Party of Serbian Unity

The Party of Serbian Unity (Serbian: Странка српског јединства, romanizedStranka srpskog jedinstva; abbr. SSJ) was a nationalist[4] political party in Serbia founded by Željko Ražnatović.[5] After its merging into the Serbian Radical Party, the Council of Serbian Unity was the formed to be the party's successor in 2013.

Party of Serbian Unity
Странка српског јединства
Stranka srpskog jedinstva
AbbreviationSSJ
PresidentBorislav Pelević
FounderŽeljko Ražnatović
Founded1993
Dissolved2007
Preceded byCivic Group – Željko Ražnatović Arkan
Merged intoSerbian Radical Party
Succeeded byCouncil of Serbian Unity
HeadquartersBelgrade (1993–1998)
Jagodina (1998–2007)
Military wingSerb Volunteer Guard (1993–96)
Ideology
Political positionFar-right[1]
Colours  Grey
National Assembly
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Goals edit

The key goals of the party were:

History edit

In 1992, a new party formed by Ražnatović called the Civic Group – Željko Ražnatović Arkan.[6] It gained five seats in the National Assembly during the 1992 general elections. After changing to the SSJ in 1993, the party lost its five seats for failing to receive the 5% threshold. In 1998, the party moved its headquarters from Belgrade to Jagodina.

Following the assassination of Ražnatović in 2000, Borislav Pelević became president of the party. At the last legislative election in 2003, the SSJ was a part of the For National Unity alliance. However, the coalition failed to receive any seats. The SSJ merged into the Serbian Radical Party in 2007.[5]

On 21 January 2013, the party was re-founded as the Council of Serbian Unity by Pelević, Slobodan Radosavljević and Jelena Kostić in Belgrade.[7] The new party took part in the 2014 parliamentary election as part of the Patriotic Front coalition, but failed to reach the 5% threshold.[8]

Electoral results edit

Parliamentary edit

Year Leader Popular vote % of popular vote # of seats Seat change Coalition Status
1992 Željko Ražnatović 17,352 0.39%
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  5 Opposition
1993 41,632 1.00%
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  5 Opposition
1997 5,590 0.14%
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  0 Opposition
2000 Borislav Pelević 200,052 5.33%
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  14 Opposition
2003 68,537 1.82%
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  14 For National Unity Opposition
2014 4,514 0.17%
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  0 Patriotic Front Opposition

References edit

  1. ^ a b Wiesinger, Barbara (December 2008). "The Continuing Presence of the Extreme Right in Post-Milošević Serbia". Balkanologie. 11 (1–2). doi:10.4000/balkanologie.1363.
  2. ^ "Warlord's party hopeful of winning seats". edition.cnn.com. CNN. 24 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Željko Ražnatović". britannica.com. Britannica.
  4. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram. "Serbia (Serbia and Montenegro)". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 21 August 2003.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ a b "Arkan radikal" (in Serbian). Kurir. 24 December 2007. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Arhiva - Izbori za narodne poslanike - 1992". arhiva.rik.parlament.gov.rs. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Pelević obnavlja staru stranku" (in Serbian). Večernje novosti. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Studio B :: Vesti :: Predata lista Patriotski front". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2014.

External links edit