Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia, 1989)
{{Short description|Political party in Serbia}}
{{Good article}}
{{For|the party led by Čedomir Jovanović|Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Liberal Democratic Party
| native_name = Либерално демократска странка
| native_name_lang = sr
| lang1 = Former
| name_lang1 = Liberal Party
| abbreviation = {{ubl|LS (until 1997)|LDS (after 1997)}}
| colorcode = {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia, 1989)}}
| logo = Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia, 1989) logo.png
| logo_alt = Logo of the Liberal Democratic Party
| president = {{ubl|{{ill|Aleksandar Stefanović (born 1953)|lt=Aleksandar Stefanović|sr|Aleksandar Stefanović}}|(1989–1990)|Predrag Vuletić|(1990–2010)}}
| founded = {{start date|1989|12|14|df=y}}
| registered = {{start date|1990|8|15|df=y}}
| dissolved = {{end date|2010|1|19|df=y}}
| successor = Serbian Monarchists
| headquarters = {{ubl|Pantićeva 70, Valjevo|Njegoševa 1, Belgrade (until 2000)|Mutapova 12, Belgrade (after 2000)}}
| ideology = {{ubl|Liberalism|Monarchism|Agrarianism|Anti-communism}}
| position = Syncretic
| colours = {{ubl|{{colour box|{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia, 1989)}}|border=silver}} Blue|{{colour box|#BFBFBF|border=silver}} Gray}}
| slogan = {{ubl|Za obnovu Monarhije – za obnovu sela|("For the renewal of the monarchy – for the renewal of villages")}}
| website = {{ubl|{{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20080417235837/http://www.lds-serbia.org.yu/|lds-serbia.org.yu}} (archived)|{{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20090731131558/http://www.lds-serbia.org.rs/index.php|lds-serbia.org.rs}} (archived)}}
| country = Serbia
}}
The Liberal Democratic Party ({{langx|sr|Либерално демократска странка|Liberalno demokratska stranka}}, abbr. LDS), known as the Liberal Party ({{langx|sr|Либерална странка|Liberalna stranka}}, abbr. LS) until 1997, was a political party in Serbia. Founded in 1989, its first president was {{ill|Aleksandar Stefanović (born 1953)|lt=Aleksandar Stefanović|sr|Aleksandar Stefanović}}. Stefanović left LS to join Vojislav Šešelj's Serbian Chetnik Movement in June 1990. He was then succeeded as president by Predrag Vuletić.
LS was opposed to Slobodan Milošević and his Socialist Party of Serbia and organised anti-government protests with other opposition parties in the 1990s. LS achieved its best result in parliamentary elections in 1990, and in all subsequent elections up to 1997, it received less than 1,000 votes. Vuletić also ran three times in presidential elections on behalf of the party, achieving his best result in the December 1997 election. LDS was a member of the Democratic Movement of Serbia and Alliance for Change opposition coalitions, the latter being the predecessor coalition of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia that toppled Milošević in 2000. In the 2000s, LDS contested four local elections, but did not gain any representation. Vuletić also offered Čedomir Jovanović, the founder of the Liberal Democratic Faction inside the Democratic Party, to take over the party in 2004, but Jovanović never responded and formed his Liberal Democratic Party instead. LDS was succeeded by the Serbian Monarchists association in January 2010. Vuletić joined the New Serbia political party in 2011.
A liberal party, LS was mostly ideologically focused on economic issues, favouring a free-market economy, privatisation, and agricultural development. It was also against nationalism, dissolution of Yugoslavia, and autonomism regarding Kosovo. The party was strongly anti-communist, favouring civic democracy instead, and supported the restoration of the monarchy and the lustration of former members of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia. It supported the accession of Serbia to the European Union and NATO and had ambitions to join the Liberal International.
History
= 1990s =
The Liberal Party (LS) was founded on 14 December 1989, in Valjevo by former members of the Socialist Alliance of Working People of Serbia.{{cite book |last=Maher |first=Joanne |title=The Europa World Year Book 2004: Kazakhstan–Zimbabwe |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-85743-255-8 |edition=45 |volume=2 |location=London |page=3716}}{{Cite news |last=Stefanović |first=Nenad Lj. |date=1990 |title=Vreme |pages=27 |issue=167–175 |issn=0353-8028 |oclc=24236314}}{{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=Robert |title=Serbia Under Milošević: Politics in the 1990s |publisher=C. Hurst & Co. |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-85065-367-7 |edition=2 |location=London |oclc=1280730017}}{{Rp|page=58}} Its founders included {{Ill|Aleksandar Stefanović (born 1953)|lt=Aleksandar Stefanović|sr|Aleksandar Stefanović}}, Predrag Vuletić, Slaven Batoćanin, and Milan Ulm.{{Rp|page=58}}{{Cite web |date=July 2003 |title=Istorijat Liberalno-demokratske stranke |trans-title=History of the Liberal Democratic Party |url=http://www.lds-serbia.org.yu/onama.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107172936fw_/http://www.lds-serbia.org.yu/onama.html |archive-date=7 January 2008 |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=Liberal Democratic Party}} Stefanović was the first president.{{Rp|page=58}} LS took part in an opposition meeting in February 1990 where parties presented their political programmes.{{Cite news |last=Janković |first=S. |date=15 February 1990 |title=Izbori u žrvnju pluralizma |trans-title=Elections in the grind of pluralism |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19900215 |access-date=2 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=7 |language=sr}} Stefanović defected to Vojislav Šešelj's Serbian Chetnik Movement once it was formed on 18 June 1990.{{Rp|page=58}} Vuletić then succeeded him as president of LS.{{Rp|page=58}}{{Cite book |last=Stokić |first=Ljubiša B. |title=Demokratija i osvajanje vlasti: izbori u Srbiji 1990. |publisher=Zenit |year=1994 |isbn=978-86-81987-06-3 |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Democracy and the conquest of power: the elections in Serbia in 1990 |chapter=Liberalna stranka |trans-chapter=Liberal Party}}{{Rp|page=393}} It was registered as a political party on 15 August 1990.{{Cite journal |last=Vladisavljević |first=Sreten |date=27 September 1990 |title=Rešenje o upisu političkih organizacija u registar političkih organizacija |trans-title=Decision on registration of political organisations in the register of political organisations |url=http://bpp.uzzpro.gov.rs/(X(1)S(ezlzjf55vdcwh1iybweuw0jj))/Register.aspx?oznaka=6669 |journal=Official Gazette of the Socialist Republic of Serbia |language=sr |volume=55 |pages=2267 |issn=0351-5613 |access-date=17 July 2024 |archive-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709195724/http://bpp.uzzpro.gov.rs/(X(1)S(ezlzjf55vdcwh1iybweuw0jj))/Register.aspx?oznaka=6669 |url-status=live }}
LS was a member of the United Opposition of Serbia (UOS) opposition coalition.{{Rp|page=69}}{{Rp|page=394}} With the Democratic Party (DS), People's Radical Party (NRS), Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), and Social Democratic Party of Yugoslavia, LS was one of the organisers of the 13 June 1990 opposition protest in Belgrade; Vuletić gave a speech during the protest, demanding that Slobodan Milošević, the president of Serbia and the Socialist Party of Serbia, would call early elections, improve electoral conditions, and adopt a new constitution after the first multi-party elections.{{Rp|page=394}}{{Cite news |date=13 June 2000 |title=Dogodilo se na današnji dan: 13 June 1990 |trans-title=On this day: 13 June 1990 |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00068_20000613 |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=Danas |pages=5 |language=sr}} A day later, LS expanded its presence to Novi Sad.{{Rp|page=393}} LS was also an organiser of the 12 September protest with UOS. At the protest, LS demanded that the 1990 elections should be free and fair.{{Rp|page=394}}
Vuletić was nominated by the party as its presidential candidate on 12 November.{{Rp|page=394}} A day later, LS presented its programme on Radio Television of Belgrade.{{Cite news |date=13 November 1990 |title=TV Beograd: Višestranački izbori u Srbiji |trans-title=TV Belgrade: Multiparty elections in Serbia |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19901113 |access-date=2 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=11 |language=sr}} After the discussions about an election boycott intensified in mid-November, several opposition parties, including LS, proclaimed an election boycott on 23 November.{{Cite news |last=Ninković-Džafo |first=V. |date=24–25 November 1990 |title=Odustajanje kandidata |trans-title=Withdrawal of candidates |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19901124 |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=13 |language=sr}}{{Cite news |last=Dedeić |first=Siniša |date=16 December 2010 |title=Izbori kao "lutkarsko pozorište" |trans-title=Elections as a "puppet theater" |url=https://www.istinomer.rs/amnezija/izbori-kao-lutkarsko-pozoriste/ |access-date=18 July 2024 |work=Istinomer |language=sr}} The opposition demanded revisions to the election law, which included demands such as representation of the opposition in RIK and local commissions.{{Rp|page=81}} By the end of the month, the government accepted their demands and the boycott was cancelled.{{Cite news |last=Radovanović |first=I. |last2=Milivojević |first2=C. |date=28–30 December 1990 |title=Većina ide na izbore |trans-title=The majority is going to the elections |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19901128 |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=14 |language=sr}} In the presidential election, Vuletić won 5,019 votes, while his party won 7,235 votes in the parliamentary election.{{Cite news |date=1 March 2017 |title=Predsednički izbori 1990. godine |trans-title=1990 presidential elections |url=https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-1990-godine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111141940/https://www.vreme.com/vreme/predsednicki-izbori-1990-godine/ |archive-date=11 January 2023 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=Vreme |language=sr}}
LS was later one of the organisers of the 1991 protests in Belgrade and they contested the 1991 Rakovica I by-election.{{Cite news |date=6 March 1991 |title=Borba za slobodniji ekran |trans-title=The fight for a freer screen |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19910306 |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=4 |language=sr}}{{Cite news |date=27 March 1991 |title=Sve činjenice javnosti |trans-title=All facts to the public |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19910327 |access-date=3 August 2023 |work=Borba |pages=17 |language=sr}}{{Cite news |date=1–2 June 1991 |title=Osam kandidata za poslanika |trans-title=Eight candidates for deputy |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19910601 |access-date=3 August 2023 |work=Borba |pages=4 |language=sr}} The party was also the founding member of the Democratic Movement of Serbia coalition in 1992.{{Cite news |date=3 November 1992 |title=Pretnja bojkotom |trans-title=Threat of boycott |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19921103 |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=6 |language=sr}}{{Cite news |date=20 November 1992 |title=LS: Nastup pod krilom DPS |trans-title=LS: Performance under the wing of DPS |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19921120 |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=4 |language=sr}} Despite this, LS contested the 1992 and 1993 elections alone.{{Cite book |last=Mihailović |first=Srećko |title=Oko izbora 15: Parlamentarni izbori u Republici Srbiji 21. januara 2007. |publisher=CeSID |year=2007 |isbn=978-86-83491-43-8 |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 15: Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Serbia on 21 January 2007 |oclc=706852021}}{{Rp|page=122, 125}} In the 1992 parliamentary election, LS contested the Belgrade constituency, where it presented 32 candidates, with Vuletić listed first.{{Cite web |date=12 December 1992 |title=Rešenje o proglašavanju zbirne izborne liste za izbor narodnih poslanika u Narodnu skupštinu Republike Srbije u izbornoj jedinici 1-Beograd |trans-title=Decision on the announcement of the combined electoral list for the election of deputies to the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in the constituency 1-Belgrade |url=http://bpp.uzzpro.gov.rs/(X(1)S(ezlzjf55vdcwh1iybweuw0jj))/Register.aspx?oznaka=11221 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia |page=9 |language=sr |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727142604/http://bpp.uzzpro.gov.rs/(X(1)S(ezlzjf55vdcwh1iybweuw0jj))/Register.aspx?oznaka=11221 |url-status=live }} In the 1993 parliamentary election, LS contested the Belgrade constituency again, this time in a coalition with the Belgrade Party; Vuletić was not a candidate in the election.{{Cite web |date=8 December 1993 |title=Rešenje o proglašenju zbirne izborne liste za izbor narodnih poslanika u Narodnu skupštinu Republike Srbije u izbornoj jedinici 1-Beograd |trans-title=Decision on the announcement of the combined electoral list for the election of deputies to the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in constituency 1-Belgrade |url=http://bpp.uzzpro.gov.rs/(X(1)S(ezlzjf55vdcwh1iybweuw0jj))/Register.aspx?oznaka=12052 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia |page=10 |language=sr |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727142605/http://bpp.uzzpro.gov.rs/(X(1)S(ezlzjf55vdcwh1iybweuw0jj))/Register.aspx?oznaka=12052 |url-status=live }} In both elections, LS was unsuccessful, winning only 632 and 275 votes, respectively.
During the 1996 local elections, LS was supportive of the opposition Together coalition. To avoid confusion between LS and the Serbian Liberal Party (SLS), LS changed its name to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDS) on 15 February 1997.{{Cite book |last=Mihailović |first=Srećko |title=Oko izbora 16: Predsednički izbori 20. januara i 3. februara 2008. godine |publisher=CeSID |year=2008 |isbn=978-86-83491-46-9 |location=Belgrade |pages= |language=sr |trans-title=Oko izbora 16: Presidential elections on 20 January and 3 February 2008 |oclc=823319307}}{{Rp|page=98}} Later that year, LDS contested the September 1997 general elections.{{Rp|page=129}} In the parliamentary elections, LDS contested the Valjevo constituency and received 503 votes.{{Cite web |date=10 September 1997 |title=Rešenje o utvrđivanju zbirne izborne liste za izbor narodnih poslanika u Narodnu skupštinu Republike Srbije u izbornoj jedinici 12 - Valjevo |trans-title=Decision on determining the collective electoral list for the election of deputies to the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in constituency 12 - Valjevo |url=http://bpp.uzzpro.gov.rs/(X(1)S(ezlzjf55vdcwh1iybweuw0jj))/Register.aspx?oznaka=35671 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia |page=3 |language=sr |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727142632/http://bpp.uzzpro.gov.rs/(X(1)S(ezlzjf55vdcwh1iybweuw0jj))/Register.aspx?oznaka=35671 |url-status=live }} Vuletić was also a candidate in the presidential elections;{{Cite news |last=Cani |first=B. |date=6 December 1997 |title=Srbija bira predsednika, drugi put ove godine |trans-title=Serbia will elect a president, for the second time this year |url=http://www.yurope.com/nasa-borba/arhiva/Dec97/0612/0612_3.HTM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901235153/http://www.yurope.com/nasa-borba/arhiva/Dec97/0612/0612_3.HTM |archive-date=1 September 2023 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=Naša borba |language=sr}} he won 11,463 votes.{{Cite web |date=4 December 1997 |title=Predizborna tišina uoči predsedničkih izbora |trans-title=Pre-election silence ahead of the presidential elections |url=http://www.yurope.com/nasa-borba/arhiva/Dec97/0412/0412_1.HTM |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Naša borba |language=sr |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727142604/http://www.yurope.com/nasa-borba/arhiva/Dec97/0412/0412_1.HTM |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=26 September 1997 |title=Drugi krug predsedničkih izbora - 5. oktobra |trans-title=Second round of presidential elections - 5 October |url=http://www.yurope.com/nasa-borba/arhiva/Sep97/2609/2609_3.HTM |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Naša borba |language=sr |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727143115/http://www.yurope.com/nasa-borba/arhiva/Sep97/2609/2609_3.HTM |url-status=live }} Vuletić, despite not publishing an election programme, said he was satisfied with the results.{{Cite news |last=Ikonić |first=Slobodan |date=12 September 1997 |title=Predsednički kandidati: Šta ko nudi |trans-title=Presidential candidates: Who offers what |url=https://www.nin.co.rs/arhiva/2437/3.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901235146/https://www.nin.co.rs/arhiva/2437/3.html |archive-date=1 September 2023 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=NIN |language=sr}}{{Cite news |date=10 December 1997 |title=Dovoljno za početak |trans-title=Enough for the beginning |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19971210 |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=2 |language=sr}} Early presidential elections were then called for December 1997 due to low turnout in the September 1997 elections.{{Cite news |date=3 December 1997 |title=Događaji protekle nedelje |trans-title=Events of the past week |url=https://www.uzice.net/uzice-na-internetu/1997/u199748.htm |access-date=3 July 2024 |work=Užice na internetu |language=sr |issue=48 |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727143116/https://www.uzice.net/uzice-na-internetu/1997/u199748.htm |url-status=live }} Vuletić officially became a candidate on 16 November. He campaigned with the slogan, "Come to your senses, Serbia. Vote for a Serb who was not a communist" (Osvesti se, Srbijo. Glasaj za Srbina koji nije bio komunista).{{Cite news |date=17 November 1997 |title=Prijavljeno 19 kandidata |trans-title=19 candidates registered |url=http://www.yurope.com/nasa-borba/arhiva/Nov97/1711/1711_1.HTM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727143116/http://www.yurope.com/nasa-borba/arhiva/Nov97/1711/1711_1.HTM |archive-date=27 July 2024 |access-date=3 July 2024 |work=Naša borba |language=sr}} Vuletić was featured on a television programme with Milan Milutinović, the presidential candidate of the SPS, who would also go on to become the president of Serbia, during which they presented their programmes. Vuletić placed last in the election, winning 21,353 votes in total.
LDS was later a member of the Alliance for Change, the predecessor coalition of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) that toppled Milošević in the 2000 elections.{{Cite web |date=22 October 1999 |title=Batić: Potpisan sporazum - protesti u novoj formi |trans-title=Batić: Agreement signed - protests in a new form |url=https://www.b92.net/o/info/vesti/index |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727143119/https://www.b92.net/info |archive-date=27 July 2024 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=B92 |language=sr}} LDS was an organiser of anti-government protests in Valjevo in February, September, and October 1999.{{Cite web |date=9 February 1999 |title=Nastavljeni protesti u Valjevu i Kragujevcu |trans-title=Protests are continuing in Valjevo and Kragujevac |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=1999&mm=09&dd=02&nav_category=1&nav_id=1748 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902104034/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=1999&mm=09&dd=02&nav_category=1&nav_id=1748 |archive-date=2 September 2023 |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=27 October 1999 |title=Saslušani aktivisti Građanskog otpora Valjeva |trans-title=Activists of the Civil Resistance of Valjevo detained |url=https://www.b92.net/o/info/vesti/index |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703210604/https://www.b92.net/info |archive-date=3 July 2024 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=B92 |language=sr}} During the protests in September and October, Vuletić was detained and called to answer the violations he committed due to not reporting the protests to the authorities. The newspaper Vreme reported that Vuletić claimed to be a member of DOS.{{Cite web |date=2 August 2002 |title=Međuvreme |trans-title=In between |url=https://vreme.com/nedelja/medjuvreme-322/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703210603/https://vreme.com/nedelja/medjuvreme-322/ |archive-date=3 July 2024 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Vreme |language=sr}}
= 2000s =
Vuletić initially wanted to participate in the presidential election for September 2002 and he called DOS to back his candidacy up.{{Cite news |date=25 July 2002 |title=Predrag Vuletić kandidat LDS za predsednika |trans-title=Predrag Vuletić the presidential candidate of LDS |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_20020725 |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=3 |language=sr}} By late August, LDS rescinded that Vuletić would take part in the election and endorsed Vojislav Koštunica of the Democratic Party of Serbia.{{Cite news |date=24–25 August 2002 |title=Povlačenje Vuletića |trans-title=The withdrawal of Vuletić |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_20020824 |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=3 |language=sr}} LDS contested the September 2004 local elections in Barajevo and Valjevo, featuring 13 candidates in total.{{Cite book |last=Vukmirović |first=Dragan |url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2005/Pdf/G20056002.pdf |title=Izbori 2004 za odbornike skupština opština i gradova |publisher=Republic Bureau of Statistics |year=2005 |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=Elections 2004 for councillors of municipal and city assemblies |access-date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008145213/https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2005/Pdf/G20056002.pdf |archive-date=8 October 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=30}} In Barajevo, it won 45 votes, and in Valjevo, it won 86 votes.{{Rp|page=|pages=40, 73}} In Valjevo, LDS nominated Vojislav Andrić as their mayoral candidate.{{Cite news |last=Vićentijević |first=Branko |date=August 2004 |title=Dvadeset kandidata za gradonačelnika |trans-title=Twenty candidates for mayor |url=https://revija.kolubara.info/sh/124/20/1079/Dvadeset-kandidata-za-gradona%C4%8Delnika.htm |access-date=3 July 2024 |work=Revija Kolubara |language=sr |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130131603/http://revija.kolubara.info/sh/124/20/1079/Dvadeset-kandidata-za-gradona%C4%8Delnika.htm |url-status=live }} The last elections LDS contested were the 2008 local elections; in Žagubica, LDS contested the elections alone and won 203 votes.{{Cite book |last=Vukmirović |first=Dragan |url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2009/Pdf/G20096005.pdf |title=Lokalni izbori 2008. |publisher=Republic Bureau of Statistics |isbn=978-86-84433-87-1 |location=Belgrade |language=sr |trans-title=2008 local elections |access-date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829134007/https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2009/Pdf/G20096005.pdf |archive-date=29 August 2023 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=55}} In Valjevo, LDS contested as the Coalition for the Monarchy, which also included the NRS, People's Peasant Party, and the Ravna Gora Movement (RP), and won 265 votes.{{Rp|page=|pages=10, 52}}
After Čedomir Jovanović formed the Liberal Democratic Faction inside the DS in 2004, Vuletić objected to the formation of Jovanović's party as the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) due to its similar name in English. Vuletić offered Jovanović to take over the LDS leadership only if he would support the restoration of the Serbian monarchy in return; Vuletić told the Glas javnosti newspaper in 2005 that Jovanović did not respond to his proposal.{{Cite news |date=3 November 2005 |title=Vuletić: Nudio sam Čedi stranku |trans-title=Vuletić: I offered my party to Čeda |url=https://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2005/11/03/srpski/P05110203.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902104035/https://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2005/11/03/srpski/P05110203.shtml |archive-date=2 September 2023 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=Glas javnosti |language=sr}} Vuletić submitted a request to the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government in November 2005 to reject LDP from being registered.{{Cite news |date=3 November 2005 |title=Dopis Liberalno-demokratske stranke Ministarstvu za državnu upravu Srbije |language=sr |trans-title=Letter from the Liberal Democratic Party to the Ministry of State Administration of Serbia |work=RTV Marš Valjevo |url=https://marsh.rs/2005/11/03/dopis-liberalno-demokratske-stranke-ministarstvu-za-drzavnu-upravu-srbije/ |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=2 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902104037/https://marsh.rs/2005/11/03/dopis-liberalno-demokratske-stranke-ministarstvu-za-drzavnu-upravu-srbije/ |url-status=live }} LDP was eventually registered.{{Cite web |date=11 May 2005 |title=Osnovan LDP |trans-title=LDP has been formed |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2005&mm=11&dd=05&nav_category=11&nav_id=179798 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902104033/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2005&mm=11&dd=05&nav_category=11&nav_id=179798 |archive-date=2 September 2023 |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=B92 |language=sr}} Unlike for LDP, Vuletić did not object the registration of SLS due to its similarity.{{Cite news |last=Dragićević |first=Nataša |date=6 August 1992 |title=Ime nije sporno |trans-title=The name is not disputed |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19920806 |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=21 |language=sr}}
A new law regarding the registration of political parties was adopted in July 2009.{{Cite web |date=17 July 2009 |title=Marković: Temelj za reforme preregistracija stranaka |trans-title=Marković: Foundation for party re-registration reforms |url=https://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/markovic:-temelj-za-reforme-preregistracija-stranaka_138255.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703210604/https://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/markovic:-temelj-za-reforme-preregistracija-stranaka_138255.html |archive-date=3 July 2024 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Radio Television of Vojvodina |language=sr}} The new law offered already-registered parties the opportunity to re-register in the next six months.{{Cite web |date=23 July 2009 |title=Preregistracija stranaka |trans-title=Re-registration of parties |url=https://rts.rs/lat/vesti/politika/75494/.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703210604/https://rts.rs/lat/vesti/politika/75494/.html |archive-date=3 July 2024 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=22 January 2010 |title=U registru upisano 29 stranaka |trans-title=29 parties entered in the register |url=https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/120530/U-registru-upisano-29-stranaka |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703210604/https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/120530/U-registru-upisano-29-stranaka |archive-date=3 July 2024 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Politika |language=sr}} Instead of re-registering, LDS merged with RP to create the Serbian Monarchists (SM) association on 19 January 2010.{{Cite web |date=27 May 2015 |title=Srpski monarhisti više ne postoje |trans-title=Serbian Monarchists no longer exist |url=https://www.vamedia.info/2015/05/srpski-monarhisti-vise-ne-postoje/ |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=VAMedia |language=sr |archive-date=3 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803143528/https://www.vamedia.info/2015/05/srpski-monarhisti-vise-ne-postoje/ |url-status=live }} LDS was formally deregistered on 16 April 2010.{{Cite web |title=Spisak brisanih političkih organizacija |trans-title=List of removed political organisations |url=http://www.arhiva.drzavnauprava.gov.rs/files/SPISAK%20BRISANIH%20PS.doc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727143118/http://www.arhiva.drzavnauprava.gov.rs/files/SPISAK%20BRISANIH%20PS.doc |archive-date=27 July 2024 |access-date=8 July 2024 |website=Ministry of Justice and Public Administration |page=4 |language=sr |quote=210. LIBERALNO DEMOKRATSKA STRANKA Beograd, Mutapova 12 Predrag Vuletić 130-00-00-00301/2010-08 16.04.2010.}} In 2011, Vuletić joined the New Serbia and remained its member until 2017.{{Cite web |date=6 July 2011 |title=Lider Liberalne stranke Predrag Vuletić postao član NS |trans-title=Leader of the Liberal Party, Predrag Vuletić, became a member of NS |url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/politika/lider-liberalne-stranke-predrag-vuletic-postao-clan-ns/mh8gd2s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902104033/https://www.blic.rs/vesti/politika/lider-liberalne-stranke-predrag-vuletic-postao-clan-ns/mh8gd2s |archive-date=2 September 2023 |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=Blic |language=sr}}{{Cite news |date=31 January 2017 |title=Vuletić podneo ostavku, NS se cepa |trans-title=Vuletić resigned, NS is splitting itself |url=https://www.vamedia.info/2017/01/vuletic-podneo-ostavku-ns-se-cepa/ |access-date=19 July 2024 |work=VAMedia |language=sr |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727143135/https://www.vamedia.info/2017/01/vuletic-podneo-ostavku-ns-se-cepa/ |url-status=live }} SM ceased to exist in 2015.
Ideology and platform
The programme of LS was largely based on liberal principles and it perceived itself to be the continuation of the 19th century Liberal Party.{{Rp|page=393}} LS stated that it was against nationalism, instead declaring itself to be a scientific positive and evolutionary party.{{Rp|page=396}}{{Cite web |title=LDS danas |trans-title=LDS today |url=http://www.lds-serbia.org.rs:80/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=204&lang=lat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802051901/http://www.lds-serbia.org.rs:80/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=204&lang=lat |archive-date=2 August 2009 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Liberal Democratic Party |language=sr}} Their goal was to "bring all people and nationalities together, advocate for freedoms and rights, [...] develop economic prosperity, and maintain and preserve cultural heritage" (zbližavanje naroda i narodnosti, zalaganje za slobodu i prava, [...] razvijanje ekonomskog prosperiteta, održavanje i očuvanje kulturnih znamenitosti).{{Rp|page=393}}
Author Robert Thomas described LS as a hybrid party, stating that Stefanović wrote a book that praised Draža Mihailović, the leader of Chetniks during World War II, but also portrayed LS as "a party of the European left".{{Rp|page=58}} LS was strongly anti-communist and anti-Marxist, opposing socialism and favouring civic democracy instead.{{Rp|page=397}} They favoured the repeal of the Republic Day holiday.{{Cite news |date=21 November 1990 |title=Liberalna stranka protiv "Dana Republike" |trans-title=Liberal Party against "Republic Day" |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19901121 |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=2 |language=sr}} In Novi Sad, they proposed to rename the Marshal Tito Square to the Square of Serbian Soldiers.{{Rp|page=394}} In March 1990, LS wanted to organise a fictional trial for Josip Broz Tito but eventually cancelled without a reason.{{Cite news |date=28 March 1990 |title=Zašto ne ukradu A-otpad |trans-title=Why don't they steal the A-waste |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19900328 |access-date=2 August 2024 |work=Borba |pages=3 |language=sr}}{{Cite news |last=Todorović |first=D. |date=4 September 1991 |title=Suđenje srpskom komunizmu |trans-title=Trial of Serbian Communism |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19910904 |access-date=3 August 2023 |work=Borba |pages=9 |language=sr}} In May 1990, the party wanted to rehabilitate Mihailović and to place a memorial plaque dedicated to him on Ravna Gora, but they were stopped by the police. Additionally, LS supported the restoration of the Serbian monarchy and wanted to organise a referendum on whether Serbia should remain a republic or become a parliamentary monarchy.{{Rp|page=394}} They protested against the decision to not let the House of Karađorđević return to Serbia.{{Rp|page=394}}
LS was mostly focused on issues related to the economy.{{Rp|page=396}} Its economic programme was written by Zoran Popov, a professor at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Belgrade. The party favoured a Western-style free-market economy and privatisation.{{Rp|page=|pages=396–397}} In the Europa World Year Book, LS is also listed as a party that favoured a free market economy. It had an in-depth plan, stating that generated social capital should be invested in housing construction, that small businesses, such as tourism and agriculture, should be publicly owned, that large enterprises should get transformed into public enterprises, while the rest should be privatised. Regarding taxation, LS supported establishing a system "based on the experiences of Western Europe" (po ugledu na iskustva Zapadne Evrope), favouring consumption taxes instead of production taxing.{{Rp|page=397}} The party also supported higher salaries and benefits for police officers and shorter working hours.{{Cite news |last=Lekić |first=Slaviša |date=6 June 1990 |title=Batina (ne)kuca na vrata srpskog raja |trans-title=Beating (doesn't)knock on the door of the Serbian paradise |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19900606 |access-date=30 July 2024 |work=Borba |pages=5 |language=sr}}
Regarding the status of Yugoslavia, LS was opposed to its dissolution and wanted a "democratic federation" to be implemented instead of the confederal system, which was proposed by Slovenia and Croatia. It saw confederalism as unrealistic. The party proposed holding a referendum on the matter. LS supported Serb minority rights in other Yugoslav republics, as well as in other countries. Regarding Croatia, LS stated that both "[Serbs and Croats] must live in this area with the least amount of problems" ([Srbi i Hrvati] mora da žive na ovom prostoru i to sa najmanje problema).{{Rp|page=395}} It favoured the creation of a Serb country inside Croatia, as opposed to a cultural autonomy. The party opposed the independence of Kosovo and the establishment of the Assembly of Kosovo, as it saw Kosovo as an integral part of Serbia. LS was opposed to autonomist principles and wanted to encourage settlement of other ethnicities in Kosovo to combat separatism.{{Rp|page=396}}
According to its programme declarations, the party also supported regionalism, the lustration of former members of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, and the accession of Serbia to the European Union and NATO.{{Cite web |title=Programski ciljevi LDS |trans-title=LDS programme goals |url=http://www.lds-serbia.org.yu/progcilj.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708041543fw_/http://www.lds-serbia.org.yu/progcilj.html |archive-date=8 July 2007 |access-date=2 September 2003 |website=Liberal Democratic Party |language=sr}} LS was against particracy. LS also favoured agrarian development, wanting to ensure better conditions for those who lived in rural parts and villages.{{Rp|page=|pages=397–398}} The party was also in favour of creating a ministry of environmental protection. LS wanted the English language to be taught mandatory in schools.{{Rp|page=398}}
In September 1991, Vuletić was present at the assembly of the Serb Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{Cite news |date=30 September 1991 |title=Bez novog predsednika |trans-title=Without a new president |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#issue:UB_00064_19910930 |access-date=3 August 2023 |work=Borba |pages=6 |language=sr}} The party had ambitions to join the Liberal International.
Organisation
LDS only had two presidents during its existence, this being Stefanović and Vuletić.{{Rp|page=58}} According to its website from 2003, Vesna Prodanova and Slobodan Jončić served as vice-presidents of the party, while Zoran Bojković was the president of the Belgrade chapter of LDS.{{Cite web |title=Rukovodstvo LDS-a |trans-title=LDS leadership |url=http://www.lds-serbia.org.yu/rukovodstvo.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041022082512fw_/http://www.lds-serbia.org.yu/rukovodstvo.html |archive-date=22 October 2004 |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=Liberal Democratic Party |language=sr}}
LS had chapters in other Yugoslav constituent republics, except Slovenia and Macedonia, and presented its activities internationally in the Western Europe, United States, Canada, Australia.{{Rp|page=394}} In Serbia, LS operated at two headquarters, one in Valjevo at Pantićeva 70 and one in Belgrade at Njegoševa 1.{{Rp|page=393}} In 1997, its legal headquarters were moved from Valjevo to Belgrade. In 2000, its headquarters in Belgrade were moved to Mutapova 12.{{Cite web |title=Kontakt |trans-title=Contact |url=http://www.lds-serbia.org.rs/index.php?option=com_qcontacts&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=181&lang=lat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802051935/http://www.lds-serbia.org.rs/index.php?option=com_qcontacts&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=181&lang=lat |archive-date=2 August 2009 |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=Liberal Democratic Party |language=sr}} By November 2005, however, Glas javnosti reported that their headquarters in Belgrade were closed. By 2009, LDS claimed to have chapters in 50 municipalities.{{Cite web |title=Odbori |trans-title=Boards |url=http://www.lds-serbia.org.rs/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85&Itemid=179&lang=lat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802051545/http://www.lds-serbia.org.rs/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85&Itemid=179&lang=lat |archive-date=2 August 2009 |access-date=2 September 2003 |website=Liberal Democratic Party |language=sr}} After the dissolution of LDS in 2010, their headquarters in Valjevo were legally occupied by its successor who illegally ran a café in the building that was owned by the local government.{{Cite web |date=3 March 2015 |title=Monarhisti držali kafić u gradskom lokalu |trans-title=The Monarchists held a cafe in the city bar |url=https://www.vamedia.info/2015/03/monarhisti-drzali-kafic-u-gradskom-lokalu/ |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=VAMedia |language=sr |archive-date=26 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726021606/https://www.vamedia.info/2015/03/monarhisti-drzali-kafic-u-gradskom-lokalu/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Vićentijević |first=Branko |date=10 July 2014 |title=Ko krčmi narodnu imovinu |trans-title=Who destroys the people's property |url=https://www.kolubarske.rs/sr/vesti/valjevo/590/ |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Kolubarske |language=sr |archive-date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703210604/https://www.kolubarske.rs/sr/vesti/valjevo/590/ |url-status=live }} The association was moved out of the premises in March 2015. Regarding its membership, LS had 300 members based in Kragujevac in 1990.{{Rp|page=394}}
The party used "for the renewal of the monarchy – for the renewal of villages" (za obnovu Monarhije – za obnovu sela) as its slogan.
= List of presidents =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| colspan="2"| {{No.}}
! President ! Birth–Death ! Term start ! Term end |
|---|
| 1
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia, 1989)}}"| | {{Ill|Aleksandar Stefanović (born 1953)|lt=Aleksandar Stefanović|sr|Aleksandar Stefanović}} || 1953– || 14 December 1989 || 18 June 1990 |
| 2
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia, 1989)}}"| | Predrag Vuletić || 1952– || 18 June 1990 || 19 January 2010 |
Electoral performance
= Parliamentary elections =
= Presidential elections =
= Local elections =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| Date
! Municipality ! Popular vote ! % of popular vote ! {{No.}} ! # of seats ! Seat change ! Coalition ! Status ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| rowspan="2"| 19 September 2004
| Barajevo | 45 | 0.65% | {{increase}} 11th | {{Composition bar|0|33|{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia, 1989)}}}} | {{steady}} 0 | – | {{no|Extra-parliamentary}} |
| Valjevo
| 86 | 0.27% | {{increase}} 20th | {{Composition bar|0|51|{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia, 1989)}}}} | {{steady}} 0 | – | {{no|Extra-parliamentary}} |
| rowspan="2"| 11 May 2008
| Žagubica | 203 | 2.55% | {{increase}} 8th | {{Composition bar|0|33|{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia, 1989)}}}} | {{steady}} 0 | – | {{no|Extra-parliamentary}} |
| Valjevo
| 265 | 0.55% | {{increase}} 10th | {{Composition bar|0|51|{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia, 1989)}}}} | {{steady}} 0 | – | {{no|Extra-parliamentary}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080417235837/http://www.lds-serbia.org.yu/ Official website] (Yugoslav domain)
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090731131558/http://www.lds-serbia.org.rs/index.php Official website] (Serbian domain)
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Category:Political parties established in 1989