoš placed second in the presidential election behind Vučić.{{Cite web |date=9 May 2022 |title=RIK usvojio konačne rezultate predsedničkih izbora |trans-title=RIK adopted the final results of the presidential elections |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/izbori22/rik-usvojio-konacne-rezultate-predsednickih-izbora/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929190323/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/izbori22/rik-usvojio-konacne-rezultate-predsednickih-izbora/ |archive-date=29 September 2022 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} After the election, UZPS was dissolved with Lutovac stating that it was only an election alliance.{{Cite web |last=Latković |first=Nataša |date=13 May 2022 |title=Prestrojavanja u opoziciji: Formiraju novu organizaciju, DS sve bliži Moramo |trans-title=Realignments in the opposition: formation of a new organisation, DS is getting closer to We Must |url=https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/prestrojavanja-u-opoziciji-formiraju-novu-organizaciju-ds-sve-blizi-moramo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513214434/https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/prestrojavanja-u-opoziciji-formiraju-novu-organizaciju-ds-sve-blizi-moramo/ |archive-date=13 May 2022 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Nova |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=26 April 2022 |title=Lutovac: Već sad se razmišlja o najširem savezu umerene političke orijentacije |trans-title=Lutovac: the broadest alliance of moderate political orientation is being considered |url=https://n1info.rs/izbori-2022/lutovac-vec-sad-se-razmislja-o-najsirem-savezu-umerene-politicke-orijentacije/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126230948/https://n1info.rs/izbori-2022/lutovac-vec-sad-se-razmislja-o-najsirem-savezu-umerene-politicke-orijentacije/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} Shortly before the first constitutive session of the National Assembly on 1 August 2022, Narodna, DS, Do not let Belgrade drown, and Together nominated Lutovac for vice-president of the National Assembly.{{Cite web |date=28 July 2022 |title=NS, DS, NDMBGD i Zajedno predlažu Lutovca za potpredsednika parlamenta |trans-title=NS, DS, NDMBGD, and Together propose Lutovac for the vice-president of the parliament |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/ns-ds-ndmbgd-i-zajedno-predlazu-lutovca-za-potpredsednika-parlamenta/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126225447/https://n1info.rs/vesti/ns-ds-ndmbgd-i-zajedno-predlazu-lutovca-za-potpredsednika-parlamenta/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} He was successfully elected on 2 August 2022.{{Cite web |last1=Kovačević |first1=Emina |last2=Đurić |first2=Vanja |date=2 August 2022 |title=Orlić na čelu Skupštine, izabrano sedam potpredsednika, Smiljanić sekretar |trans-title=Orlić as the head of the Assembly, seven vice-presidents were elected, Smiljanić as secretary |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/poslanici-biraju-predsednika-skupstine-srbije-i-sedam-potpredsednika/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126225449/https://n1info.rs/vesti/poslanici-biraju-predsednika-skupstine-srbije-i-sedam-potpredsednika/ |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} The Movement of Free Serbia, which was a part of the UZPS coalition, merged into DS in September 2022.{{Cite web |date=4 September 2022 |title=Pokret Slobodna Srbija postaje deo Demokratske stranke |trans-title=The Movement of Free Serbia becomes part of the Democratic Party |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/4941659/ds-glavni-odbor-pss-.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126230001/https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/4941659/ds-glavni-odbor-pss-.html |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}}
After the May 2023 Belgrade school shooting and mass murder in Mladenovac and Smederevo, DS was one of the organising parties of the mass protests.{{Cite web |date=5 May 2023 |title=Opozicija pozvala građane u šetnju protiv nasilja u ponedeljak |trans-title=The opposition invites citizens to march against violence on Monday |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/opozicija-pozvala-gradjane-u-setnju-protiv-nasilja/ |access-date=17 May 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=8 May 2023 |title=Protest protiv nasilja: Građani tražili ostavke, organizatori - na ulici 50.000 |trans-title=Protest against violence: Citizens demanded resignations, organisers - 50,000 on the street |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/protest-opozicije-srbija-protiv-nasilja/ |access-date=17 May 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} In August 2023, DS, Together, and Serbia Centre signed a cooperation agreement.{{Cite web |date=30 August 2023 |title=DS, SRCE, Zajedno i Rumunska partija potpisali Deklaraciju o saradnji |trans-title=DS, SRCE, Together, and the Romanian part sign a Declaration on Cooperation |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/ds-srce-zajedno-i-rumunska-partija-potpisali-deklaraciju-o-saradnji/ |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} DS became part of the Serbia Against Violence (SPN) coalition in October 2023, a coalition of political parties organising the 2023 protests.{{Cite news |last=Dragojlo |first=Saša |date=27 October 2023 |title=Serbia's Pro-European Opposition Makes Unity Pact for Elections |work=Balkan Insight |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2023/10/27/serbias-pro-european-opposition-makes-unity-pact-for-elections/ |access-date=27 October 2023}} SPN announced that it would contest the parliamentary, Vojvodina provincial, and Belgrade City Assembly elections, all scheduled for 17 December 2023.{{Cite web |last=Milovančević |first=Vojislav |date=27 October 2023 |title=Opozicija postigla dogovor o nastupu na izborima: Saopšteno ko su kandidati i nosioci lista |trans-title=The opposition reached an agreement on participation in the elections: It was announced who the candidates and representatives of the list are |url=https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/uzivo-prva-konferencija-proevropske-opozicije-posle-odluke-da-izadju-zajedno-na-izbore/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=NOVA portal |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last1=Milovančević |first1=Vojislav |last2=Latković |first2=Nataša |date=3 November 2023 |title=Šta piše u koalicionom sporazumu liste "Srbija protiv nasilja" |trans-title=What is written in the coalition agreement of the list "Serbia against violence" |url=https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/otkrivamo-sta-pise-u-koalicionom-sporazumu-liste-srbija-protiv-nasilja/ |access-date=3 November 2023 |website=NOVA portal |language=sr}} Manojlović resigned as vice-president of DS when her name was absent from the SPN electoral list for the parliamentary elections.{{Cite web |date=4 November 2023 |title=Tatjana Manojlović podnela ostavku na funkciju potpredsednice DS |trans-title=Tatjana Manojlović resigns as vice-president of DS |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/tatjana-manojlovic-podnela-ostavku-na-funkciju-potpredsednice-ds/ |access-date=4 November 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} In the parliamentary election, SPN won 65 seats, 8 of which went to DS.{{Cite web |date=18 December 2023 |title=CeSID i IPSOS obradili 99,8 odsto uzorka: SNS-u 128 mandata, SPN-u 65 |trans-title=CeSID and IPSOS processed 99.8 percent of the sample: SNS 128 mandates, SPN 65 |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/izbori-2023/cesid-i-ipsos-obradili-972-odsto-uzorka-sns-u-128-mandata-spn-u-65/ |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} After the elections, SPN organised anti-government protests until 30 December.{{cite web |date=18 December 2023 |title=Protesti opozicije pred zgradom RIK-a, traže poništavanje izbora u Beogradu |trans-title=Protest of the opposition in front of the RIK building, they are demanding the annulling of the elections in Belgrade |url=https://balkans.aljazeera.net/news/balkan/liveblog/2023/12/18/rik-na-osnovu-7-847-birackih-mesta-srbija-ne-sme-da-stane-4684-odsto-glasova |access-date=18 December 2023 |website=Al Jazeera |language=sr}}{{Cite news |date=30 December 2023 |title=Hiljade ljudi na protestu inicijative ProGlas, poništavanje izbora jedini zahtev |trans-title=Thousands of people at the protest of the ProGlas initiative, annulment of the election the only demand |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-67843134 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240621220819/https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-67843134 |archive-date=21 June 2024 |access-date=21 June 2024 |work=BBC News |language=sr}} Once the 14th National Assembly of Serbia was constituted, DS formed its own parliamentary group, with Lutovac as its leader.{{Cite web |date=10 March 2024 |title=U Skupštini Srbije formirano 16 poslaničkih grupa |trans-title=16 parliamentary groups were formed in the Serbian Parliament |url=https://www.rts.rs/lat/vesti/politika/5385839/u-skupstini-srbije-formirano-16-poslanickih-grupa.html |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}} The City Assembly of Belgrade, on the other hand, was not constituted because the quorum was not met during its constitutive session.{{Cite news |date=3 March 2024 |title=Skupština Beograda nije formirana, ide se na nove izbore |trans-title=The Assembly of Belgrade has not been formed, new elections will be held |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-vucic-izbori-beograd-skupstina/32845781.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318133931/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-vucic-izbori-beograd-skupstina/32845781.html |archive-date=18 March 2024 |access-date=21 June 2024 |work=Radio Free Europe |language=sr}} Because of this, a new election was called for 2 June.{{Cite news |date=26 April 2024 |title=Raspisani lokalni izbori u Srbiji za 2. jun |trans-title=Local elections in Serbia announced for 2 June |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-lokalni-izbori/32921836.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515235105/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-lokalni-izbori/32921836.html |archive-date=15 May 2024 |access-date=21 June 2024 |work=Radio Free Europe |language=sr}} SPN remained divided regarding the participation in the 2 June election, with DS being neutral on the matter.{{Cite news |date=19 April 2024 |title=Opoziciona koalicija 'Srbija protiv nasilja' bez jedinstvenog stava o izlasku na izbore |trans-title=The opposition coalition 'Serbia Against Violence' does not have a unified position on going to the elections |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-opozicija-izbori/32912971.html |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=Radio Free Europe |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=22 April 2024 |title=Predsedništvo DS potvrdilo da će poštovati stav većine u SPN o izlasku na izbore 2. juna |trans-title=The DS presidency confirmed that it will respect the position of the majority in the SPN on going to the elections on 2 June |url=https://www.nin.rs/politika/vesti/48330/predsednistvo-ds-potvrdilo-da-ce-postovati-stav-vecine-u-spn-o-izlasku-na-izbore-2-juna |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=NIN |language=sr}} This led to the dissolution of SPN and establishment of the We Choose Belgrade electoral list.{{Cite web |last=Ranković |first=Rade |date=23 April 2024 |title=Posle podele unutar koalicije "Srbija protiv nasilja": Zbunjeno i članstvo i birači |trans-title=After the split within the "Serbia Against Violence" coalition: Both membership and voters are confused |url=https://www.glasamerike.net/a/izbori-srbija-politika-opozicija-vlast-sns/7581826.html |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=Voice of America |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Ranković |first=Rade |date=22 April 2024 |title=Raspad koalicije "Srbija protiv nasilja", deo opozicije izlazi na izbore na listi "Biram borbu!" |trans-title=The collapse of the "Serbia Against Violence" coalition, part of the opposition is going to the elections on the list "I choose the fight!" |url=https://www.glasamerike.net/a/balkan-srbija-protiv-nasilja-politika-izbori-biram-borbu-bojkot-djilas-lazovic-cuta/7579964.html |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=Voice of America |language=sr}} In the 2024 Belgrade City Assembly election, this electoral list only won 14 seats, 2 of which went to DS.{{Cite web |date=2 June 2024 |title=Cesid: Preliminarni rezultati izbora u Beogradu |trans-title=Cesid: Preliminary results of the elections in Belgrade |url=https://www.nin.rs/politika/vesti/50552/preliminarni-rezultati-izbora-u-beogradu |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=NIN |language=sr}}
= 2024–present: Consolidation under Milivojević =
DS organised internal leadership elections on 14 December 2024, with Lutovac, Gavrilović, and Srđan Milivojević registering as candidates for the president of the party. Initially, Gavrilović had the support of most delegates, while Milivojević had none.{{Cite web |last=Milenković |first=Mirjana |date=2024-12-11 |title=Ko su kandidati za predsednika DS i šta poručuju delegatima pred subotnju izbornu skupštinu? |trans-title=Who are the candidates for the president of the DS and what do they say to the delegates before Saturday's election assembly? |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/kandidati-za-predsednika-ds/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Danas |language=sr}} However, Milivojević triumphed in the second round of the election and became the new president.{{Cite web |last=Nikić |first=Milan |date=2024-12-14 |title=Srđan Milivojević izabran za novog predsednika Demokratske stranke |trans-title=Srđan Milivojević has been elected as the new president of the Democratic Party |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/srdjan-milivojevic-izabran-za-novog-predsednika-demokratske-stranke/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=N1 |language=sr}} Shortly after he became president, Milivojević launched a campaign of consolidation of progressive political parties.{{Cite web |date=24 December 2024 |title=Ujedinjuju se Demokratska stranka i Zajedno |trans-title=The Democratic Party and Together are uniting |url=https://vreme.com/vesti/ujedinjuju-se-demokratska-stranka-i-zajedno/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} The Together party signed a declaration of merging on 27 December and became part of DS.{{Cite web |date=27 December 2024 |title=DS i Zajedno potpisali sporazum o ujedinjenju |trans-title=DS and Together have signed a declaration on unification |url=https://www.rts.rs/lat/vesti/politika/5613709/demokratska-stranka-zajedno-ujedinjenj.html |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}}
Ideology and platform
= Mićunović and Đinđić era =
DS was a catch-all party during its early period and was composed of ideologically heterogeneous groups.{{Rp|page=|pages=59–61}} It included the founders of the Praxis School, Mićunović and Đinđić, who were labelled liberals, as well as Čavoški, Koštunica, and Milošević, who argued for the adoption of a stronger anti-communist position inside the party.{{Rp|page=60|pages=}} DS was also divided on nationalism, with members such as Gligorov and Inić arguing that nationalism should be solved within a common Yugoslav state, while members like Đogo favoured a Greater Serbian policy.{{Rp|page=60|pages=}} DS supported a mixed economy with a strong role of the market, but it also sought to implement reforms towards establishing a modern market economy and integrating Serbia into the European Community.{{Rp|page=59|pages=}}{{Cite journal |last=Possanzini |first=Davide |date=2006 |title=Elezioni e partiti nella Serbia post-comunista (1990{{endash}}2004) |trans-title=Elections and parties in post-communist Serbia (1990-2004) |journal=Italian Journal of Electoral Studies |volume=56 |issue=2 |pages=69–124 |doi=10.36253/qoe-12705 |s2cid=246711518 |doi-access=free}}{{Rp|page=80|pages=}} DS adopted a "civic and centrist identity", and in its Letter of Intent of December 1989, it stated its support for the establishment of a democratic and multi-party system.{{Rp|page=59|pages=}}{{Rp|page=80|pages=}} Regarding Yugoslavia, DS supported federalisation and a pluralistic democratic order to guarantee human security and personal freedom and decrease ethnic conflicts.{{Rp|page=59|pages=}}
Political scientist Dijana Vukomanović has argued that DS has promoted liberalism in an economic and democratic sense since its formation, and noted that, in its 1990 programme, DS emphasised establishing a representative parliamentary democracy, and advancing human and political freedoms and civic rights.{{cite book |author=Vukomanović |first=Dijana |url=http://izbornareforma.rs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/resurscentar/Ideologija%20i%20politicke%20stranke%20u%20Srbiji.pdf |title=Ideologija i političke stranke u Srbiji |date=2007 |publisher=Friedrich Ebert Stiftung; Fakultet političkih nauka u Sarajevu; Institut Društvenih Nauka |isbn=978-86-83767-23-6 |editor-last=Lutovac |editor-first=Zoran |editor-link=Zoran Lutovac |location=Belgrade |language=sr |chapter=Ideološke matrice političkih partija u Srbiji (1990{{endash}}2007) |oclc=298827370 |author-link=Dijana Vukomanović |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127041235/http://izbornareforma.rs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/resurscentar/Ideologija%20i%20politicke%20stranke%20u%20Srbiji.pdf |archive-date=27 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}{{Rp|page=92}} By contrast, political scientist Vukašin Pavlović has noted that DS could be described as centre-right at the time of its formation in 1990 due to its founders' ideological positions.{{Rp|page=143}} Likewise, Metropolitan University Prague lecturer Marko Stojić has described DS in its founding era as centre-right because its programme advocated a liberal market economy and minimal role for the state.{{Rp|page=62}} Political scientist Vladimir Goati has positioned the 1990s DS on the moderate right, noting its support for private property rights and the omission of the regulatory and redistributive functions of the state from its 1992 programme.{{Rp|page=66}} Goati has also categorised the party as liberal-democratic, explaining that after 1993, DS began to use less anti-communist rhetoric compared with other opposition parties.{{Rp|page=|pages=103–104}} In 1991, then-Washington Post journalist Blaine Harden described DS as a "moderate, opposition" party,{{Cite news |last=Harden |first=Blaine |author-link=Blaine Harden |date=13 March 1991 |title=Yugoslav Regime Bows to Protesters |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/03/13/yugoslav-regime-bows-to-protesters/fdd1ab04-2342-4502-b97a-e12a056bf894/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228225027/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/03/13/yugoslav-regime-bows-to-protesters/fdd1ab04-2342-4502-b97a-e12a056bf894/ |archive-date=28 December 2019}} and in a 1999 report, BBC News described DS as centrist.{{Cite web |date=7 July 1999 |title=Zoran Djindjic: Serbian Pragmatist |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/387924.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205134349/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/387924.stm |archive-date=5 February 2023 |access-date=5 February 2023 |website=BBC News}} Scholar Slaviša Orlović has noted that the party "provide[d] a balance of goals of the right and left political traditions".{{Rp|page=156}}
Political scientist Slobodan Antonić has stated that although DS was formed as a civic party{{Emdash}}in its 1992 programme, DS identified itself as a "civic, national, liberal, and socially responsible" party{{Rp|page=156}}{{Emdash}}it had a "nationalistic phase" in mid-1990s, supporting the "modernisation of the country" as well as the self-determination of Serbs,{{Rp|page=|pages=156–157}} but that, soon after, it returned to civic positions.{{cite book |author=Antonić |first=Slobodan |url=http://izbornareforma.rs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/resurscentar/Ideologija%20i%20politicke%20stranke%20u%20Srbiji.pdf |title=Ideologija i političke stranke u Srbiji |date=2007 |publisher=Friedrich Ebert Stiftung; Fakultet političkih nauka u Sarajevu; Institut Društvenih Nauka |isbn=978-86-83767-23-6 |editor-last=Lutovac |editor-first=Zoran |editor-link=Zoran Lutovac |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Ideology and political parties in Serbia |chapter=Rascepi i stranke u Srbiji |oclc=298827370 |author-link=Slobodan Antonić |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127041235/http://izbornareforma.rs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/resurscentar/Ideologija%20i%20politicke%20stranke%20u%20Srbiji.pdf |archive-date=27 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}{{Rp|page=57}} Additionally, political scientist Jovan Komšić has noted that DS moderated its stance on nationalism after the 1995 Dayton Agreement, thereafter focusing on the "democratisation of Serbia".{{Rp|page=|pages=156–157}} Goati has described DS as an anti-system party because it opposed the 1990 constitution.{{Rp|page=41}}
Under Đinđić, DS shifted to more pragmatic and flexible approaches and principles, becoming the leading anti-Milošević party after 1998.{{Rp|page=91|pages=}}{{Cite web |last=Rozen |first=Laura |date=13 October 2000 |title=Milosevic Fights Back |url=https://www.salon.com/2000/10/12/milosevic_7/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205182345/https://www.salon.com/2000/10/12/milosevic_7/ |archive-date=5 February 2023 |access-date=5 February 2023 |website=Salon |language=en}} Đinđić has been described as a pro-Western reformist and a technocrat. DS advocated for denationalisation and free mass distribution of shares, and established the Centre for Privatisation.{{Rp|page=93}} However, DS also supported the right to work, trade union rights, social security, and the fight against unemployment.{{Rp|page=93}} DS described these economic positions as "people's capitalism", but the party dropped these positions after coming to power in 2001, when it began promoting neoliberalism.{{Rp|page=94}} DS was also associated with the "shock therapy" group of economic policies.{{Rp|page=170}} DS supported policies that would bring Serbia closer to the West and reintegrate Serbia into the international community, and also supported the extradition of Serbian citizens that were indicted by the ICTY.{{Rp|page=|pages=45–46}}
= Tadić era =
Despite trying to position itself as a social democratic party after Đinđić's assassination, Vukomanović has argued that the leadership of DS did not "dare to take a decisive step towards the left".{{Rp|page=170}}{{Rp|page=98}} Political scientist Zoran Stojiljković has noted that, instead, it shifted towards social liberalism.{{cite book |author=Stojiljković |first=Zoran |url=http://izbornareforma.rs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/resurscentar/Ideologija%20i%20politicke%20stranke%20u%20Srbiji.pdf |title=Socijaldemokratija i političke stranke Srbije |date=2007 |publisher=Friedrich Ebert Stiftung; Fakultet političkih nauka u Sarajevu; Institut Društvenih Nauka |isbn=978-86-83767-23-6 |editor-last=Lutovac |editor-first=Zoran |editor-link=Zoran Lutovac |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Social democracy and political parties of Serbia |chapter=Ideološke matrice političkih partija u Srbiji (1990{{endash}}2007) |oclc=298827370 |author-link= |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127041235/http://izbornareforma.rs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/resurscentar/Ideologija%20i%20politicke%20stranke%20u%20Srbiji.pdf |archive-date=27 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}{{Rp|page=144}} On the other hand, political scientist Zoran Slavujević argued in 2003 that, at the time, DS "was still positioned between the centre and centre-right".{{Rp|page=166}} Others have described DS under Tadić as centrist, and as associated with liberalism and social liberalism.{{Rp|page=|pages=92–93, 114}}{{Rp|page=|pages=25, 450}}{{Cite journal |last1=Budimir |first1=Željko |last2=Vuković |first2=Nebojša |date=2018 |title=Ethno-Demographic Changes and (Geo)Political Consequences: The Case of a Request for the Territorial Autonomy of the Hungarian National Minority in the North of Serbia (2008-2013) |id={{CEEOL|764343}} |journal=Politeia |volume=8 |issue=16 |pages=108}}{{Cite web |last=Andrić |first=Gordana |date=26 October 2011 |title=Serbian Liberals Mull Pro-European Coalition |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2011/10/26/liberals-to-form-pro-european-movement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129142825/https://balkaninsight.com/2011/10/26/liberals-to-form-pro-european-movement/ |archive-date=29 January 2023 |access-date=29 January 2023 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US}}
Tadić has been described as a liberal, a label he accepts.{{Cite web |date=2 July 2004 |title=Portret: Boris Tadić |trans-title=Portrait: Boris Tadić |url=https://www.novine.ca/ms/www.novine.ca/arhiva/2004/0960/sr_cg.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202071654/https://www.novine.ca/ms/www.novine.ca/arhiva/2004/0960/sr_cg.html |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=30 January 2023 |website=Novine Toronto |language=sr}} During his leadership, he was considered to be popular amongst businessmen due to his support for the accession of Serbia to the European Union.{{Cite web |last=Traynor |first=Ian |date=4 February 2008 |title=EU's Favoured Candidate Wins Serbia Poll |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/04/serbia.kosovo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130132746/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/04/serbia.kosovo |archive-date=30 January 2023 |access-date=30 January 2023 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} Despite being supported by liberals, DS would occasionally position itself as a "state-building party of the centre-left".{{Rp|page=115}} During Tadić's tenure, DS was the leading party of the liberal and pro-European bloc,{{Rp|page=14|pages=}} but it also promoted privatisation to accelerate Serbia's economic development.{{Rp|page=61|pages=}} Stojić has noted that DS' programmatic shift towards social democracy began in 2007, but while in government, DS did not pursue a social democratic agenda.{{Rp|page=63}}
DS under Tadić has been described as internationalist{{Cite journal |last=Stahl |first=Bernard |date=2018 |title=Another Strategic Accession? The EU and Serbia (2000{{endash}}2010) |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/nationalities-papers/article/abs/another-strategic-accession-the-eu-and-serbia-20002010/5317713C0E9D5E4F04F6F4D695E94D5D |journal=Nationalities Papers |volume=41 |issue=3 |page=455 |doi=10.1080/00905992.2012.743517 |s2cid=154889503 |url-access=subscription}} and pro-Western.{{Cite web |last=Barlovac |first=Bojana |date=27 September 2010 |title=Key Parties in Serbia |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/who-is-who-political-parties-in-serbia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927030345/http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/who-is-who-political-parties-in-serbia |archive-date=27 September 2018 |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=Balkan Insight}} Although it also declared itself in favour of military neutrality, DS expressed sympathy for, and its government ministers cooperated with, NATO.{{Rp|page=64}}{{Cite journal |last=Nation |first=R. Craig |date=2011 |title=NATO in the Western Balkans: A Force for Stability? |url=https://www.schoeningh.de/view/journals/seeu/35/1/article-p120_6.xml |journal=Southeastern Europe |volume=35 |issue=1 |page=129 |doi=10.1163/187633311X545706 |url-access=subscription}} DS also believed that the political status of Kosovo should be solved via diplomacy,{{Rp|page=59|pages=}} although it did not adopt a clear stance on the issue following Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008.{{Rp|page=5|pages=}} Under Tadić, DS took a balanced approach towards foreign relations; for example, a year after Kosovo's declaration, Tadić hosted U.S. Vice-president Joe Biden and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for talks.{{Cite book |last1=Varga |first1=Boris |url=https://www.helsinki.org.rs/serbian/doc/Ogledi17.pdf |title=Potka srpskog identiteta: antizapadnjaštvo, rusofilistvo, tradicionalizam ... |date=2016 |publisher=Helsinški odbor za ljudska prava u Srbiji |isbn=978-86-7208-202-9 |editor-last=Biserko |editor-first=Sonja |series=Biblioteka Ogledi 17 |location=Belgrade |page=185 |language=sr |trans-title=The Fabric of Serbian Identity: Anti-Westernism, Russophilism, Traditionalism ... |chapter=Beograd i Kijev između Brisela i Moskve |trans-chapter=Belgrade and Kiev Between Brussels and Moscow |oclc=961214498 |access-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503104931/https://www.helsinki.org.rs/serbian/doc/Ogledi17.pdf |archive-date=3 May 2023 |url-status=live}} Shortly before the 2012 elections, Serbia received candidate status for European Union membership.{{Cite news |last=Štavljanin |first=Dragan |date=2 March 2012 |title=Srbija dobila status kandidata za članstvo u EU |language=sr |trans-title=Serbia received the status of a candidate for EU membership |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija_dobila_status_kandidata_za_clanstvo_u_eu/24501969.html |url-status=live |access-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203192036/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija_dobila_status_kandidata_za_clanstvo_u_eu/24501969.html |archive-date=3 February 2023}}
To attract ethnic minority voters, DS exploited the cultural-ideological cleft in Vojvodina, seeking to attract voters from minority interests parties,{{Rp|page=23}} and promoted regionalism.{{Cite journal |last1=Basta |first1=Karlo |date=2021 |title=National Identity in Serbia: The Vojvodina and a Multi-Ethnic Community in the Balkans by Vassilis Petsinis |department=Book Reviews |journal=Comparative Southeast European Studies |volume=69 |issue=4 |page=586 |doi=10.1515/soeu-2021-0054 |doi-access=free}} DS also advocated for the improvement of the standard of living and for a balanced regional development,{{Rp|page=|pages=59–60}} and proposed the creation of an independent body that would implement anti-corruption measures in the judiciary.{{Rp|page=64|pages=}}
= Post-Tadić era =
After 2012, DS shifted further to the left and began identifying itself as social democratic,{{Rp|page=25}}{{Cite web |last1=Cvejić |first1=Slobodan |last2=Spasojević |first2=Dušan |last3=Stanojević |first3=Dragan |last4=Todosijević |first4=Bojan |date=November 2020 |title=Electoral Compass 2020: Analysis of the Political Landscape in Serbia |url=https://rs.boell.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/17213.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126203322/https://rs.boell.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/17213.pdf |archive-date=26 November 2021 |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=Heinrich Böll Foundation; Friedrich Ebert Stiftung}}{{Rp|page=8|pages=}} a description which has since been accepted by scholars and political observers.{{Cite book |last=Stojić |first=Marko |url=|title=Party Responses to the EU in the Western Balkans: Transformation, Opposition or Defiance? |date=2018 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-3-319-59563-4 |location=Cham, Switzerland |pages= |lccn=2017948171 |oclc=1003200383}}{{Rp|page=61}}{{Cite book |last=Popović |first=Dusan V. |title=Intellectual Property Law in Serbia |date=2022 |publisher=Wolters Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-4260-7 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |pages=19 |oclc=1309025362 |id=ProQuest Ebook Central [https://public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/PublicFullRecord.aspx?p=6943460 6943460]}} Stojić has categorised DS as social democratic and as a party with a "liberal legacy".{{Rp|page=62}} DS has been described as being on the centre-left of the political spectrum.{{Cite web |last1=Beckmann-Dierkes |first1=Norbert |last2=Rankić |first2=Slađan |date=12 May 2022 |title=Parlamentswahlen in Serbien 2022 |trans-title=Parliamentary Elections in Serbia 2022 |url=https://www.kas.de/documents/252038/16191335/Parlamentswahlen+in+Serbien+2022.pdf/9f87437e-7c29-3460-6039-99acb2b1a9aa?version=1.0&t=1652457721083 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811153600/https://www.kas.de/documents/252038/16191335/Parlamentswahlen+in+Serbien+2022.pdf/9f87437e-7c29-3460-6039-99acb2b1a9aa?version=1.0&t=1652457721083 |archive-date=11 August 2022 |access-date=27 December 2022 |website=Konrad Adenauer Stiftung |page=2 |language=de}}{{Cite web |last=Anastasakis |first=Othon |date=19 April 2017 |title=The Five Infections of the Social Democratic Family in the Western Balkans |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-make-it/five-infections-of-social-democratic-family-in-western-balkans/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110211310/https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-make-it/five-infections-of-social-democratic-family-in-western-balkans/ |archive-date=10 November 2022 |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=openDemocracy}}{{Cite journal |last1=Canveren |first1=Önder |last2=Aknur |first2=Müge |date=2020 |title=European Union Agenda in Serbia's Party Politics: A Clash Between Rationality and Identity Politics |id={{CEEOL|888067}} |journal=Romanian Journal of Political Sciences |issue=1 |page=92}} By contrast, Dušan Spasojević, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Belgrade, has described DS' social views as being orientated towards the left.{{Cite web |last=Kojić |first=Nikola |date=6 December 2022 |title=Zašto raste podrška desnici, gde šansu vidi levica i kako je SNS zauzeo centar |trans-title=Why is support for the right growing, where does the left see a chance, and how did SNS occupy the centre? |url=https://rs.n1info.com/vesti/zasto-raste-podrska-desnici-gde-sansu-vidi-levica-i-kako-je-sns-zauzeo-centar/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206074335/https://rs.n1info.com/vesti/zasto-raste-podrska-desnici-gde-sansu-vidi-levica-i-kako-je-sns-zauzeo-centar/ |archive-date=6 December 2022 |access-date=6 December 2022 |website=N1 |language=sr}} A former leader of DS, Zoran Lutovac, describes himself as a leftist.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yOPF_PbTgc |title=Espreso Tviter: Zoran Lutovac |date=10 August 2018 |language=sr |publisher=Espreso |minutes=3:18 |quote={{lang|sr|Ja sam uvek bio građanista i levičar.}} |via=YouTube |trans-quote=I have always been pro-European and a leftist.}}
DS has served in opposition to SNS since 2012.{{Cite web |date=13 May 2022 |title=DS: Ovakvoj vlasti bićemo oštra opozicija, nećemo praviti koaliciju sa SNS |trans-title=DS: We will be a strong opposition to this kind of government, we will not form a coalition with SNS |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/ds-ovakvoj-vlasti-bicemo-ostra-opozicija-necemo-praviti-koaliciju-sa-sns/ |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} It has been critical of the government's stance on Kosovo,{{Cite web |date=20 April 2013 |title=DS: Podržaće sporazum ako vlast prizna da je priznala Kosovo |trans-title=DS: We will support the agreement if the government admit that it has recognised Kosovo |url=https://rtv.rs/sk/politika/ds-podrzace-sporazum-ako-vlast-prizna-da-je-priznala-kosovo_386829.html |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Radio Television of Vojvodina |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=8 February 2013 |title=DS: Srbi nezaštićeni |trans-title=DS: Serbs unprotected |url=https://www.rts.rs/lat/vesti/Politika/1263234/DS:+Srbi+neza%C5%A1ti%C4%87eni.html |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}} although it supported the 2013 Brussels Agreement.{{Cite web |last=Valtner |first=Lidija |date=14 January 2017 |title=Dragan Šutanovac: Janković je već pobedio Vučića |trans-title=Dragan Šutanovac: Janković has already defeated Vučić |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/dragan-sutanovac-jankovic-je-vec-pobedio-vucica/ |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} In an interview, Šutanovac described the Kosovo issue as a "not an everyday political problem".{{Cite web |date=1 September 2017 |title=Šutanovac: Kosovo nije dnevno politički problem |trans-title=Šutanovac: Kosovo is not a daily political problem |url=https://jugpress.com/sutanovac-kosovo-nije-dnevno-politicki-problem/ |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Jugpress |language=sr}} During the North Kosovo crisis in 2023, DS voiced its opposition to the Ohrid Agreement, with Lutovac claiming that "the agreement does not respect the interests of Serbia and the rights of Serbs in Kosovo" but also because DS "does not want to give Vučić legitimacy for what he did".{{Cite news |last=Cvetković |first=Ljudmila |date=23 March 2023 |title=Od protesta do podrške: Parlamentarne stranke u Srbiji o dogovoru iz Ohrida |language=sr |trans-title=From protest to support: Parliamentary parties in Serbia on the Ohrid Agreement |work=Radio Free Europe |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/od-protesta-do-podrške-parlamentarne-stranke-u-srbiji-o-dogovoru-iz-ohrida/32329806.html |access-date=3 June 2023}}
When Đilas led DS in opposition to SNS during the 2014 election, he pledged to provide free textbooks for students and full salaries for pregnant women, increase wages for healthcare workers, and help pensioners.{{Rp|page=16}} DS is opposed to jadarite mining and was one of the signatories of an agreement on the prohibition of exploration, exploitation, and processing of lithium in Serbia in October 2021.{{Cite web |date=9 March 2023 |title=DS protiv otvaranja rudnika jadarita |trans-title=DS is against the opening of the jadarite mine |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/ds-protiv-otvaranja-rudnika-jadarita/ |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Radovanović |first=Vojin |date=5 October 2021 |title=Jedanaest organizacija protiv Rio Tinta - šta su rekli njihovi predstavnici |trans-title=Eleven organisations against Rio Tinto - what their representatives said |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/jedanaest-organizacija-protiv-rio-tinta-sta-su-rekli-njihovi-predstavnici/ |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}}
DS has declared itself to be "the bearer of the most progressive ideas"; it is in favour of protecting workers, minorities, and the environment, and it supports guaranteed rights to healthcare, education, and pensions.{{Rp|page=|pages=32–33}}{{Cite web |title=Naša politika |trans-title=Our Politics |url=https://ds.org.rs/politics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202201849/https://ds.org.rs/politics |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=Democratic Party |language=sr}} In 2014, the Gay Straight Alliance, an association that promotes LGBT rights in Serbia, described DS as the "most positive party towards the LGBT community".{{Cite web |date=13 March 2014 |title=GSA: DS najpozitivnija prema LGBT populaciji |trans-title=GSA: DS most positive towards the LGBT population |url=https://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/gsa-ds-najpozitivnija-prema-lgbt-populaciji_469642.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202201850/https://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/gsa-ds-najpozitivnija-prema-lgbt-populaciji_469642.html |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}} DS has condemned violence against the LGBT community and in August 2022, it supported hosting 2022 EuroPride in Belgrade.{{Cite web |date=19 February 2019 |title=Demokratska stranka najoštrije osuđuje svako nasilje prema LGBT zajednici |trans-title=Democratic Party strongly condemns any violence against the LGBT community |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/demokratska-stranka-najostrije-osudjuje-svako-nasilje-prema-lgbt-zajednici/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202201848/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/demokratska-stranka-najostrije-osudjuje-svako-nasilje-prema-lgbt-zajednici/ |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=26 August 2022 |title=Koje stranke u Srbiji podržavaju Evroprajd, a koje su protiv |trans-title=Which parties in Serbia support Europride, and which are against it |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/koje-stranke-u-srbiji-podrzavaju-evroprajd-a-koje-su-protiv/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113201521/https://n1info.rs/vesti/koje-stranke-u-srbiji-podrzavaju-evroprajd-a-koje-su-protiv/ |archive-date=13 January 2023 |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} It has also criticised the attacks on the Pride Info Centre in Belgrade.{{Cite web |date=28 May 2023 |title=DS traži da se spreče napadi na prajd info centar u Beogradu |trans-title=DS demands that attacks on the Pride Info Centre in Belgrade be prevented |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/ds-trazi-da-se-sprece-napadi-na-prajd-info-centar-u-beogradu/ |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}}
= Demographic characteristics =
Before the federal parliamentary election in December 1992, a majority of DS supporters preferred a citizen state (građanska država) over a nation state (nacionalna država).{{Rp|page=64}} According to political scientist Dragomir Pantić, supporters of DS in the 1990s shared similar characteristics with supporters of DSS, GSS, and other minority parties.{{Rp|page=32}} DS supporters were young and urban, and they came from the middle and upper classes.{{Rp|page=32}} Public intellectuals, technicians, and those who worked in the private sector were also supporters of DS.{{Rp|page=35}} After 2000, DS voters professed liberal-democratic values; they were also less religious, opposed to authoritarianism and centralism, and supportive of political reforms.{{Rp|page=|pages=32–35}} Political scientist Ilija Vujačić, however, has argued that DS supporters in the 21st century skewed more towards the political centre.{{cite book |author=Vujačić |first=Ilija |url=http://izbornareforma.rs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/resurscentar/Ideologija%20i%20politicke%20stranke%20u%20Srbiji.pdf |title=Liberalizam i političke stranke u Srbiji |date=2007 |publisher=Friedrich Ebert Stiftung; Fakultet političkih nauka u Sarajevu; Institut Društvenih Nauka |isbn=978-86-83767-23-6 |editor-last=Lutovac |editor-first=Zoran |editor-link=Zoran Lutovac |location=Belgrade |page=167 |language=sr |trans-title=Liberalism and political parties in Serbia |chapter=Ideološke matrice političkih partija u Srbiji (1990{{endash}}2007) |oclc=298827370 |author-link= |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127041235/http://izbornareforma.rs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/resurscentar/Ideologija%20i%20politicke%20stranke%20u%20Srbiji.pdf |archive-date=27 November 2013 |url-status=dead}} In 2007, political scientist Srećko Mihailović noted that a majority of DS supporters identified with the left—18% with the far-left, 22% with the left-wing, and 25% with the centre-left—while 18% described themselves as centrist.{{cite book |author=Mihailović |first=Srećko |url=http://izbornareforma.rs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/resurscentar/Ideologija%20i%20politicke%20stranke%20u%20Srbiji.pdf |title=Levi i desni ekstremizam u Srbiji |date=2007 |publisher=Friedrich Ebert Stiftung; Fakultet političkih nauka u Sarajevu; Institut Društvenih Nauka |isbn=978-86-83767-23-6 |editor-last=Lutovac |editor-first=Zoran |editor-link=Zoran Lutovac |location=Belgrade |page=215 |language=sr |trans-title=Left and right extremism in Serbia |chapter=Ideološke matrice političkih partija u Srbiji (1990{{endash}}2007) |oclc=298827370 |author-link= |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127041235/http://izbornareforma.rs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/resurscentar/Ideologija%20i%20politicke%20stranke%20u%20Srbiji.pdf |archive-date=27 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}
According to a 2005 opinion poll, 66% of DS supporters thought Serbia should rely on the European Union for Serbia's foreign policy.{{Cite journal |last=Konitzer |first=Andrew |date=2011 |title=Serbia Between East and West |url=https://www.schoeningh.de/view/journals/ruhi/38/1/article-p103_7.xml |url-status= |journal=Russian History |volume=38 |issue=1 |page=117 |doi=10.1163/187633111X549623 |url-access=subscription}} In opinion polls conducted prior to the 2008 elections, a majority of DS supporters declared themselves to be pro-European.{{Rp|page=13|pages=}}
In 2012, a majority of DS voters were female, below 50 years old, and possessed a high school or university diploma.{{Rp|pages=84–86}} DS supporters were mostly workers, technicians, officials, and dependents.{{Rp|pages=|page=87}} In 2014, 80% of DS supporters were female, 60% of supporters were under 50 years old, and a majority of supporters held either a high school or university diploma.{{Rp|page=104}} In 2014, most DS supporters were tolerant of diversity and they rejected authoritarianism and nationalism.{{Rp|page=104}} By 2016, most DS supporters were younger than 40.{{Cite web |last=Vukadinović |first=Đorđe |date=24 February 2016 |title=Srbija pred izborima |trans-title=Serbia in front of elections |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/srbija-pred-izborima/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209072517/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/srbija-pred-izborima/ |archive-date=9 February 2023 |access-date=9 February 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} November 2020 research conducted by the Heinrich Böll Foundation found that supporters of DS viewed themselves as socially progressive.{{Rp|page=14|pages=}}
Organisation
{{As of|2024|December}}, DS is led by Srđan Milivojević who was elected president in 2024. At the same party congress in December 2024, Rakić was elected deputy president, while Mitrović, Jovančićević, Nebojša Novaković, and Tijana Blagojević were elected vice-presidents. Milivojević is also the party's parliamentary leader in the National Assembly.{{Cite web |title=Narodni poslanik: dr Zoran Lutovac |trans-title=People's deputy: dr Zoran Lutovac |url=http://www.parlament.gov.rs/ZORAN+_LUTOVAC.1217.891.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202071643/http://www.parlament.gov.rs/ZORAN+_LUTOVAC.1217.891.html |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=National Assembly of Serbia |language=sr}} DS is colloquially known as žuti (yellows) due to one of its main colours.{{Cite web |last=Jaredić |first=Slobodan |date=9 December 2020 |title=Zašto su "žuti" pretnja za SNS |trans-title=Why the "yellows" are a threat to SNS |url=https://www.danas.rs/dijalog/licni-stavovi/zasto-su-zuti-pretnja-za-sns/ |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=Danas |language=sr}}
DS has its headquarters at Nušićeva 6/II in Belgrade.{{Cite web |title=Izvod iz registra političkih stranaka |trans-title=Extract from the Register of Political Parties |url=https://mduls.gov.rs/wp-content/uploads/Izvod-iz-Registra-politickih-stranaka-13.12.2022..pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221151640/https://mduls.gov.rs/wp-content/uploads/Izvod-iz-Registra-politickih-stranaka-13.12.2022..pdf |archive-date=21 December 2022 |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government |page=1 |language=sr}} From 1990 to 1998, DS put out the newspaper Demokratija,{{Cite news |title=Demokratija: list Demokratske stranke |trans-title=Democracy: newspaper of the Democratic Party |url=https://plus.cobiss.net/cobiss/sr/sr_latn/bib/16590082 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208084041/https://plus.cobiss.net/cobiss/sr/sr_latn/bib/16590082 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=COBISS |date=1990 |language=sr |publication-place=Belgrade |issn=0353-6629 |quote=Godina: 1990–1998.}} {{As of|2021|July|since=y}}, the party has published the newspaper Bedem.{{Cite web |last=Rilak |first=Milica |date=10 July 2021 |title=Bedem bahatoj vlasti |trans-title=A bastion of arrogant government |url=http://fonet.rs/politika/35995127/bedem-bahatoj-vlasti.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127191100/https://fonet.rs/politika/35995127/bedem-bahatoj-vlasti.html |archive-date=27 January 2023 |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=FoNet |language=sr}}{{Cite web |title=Impresum |url=https://bedem.net/%d0%b8%d0%bc%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b5%d1%81%d1%83%d0%bc/ |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=Bedem |language=sr |archive-date=27 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127171900/https://bedem.net/%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%83%D0%BC/ |url-status=live }} Its youth wing, the Democratic Youth, has been led by Stefan Ninić {{As of|2022|February|lc=y|since=y}}.{{Cite web |date=13 February 2022 |title=Stefan Ninić izabran za predsednika omladine Demokratske stranke |trans-title=Stefan Ninić elected as the president of the youth wing of the Democratic Party |url=https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/stefan-ninic-izabran-za-predsednika-omladine-demokratske-stranke/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120143659/https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/stefan-ninic-izabran-za-predsednika-omladine-demokratske-stranke/ |archive-date=20 January 2023 |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=Nova |language=sr}} DS also operates a women's wing called Women's Forum.{{Cite web |date=25 November 2022 |title=DS: Poražavajuće je što je od ukupnog broja žrtava, svaka treća žena prethodno prijavila nasilje |work=Novinska agencija Beta |trans-title=DS: It is devastating that out of the total number of victims, every third woman previously reported violence |url=https://beta.rs/vesti/vesti-drustvo/171999-ds-porazavajuce-je-sto-je-od-ukupnog-broja-zrtava-svaka-treca-zena-prethodno-prijavila-nasilje |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202071643/https://beta.rs/vesti/vesti-drustvo/171999-ds-porazavajuce-je-sto-je-od-ukupnog-broja-zrtava-svaka-treca-zena-prethodno-prijavila-nasilje |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=27 January 2023 |language=sr |agency=Novinska agencija Beta}} DS membership is open to every adult citizen of Serbia who is not a member of another party organisation.{{Rp|page=56}} In December 2010, DS reported that it had 185,192 members; by 2013, the numer had increased to 196,673 members.{{Cite web |date=29 September 2016 |title=Za predsednika DS izabran Dragan Šutanovac |trans-title=Dragan Šutanovac elected president of DS |url=https://www.vreme.com/projekat/za-predsednika-ds-izabran-dragan-sutanovac/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130125234/https://www.vreme.com/projekat/za-predsednika-ds-izabran-dragan-sutanovac/ |archive-date=30 January 2023 |access-date=30 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}}{{Cite web |title=DS u brojkama |trans-title=DS in numbers |url=https://www.ds.org.rs/o-nama/ds-u-brojkama?pismo=lat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202621/https://www.ds.org.rs/o-nama/ds-u-brojkama?pismo=lat |archive-date=29 October 2013 |access-date=30 January 2023 |website=Democratic Party |language=sr}} However, only 18,459 DS members had the right to vote in the 2016 leadership election.
DS has city, local, and municipal branches, as well as a special branch in Vojvodina.{{Rp|page=|pages=58–59}} DS has an assembly, a main board, a presidency, an executive board, a statutory commission—which includes the centre of departmental committees and the centre for education—a supervisory board, a political council, and an ethics committee.{{Rp|page=59|pages=}}{{Cite web |date=8 March 2017 |title=Izabrani novi predsednici resornih odbora DS |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/izabrani-novi-predsednici-resornih-odbora-ds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127171857/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/izabrani-novi-predsednici-resornih-odbora-ds/ |archive-date=27 January 2023 |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}}{{Cite web |last=Sejdinović |first=Nedim |date=4 March 2020 |title=Prokletstvo Demokratske stranke |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/prokletstvo-demokratske-stranke/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127171859/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/prokletstvo-demokratske-stranke/ |archive-date=27 January 2023 |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=Vreme |language=sr}} DS also operates the Foundation for Improving Democracy "Ljuba Davidović".{{Cite web |date=19 February 2022 |title=DS obeležila godišnjicu rođenja Tošića i 62 godine od smrti Ljube Davidovića |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/ds-obelezila-godisnjicu-rodjenja-tosica-i-62-godine-od-smrti-ljube-davidovica/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127173406/https://n1info.rs/vesti/ds-obelezila-godisnjicu-rodjenja-tosica-i-62-godine-od-smrti-ljube-davidovica/ |archive-date=27 January 2023 |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}} The main board is the highest body of DS; the president of DS represents and manages the party.{{Rp|page=|pages=61–63}} Ten political parties have been formed as splits from DS: the DC, DSS, now known as the New Democratic Party of Serbia,{{Cite web |date=29 May 2022 |title=DSS menja ime u Novi DSS, Miloš Jovanović izabran za predsednika |trans-title=DSS changes its name to New DSS, Miloš Jovanović is elected president |url=https://www.rts.rs/lat/vesti/politika/4831656/dss-predsednik-milos-jovanovic.html |access-date=22 May 2023 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}} G17+, LDP, Nova, NDS, LS, SLS, SDS, and ZZS.{{Cite web |last=Milenković |first=Mirjana |date=24 September 2016 |title=Svi rascepi i ujedinjenja demokrata |trans-title=All splits and mergers of the Democrats |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/svi-rascepi-i-ujedinjenja-demokrata/ |access-date=22 May 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}}
= International cooperation =
DS has been a member of the Socialist International {{As of|2003|lc=y|since=y}}, and in December 2006, it became an associate member of the Party of European Socialists.{{Rp|page=36}}{{Cite web |date=18 June 2018 |title=Socijalistička internacionala pozvala napredne gradjane da podrže sporazum Atine i Skoplja |work=Novinska agencija Beta |trans-title=The Socialist International called on progressive citizens to support the agreement between Athens and Skopje |url=https://beta.rs/vesti/vesti-region/91942-socijalisticka-internacionala-pozvala-napredne-gradjane-da-podrze-sporazum-atine-i-skoplja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202071645/https://beta.rs/vesti/vesti-region/91942-socijalisticka-internacionala-pozvala-napredne-gradjane-da-podrze-sporazum-atine-i-skoplja |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=27 January 2023 |language=sr |agency=Novinska agencija Beta}} According to Doris Pack, a German politician and close friend of Đinđić, Đinđić made the decision to apply to become an associate member of the Party of European Socialists; Zoran Alimpić, a senior DS official, stated that the decision came as a surprise to senior DS officials.{{Rp|page=63}} DS is also affiliated with the Progressive Alliance.{{Cite web |title=Parties & Organisations |url=https://progressive-alliance.info/network/parties-and-organisations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521175830/https://progressive-alliance.info/network/parties-and-organisations/ |archive-date=21 May 2023 |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=Progressive Alliance |language=en-US}} Its youth wing is a member of the Young European Socialists{{Cite web |date=11 April 2007 |title=Omladine SDU i DS-a pri ECOSY-ju |trans-title=Youth wings of SDU and DS join ECOSY |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2007&mm=04&dd=02&nav_category=11&nav_id=239948 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712220401/http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2007&mm=04&dd=02&nav_id=239948&nav_category=11 |archive-date=12 July 2007 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=9 April 2017 |title=Jovana Majstorović potpredsednica mladih socijalista Evrope |trans-title=Jovana Majstorović becomes vice president of the Young Socialists of Europe |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/jovana-majstorovic-potpredsednica-mladih-socijalista-evrope/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208084039/https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/jovana-majstorovic-potpredsednica-mladih-socijalista-evrope/ |archive-date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=Danas |language=sr}} and a full member of the International Union of Socialist Youth.{{Cite web |title=Member Organisations |url=https://iusy.org/category/home/memberorganisations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521180114/https://iusy.org/category/home/memberorganisations/ |archive-date=21 May 2023 |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=International Union Of Socialist Youth |language=en-GB}} In the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, DS was associated with the Socialist Group.{{Cite web |title=Ms Nataša Vučković (Serbia, SOC) |url=https://pace.coe.int/en/members/5990/vuckovic |access-date=29 July 2023 |website=Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe}}
In 2014, Pajtić—with Sergey Stanishev, then-president of the Party of European Socialists, Victor Ponta, then-leader of the Social Democratic Party of Romania, and Zlatko Lagumdžija, then-leader of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina—met with Li Yuanchao, an official of the Chinese Communist Party, to discuss economic relations between China and Europe.{{Cite web |date=2 September 2014 |title=Pajtić se sastao sa potpredsednikom Kine |trans-title=Pajtić met with the Vice President of China |url=https://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/pajtic-se-sastao-sa-potpredsednikom-kine_515534.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206123539/https://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/pajtic-se-sastao-sa-potpredsednikom-kine_515534.html |archive-date=6 February 2023 |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=Radio Television of Vojvodina |language=sr}} In 2017, Šutanovac met with Zoran Zaev, the leader of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, to discuss regional cooperation, Serbia and North Macedonia's integration into the European Union, and cooperation inside the Party of European Socialists.{{Cite web |date=30 August 2017 |title=Šutanovac i Zaev dele isti pogled na budućnost regiona |trans-title=Šutanovac and Zaev share the same view on the future of the region |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a314512-Sutanovac-i-Zaev-dele-isti-pogled-na-buducnost-regiona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206123541/https://n1info.rs/vesti/a314512-sutanovac-i-zaev-dele-isti-pogled-na-buducnost-regiona/ |archive-date=6 February 2023 |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=N1 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=21 November 2017 |title=Zaev i Šutanovac: Nastavak međusobne saradnje |trans-title=Zaev and Šutanovac: Continuation of mutual cooperation |url=https://europeanwesternbalkans.rs/zaev-sutanovac-nastavak-medjusobne-saradnje/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206123543/https://europeanwesternbalkans.rs/zaev-sutanovac-nastavak-medjusobne-saradnje/ |archive-date=6 February 2023 |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=European Western Balkans |language=sr}}
= List of presidents =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| colspan="2"| {{No.}}
! colspan="2"| President ! Birth–Death ! Term start ! Term end |
|---|
| 1
! style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}"| | Dragoljub Mićunović || File:Stevan Kragujevic, Dragoljub Micunovic Skupstina 90tih (cropped).jpg || 1930– || 3 February 1990 || 25 January 1994 |
| 2
! style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}"| | Zoran Đinđić || File:Zoran Djindjic Cropped.jpg || 1952–2003 || 25 January 1994 || 12 March 2003 |
| –
! style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}"| | Zoran Živković |
| 3
! style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}"| | Boris Tadić || File:Boris Tadic 2010 Cropped.jpg || 1958– || 22 February 2004 || 25 November 2012 |
| 4
! style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}"| | Dragan Đilas || File:Dragan Đilas 2013.jpg || 1967– || 25 November 2012 || 31 May 2014 |
| 5
! style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}"| | Bojan Pajtić || File:Бојан Пајтић (cropped).jpg || 1970– || 31 May 2014 || 24 September 2016 |
| 6
! style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}"| | Dragan Šutanovac || File:Dragan Šutanovac 2016.png || 1968– || 24 September 2016 || 2 June 2018 |
| 7
! style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}"| | Zoran Lutovac || File:Zoran Lutovac 2020.png || 1964– || 2 June 2018 || 14 December 2024 |
| 8
! style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}"| | Srđan Milivojević || File:Srđan Milivojević 12 May 2023 2.png || 1965– || 14 December 2024 || Incumbent |
== Timeline ==
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:16
PlotArea = top:10 bottom:50 right:150 left:20
AlignBars = late
Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}
Colors =
id:gray1 value:gray(0.85)
id:gray2 value:gray(0.95)
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1990 till:$today
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1990
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1990
BarData =
bar:Mićunović
bar:Đinđić
bar:Živković
bar:Tadić
bar:Đilas
bar:Pajtić
bar:Šutanovac
bar:Lutovac
bar:Milivojević
PlotData =
width:5 align:left fontsize:9 shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
bar: Mićunović
from: 03/02/1990 till: 25/01/1994 color:yelloworange text:"Dragoljub Mićunović"
bar: Đinđić
from: 25/01/1994 till: 12/03/2003 color:yelloworange text:"Zoran Đinđić"
bar: Živković
from: 12/03/2003 till: 22/02/2004 color:yelloworange text:"Zoran Živković (acting)"
bar: Tadić
from: 22/02/2004 till: 25/11/2012 color:yelloworange text:"Boris Tadić"
bar: Đilas
from: 25/11/2012 till: 31/05/2014 color:yelloworange text:"Dragan Đilas"
bar: Pajtić
from: 31/05/2014 till: 24/09/2016 color:yelloworange text:"Bojan Pajtić"
bar: Šutanovac
from: 24/09/2016 till: 02/06/2018 color:yelloworange text:"Dragan Šutanovac"
bar: Lutovac
from: 02/06/2018 till: 14/12/2024 color:yelloworange text:"Zoran Lutovac"
bar: Milivojević
from: 14/12/2024 till: $today color:yelloworange text:"Srđan Milivojević"
}}
Electoral performance
= Parliamentary elections =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ National Assembly of Serbia ! Year ! Leader ! Popular vote ! % of popular vote ! {{No.}} ! # of seats ! Seat change ! Coalition ! Status ! {{Refh}} |
| 1990
| rowspan="3"| Dragoljub Mićunović | 374,887 | 7.78% | {{increase}} 3rd | {{Composition bar|7|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{increase}} 7 | – | {{no2|Opposition}} |
|---|
| 1992
| 196,347 | 4.42% | {{decrease}} 4th | {{Composition bar|6|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{decrease}} 1 | – | {{no2|Opposition}} |
| 1993
| 497,582 | 12.06% | {{steady}} 4th | {{Composition bar|29|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{increase}} 23 | – | {{no2|Opposition}} |
| 1997
| rowspan="2"| Zoran Đinđić | colspan="3" style="background:#ddd" | Election boycott | {{Composition bar|0|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{decrease}} 29 | – | {{no|Extra-parliamentary}} |
| 2000
| 2,402,387 | 65.69% | {{increase}} 1st | {{Composition bar|45|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{increase}} 45 | DOS | {{yes2|Government}} |
| 2003
| rowspan="4"| Boris Tadić | 481,249 | 12.75% | {{decrease}} 3rd | {{Composition bar|22|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{decrease}} 23 | {{no2|Opposition}} |
| 2007
| 915,854 | 23.08% | {{increase}} 2nd | {{Composition bar|60|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{increase}} 38 | {{yes2|Government}} |
| 2008
| 1,590,200 | 39.25% | {{increase}} 1st | {{Composition bar|64|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{increase}} 4 | ZES | {{yes2|Government}} |
| 2012
| 863,294 | 23.09% | {{decrease}} 2nd | {{Composition bar|49|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{decrease}} 15 | IZBŽ | {{no2|Opposition}} |
| 2014
| 216,634 | 6.23% | {{decrease}} 3rd | {{Composition bar|17|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{decrease}} 32 | {{no2|Opposition}} |
| 2016
| 227,589 | 6.20% | {{decrease}} 5th | {{Composition bar|12|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{decrease}} 5 | {{no2|Opposition}} |
| 2020
| rowspan="3"| Zoran Lutovac | colspan="3" style="background:#ddd" | Election boycott | {{Composition bar|0|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{decrease}} 12 | SZS | {{no|Extra-parliamentary}} |
| 2022
| 520,469 | 14.09% | {{increase}} 2nd | {{Composition bar|10|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{increase}} 10 | UZPS | {{no2|Opposition}} |
| 2023
| 902,450 | 24.32% | {{steady}} 2nd | {{Composition bar|8|250|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{decrease}} 2 | SPN | {{no2|Opposition}} |
{{Graph:Chart
| width = 250
| type = rect
| colors = #FFE000
| xAxisTitle = Elections
| xAxisAngle = -40
| x = 1990, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022, 2023
| yAxisTitle = % of popular vote
| y = 7.78, 4.42, 12.06, 0, 65.69, 12.75, 23.08, 39.25, 23.09, 6.23, 6.20, 0, 14.09, 24.32
}}
ImageSize = width:1050 height:70
PlotArea = width:950 height:50 left:20 bottom:20
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1990 till:31/12/2025
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/1990
Legend = columns:2 left:40 top:75 columnwidth:90
- there is no automatic collision detection,
- so shift texts up or down manually to avoid overlap
Colors=
id:Government value:green legend:Government
id:Opposition value:red legend:Opposition
Define $dx = 25 # shift text to right side of bar
Define $dy = -1 # adjust height
PlotData=
bar:Govern. color:blue width:25 mark:(line,black) align:center fontsize:8
from:03/02/1990 till:24/10/2000 shift:($dx,$dy) color:Opposition
from:24/10/2000 till:03/03/2004 shift:($dx,$dy) color:Government
from:03/03/2004 till:15/05/2007 shift:($dx,$dy) color:Opposition
from:15/05/2007 till:27/07/2012 shift:($dx,$dy) color:Government
from:27/07/2012 till:end shift:($dx,$dy) color:Opposition
= Presidential elections =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Year ! Candidate ! colspan="2" | 1st round popular vote ! % of popular vote ! colspan="2" | 2nd round popular vote ! % of popular vote ! Notes ! {{Refh}} |
| 1990
| colspan="7" style="background:#ddd" | Did not participate | | – |
|---|
| 1992
| {{no2|2nd}} | 1,516,693 | 34.65% | {{n/a}} | — | — | style="text-align: left"| Supported Panić |
| Sep 1997
| colspan="7" style="background:#ddd" | Election boycott | style="text-align: left"| Election annulled due to low turnout | – |
| Dec 1997
| colspan="7" style="background:#ddd" | Election boycott | | – |
| Sep–Oct 2002
| {{no2|2nd}} | 995,200 | 27.96% | {{no2|2nd}} | 921,094 | 31.62% | style="text-align: left"| Supported Labus; election annulled due to low turnout |
| Dec 2002
| colspan="7" style="background:#ddd" | Did not participate | style="text-align: left"| Election annulled due to low turnout | – |
| 2003
| {{no2|2nd}} | 893,906 | 36.67% | {{n/a}} | — | — | style="text-align: left"| Election annulled due to low turnout |
| 2004
| rowspan="3"| Boris Tadić | {{no2|2nd}} | 853,584 | 27.70% | {{yes2|1st}} | 1,681,528 | 53.97% | |
| 2008
| {{no2|2nd}} | 1,457,030 | 36.08% | {{yes2|1st}} | 2,304,467 | 51.19% | |
| 2012
| {{yes2|1st}} | 989,454 | 26.50% | {{no2|2nd}} | 1,481,952 | 48.84% | |
| 2017
| {{no2|2nd}} | 507,728 | 16.63% | {{n/a}} | — | — | style="text-align: left"| Supported Janković |
| 2022
| {{no2|2nd}} | 698,538 | 18.84% | {{n/a}} | — | — | style="text-align: left"| Supported Ponoš |
= Federal parliamentary elections =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Year ! Leader ! Popular vote ! % of popular vote ! {{No.}} ! # of seats ! Seat change ! Coalition ! Status ! Notes ! {{Refh}} |
| May 1992
| rowspan="2"| Dragoljub Mićunović | colspan="3" style="background:#ddd" | Election boycott | {{Composition bar|0|136|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{steady}} 0 | – | {{no|Extra-parliamentary}} | | – |
|---|
| 1992–1993
| 280,183 | 6.32% | {{increase}} 4th | {{Composition bar|5|138|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{increase}} 5 | – | {{no2|Opposition}} | |
| 1996
| rowspan="3"| Zoran Đinđić | 969,296 | 23.77% | {{increase}} 2nd | {{Composition bar|22|138|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{increase}} 17 | Together | {{no2|Opposition}} | Coalition Together won 22 seats in total |
| rowspan="2"| 2000
| 2,040,646 | 43.86% | {{increase}} 1st | {{Composition bar|58|138|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{increase}} 36 | DOS | {{yes2|Government}} | DOS won 58 seats in total |
| 2,092,799
| 46.23% | {{increase}} 1st | {{Composition bar|10|40|{{party color|Democratic Party (Serbia)}}}} | {{increase}} 10 | DOS | {{yes2|Government}} | DOS won 10 seats in total |
{{Graph:Chart
| width = 120
| type = rect
| colors = #FFE000
| xAxisTitle = Elections
| xAxisAngle = -40
| x = 1992, 1993, 1996, 2000
| yAxisTitle = % of popular vote
| y = 0, 6.32, 23.77, 43.86
}}
ImageSize = width:900 height:70
PlotArea = width:800 height:50 left:20 bottom:20
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1991 till:31/12/2003
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/1991
Legend = columns:3 left:40 top:75 columnwidth:90
Colors =
id:Government value:green legend:Government
id:Opposition value:red legend:Opposition
Define $dx = 25
Define $dy = -1
PlotData=
bar:Govern. color:blue width:25 mark:(line,black) align:center
from:31/05/1992 till:20/12/1992 shift:($dx,$dy) color:Opposition
from:20/12/1992 till:09/02/1993 shift:($dx,$dy) color:Government
from:09/02/1993 till:04/11/2000 shift:($dx,$dy) color:Opposition
from:04/11/2000 till:04/02/2003 shift:($dx,$dy) color:Government
= Federal presidential elections =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Year ! Candidate ! colspan="2" | 1st round popular vote ! % of popular vote ! colspan="2" | 2nd round popular vote ! % of popular vote ! Notes ! {{Refh}} |
| 2000
| {{yes2|1st}} | 2,470,304 | 51.71% | {{n/a}} | — | — | style="text-align: left"| Supported Koštunica |
|---|
References
{{reflist}}
= Primary sources =
In the text these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):
{{Reflist|group="‡"}}
External links
{{Portal|Serbia|Liberalism|Socialism}}
- [https://ds.org.rs/ Official website]
- {{Commons-inline}}
{{Serbian political parties}}
{{Democratic Party (Serbia)}}
{{Party of European Socialists}}
Category:1990 establishments in Serbia
Category:Anti-communist parties
Category:Centre-left parties in Europe
Category:Centre-right parties in Europe
Category:Centrist parties in Serbia
Category:Full member parties of the Socialist International
Category:Liberal parties in Serbia
Category:Parties related to the Party of European Socialists
Category:Political parties established in 1990
Category:Pro-European political parties in Serbia
Category:Social democratic parties in Serbia