Croatian Social Liberal Party
Encyclopedia
Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS is a conservative liberal
political party in Croatia
. The party is a member of Liberal International
and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
. Its current president is Darinko Kosor
, elected to that post in November 2009.
during the first free elections in 1990. Its first leader was Slavko Goldstein
, succeeded in 1990 by Dražen Budiša
, who remained the leader until 1995. HSLS became the main opposition party after 1992 presidential and parliamentary elections and remained such until late 1990s.
In February 1996, Vlado Gotovac became the president of the party. However, in November 1997 Budiša became the president again, and a faction led by Gotovac split off to form the Liberal Party
.
In 1998 HSLS created permanent coalition with Social Democratic Party
, which won elections two years later, replaced ruling Croatian Democratic Union
and formed the new government together with four other parties.
However, after the party split in 2002 (the forming of LIBRA), HSLS left the government.
At the Croatian parliamentary election, 2003
, an alliance of the HSLS and the Democratic Centre won 4.0% of the popular vote and 3 out of 151 seats. Two of these seats were held by the HSLS, down from 25 in 2000, causing Budiša to submit his resignation as president. After elections the HSLS supported the government of Ivo Sanader
. In 2004, Ivan Čehok
was elected party president.
After the Croatian local elections, 2005 it was announced that there are merger negotiations between HSLS and the Liberal Party
. The latter dissolved itself, with membership and party infrastructure re-joining HSLS in January 2006. Đurđa Adlešić succeeded Ivan Čehok as the leader of reunited party.
Before the 2007 elections
, HSLS, although still in government announced joint election ticket with opposition parties - Croatian Peasant Party
and Alliance of Primorje-Gorski Kotar. This coalition as a whole lost five seats compared to the previous election, but HSLS retained their two seats. They remained in the governing coalition under Ivo Sanader.
HSLS continued to support the government of Jadranka Kosor
until July 10, 2010 when Darinko Kosor, the leader of the Croatian Social Liberal Party, announced his party's decision to leave the governing coalition. This resulted in the party's two parliamentary representatives Ivan Čehok
and Antun Korušec leaving the party. Since 14. July 2010, HSLS have no representatives in Parliament for the first time in party's history.
, HSLS moved from social liberalism
to conservative liberalism
. This was considered unpopular, and party's decline in political influence resumed. However, with the change in the party's leadership and victory of Darinko Kosor
the party has returned to a more social-liberal stance.
Conservative liberalism
Conservative liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining liberal values and policies with conservative stances, or, more simply, representing the right-wing of the liberal movement....
political party in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. The party is a member of Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party is a European political party mainly active in the European Union, composed of 56 national-level liberal and liberal-democratic parties from across Europe...
. Its current president is Darinko Kosor
Darinko Kosor
Darinko Kosor is the head of the Croatian Social Liberal Party since November 2009. He is a cousin of the Croatian prime minister Jadranka Kosor.Darinko Kosor was a president of League of Socialist Youth Zagreb.-External links:...
, elected to that post in November 2009.
Chronology
The HSLS was formed on 20 May, 1989 as Croatian Social Liberal Union . It was the first Croatian political party formed after the reintroduction of multi-party system. As such it was part of Coalition of People's AccordCoalition of People's Accord
Coalition of People's Accord was the bloc of mostly moderate nationalist and liberal parties formed on the eve of first multi-party elections in Croatia in 1990....
during the first free elections in 1990. Its first leader was Slavko Goldstein
Slavko Goldstein
Slavko Goldstein is a Croatian Jewish historian, writer and publisher.Goldstein family was originally from Tuzla, but Slavko spend his childhood in Karlovac wherehis father Ivo was notable bookseller...
, succeeded in 1990 by Dražen Budiša
Dražen Budiša
Dražen Budiša is a Croatian politician who used to be leading opposition figure in the 1990s and a two-time presidential candidate.-During Yugoslavia:...
, who remained the leader until 1995. HSLS became the main opposition party after 1992 presidential and parliamentary elections and remained such until late 1990s.
In February 1996, Vlado Gotovac became the president of the party. However, in November 1997 Budiša became the president again, and a faction led by Gotovac split off to form the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Croatia)
Liberal Party was a Croatian political party active between January 1998 and April 2006. During its existence the party ran in two general elections and in each election won two seats in the 151-seat Sabor. LS was a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party...
.
In 1998 HSLS created permanent coalition with Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Croatia
Social Democratic Party of Croatia , commonly referred to in Croatia as simply Social Democratic Party , is the largest centre-left political party in Croatia...
, which won elections two years later, replaced ruling Croatian Democratic Union
Croatian Democratic Union
The Croatian Democratic Union is the main center-right political party in Croatia. It is the biggest and strongest individual Croatian party since independence of Croatia. The Christian democratic HDZ governed Croatia from 1990 to 2000 and, in partial coalition, from 2003...
and formed the new government together with four other parties.
However, after the party split in 2002 (the forming of LIBRA), HSLS left the government.
At the Croatian parliamentary election, 2003
Croatian parliamentary election, 2003
-External links:*...
, an alliance of the HSLS and the Democratic Centre won 4.0% of the popular vote and 3 out of 151 seats. Two of these seats were held by the HSLS, down from 25 in 2000, causing Budiša to submit his resignation as president. After elections the HSLS supported the government of Ivo Sanader
Ivo Sanader
Ivo Sanader |Split]]) is a Croatian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Croatia from 2003 to 2009.Sanader obtained his education in comparative literature in Austria, where he also later worked in the 1980s. He worked as a journalist, in marketing, publishing and also as a private...
. In 2004, Ivan Čehok
Ivan Cehok
Ivan Čehok is a Croatian politician. He was a prominent member of the Croatian Social Liberal Party and the mayor of the City of Varaždin .Čehok was born in Korenjak in Varaždin County...
was elected party president.
After the Croatian local elections, 2005 it was announced that there are merger negotiations between HSLS and the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Croatia)
Liberal Party was a Croatian political party active between January 1998 and April 2006. During its existence the party ran in two general elections and in each election won two seats in the 151-seat Sabor. LS was a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party...
. The latter dissolved itself, with membership and party infrastructure re-joining HSLS in January 2006. Đurđa Adlešić succeeded Ivan Čehok as the leader of reunited party.
Before the 2007 elections
Croatian parliamentary election, 2007
Parliamentary elections to the Croatian Parliament were held on 25 November 2007 in Croatia and on 24 November and 25 November 2007 abroad. The campaign officially started on 3 November...
, HSLS, although still in government announced joint election ticket with opposition parties - Croatian Peasant Party
Croatian Peasant Party
The Croatian Peasant Party is a center and socially conservative political party in Croatia.-Austria-Hungary:The Croatian People's Peasant Party was formed on December 22, 1904 by Antun Radić along with his brother Stjepan Radić. The party contested elections for the first time in the Kingdom of...
and Alliance of Primorje-Gorski Kotar. This coalition as a whole lost five seats compared to the previous election, but HSLS retained their two seats. They remained in the governing coalition under Ivo Sanader.
HSLS continued to support the government of Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor is a Croatian politician and former journalist. She is the current Prime Minister of Croatia, having taken office on July 6, 2009, following the sudden resignation of her predecessor Ivo Sanader. She is Croatia's first female Prime Minister since independence.-Early life:Jadranka...
until July 10, 2010 when Darinko Kosor, the leader of the Croatian Social Liberal Party, announced his party's decision to leave the governing coalition. This resulted in the party's two parliamentary representatives Ivan Čehok
Ivan Cehok
Ivan Čehok is a Croatian politician. He was a prominent member of the Croatian Social Liberal Party and the mayor of the City of Varaždin .Čehok was born in Korenjak in Varaždin County...
and Antun Korušec leaving the party. Since 14. July 2010, HSLS have no representatives in Parliament for the first time in party's history.
Ideology
In recent years by supporting Ivo SanaderIvo Sanader
Ivo Sanader |Split]]) is a Croatian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Croatia from 2003 to 2009.Sanader obtained his education in comparative literature in Austria, where he also later worked in the 1980s. He worked as a journalist, in marketing, publishing and also as a private...
, HSLS moved from social liberalism
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
to conservative liberalism
Conservative liberalism
Conservative liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining liberal values and policies with conservative stances, or, more simply, representing the right-wing of the liberal movement....
. This was considered unpopular, and party's decline in political influence resumed. However, with the change in the party's leadership and victory of Darinko Kosor
Darinko Kosor
Darinko Kosor is the head of the Croatian Social Liberal Party since November 2009. He is a cousin of the Croatian prime minister Jadranka Kosor.Darinko Kosor was a president of League of Socialist Youth Zagreb.-External links:...
the party has returned to a more social-liberal stance.