Yugoslav Radical Peasants' Democracy
Encyclopedia
The Yugoslav National Party (Serbo-Croatian
and Slovenian
: Jugoslovenska nacionalna stranka, Serbian Cyrillic: Југословенска национална странка, JNS) was a political party in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
between 1932 and 1941. It was established under the name Yugoslav Radical Peasants' Democracy as a regime party of Alexander I of Yugoslavia
.
On January 6, 1929, the king dissolved the Parliament and abolished the constitution, and banning all political parties. This became known as the January 6th Dictatorship
. In 1931, a new constitution was put into place, allowing partial political freedoms. However, most of the political power remained in the power of the King and the government, appointed by him.
In May 1932, the Yugoslav Radical Peasants' Democracy was established as a regime party under the leadership of Petar Živković
. It was formed mostly by dissident members of the Democratic Party
and the People's Radical Party
, as well as the Slovenia
n section of the Independent Democratic Party
and the right wing of the Slovenian Peasant's Party. Individual members from other parties, and from nationalist organizations like Orjuna
also joined. In June 1933, it was renamed to Yugoslav National Party, and adopted a program stressing the unity of the Yugoslav
nation, centralized government
and secularism
.
From 1932 to 1935, the party formed the nation's government. Petar Živković, Milan Srškić and Nikola Uzunović
were the country's prime ministers while the party was in power. After King Alexander was assassinated in 1934, the party assumed most of the powers. However, the economic and political instability of the country, and fierce opposition from Croatia
challenged the party's power. Elections were called in 1935; although they were not free, the regime party suffered a serious setback. A former member of the Yugoslav National Party Milan Stojadinović
formed a new regime party, called Yugoslav Radical Community, based on a more conservative political alliance, which included Bosnian Muslims
and Slovenian right-wing Catholics
. The Yugoslav National Party went into opposition, where it remained until 1941.
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
and Slovenian
Slovenian language
Slovene or Slovenian is a South Slavic language spoken by approximately 2.5 million speakers worldwide, the majority of whom live in Slovenia. It is the first language of about 1.85 million people and is one of the 23 official and working languages of the European Union...
: Jugoslovenska nacionalna stranka, Serbian Cyrillic: Југословенска национална странка, JNS) was a political party in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
between 1932 and 1941. It was established under the name Yugoslav Radical Peasants' Democracy as a regime party of Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I , also known as Alexander the Unifier was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia as well as the last king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes .-Childhood:...
.
On January 6, 1929, the king dissolved the Parliament and abolished the constitution, and banning all political parties. This became known as the January 6th Dictatorship
January 6th Dictatorship
The January 6th Dictatorship was a royal dictatorship established in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes by King Alexander...
. In 1931, a new constitution was put into place, allowing partial political freedoms. However, most of the political power remained in the power of the King and the government, appointed by him.
In May 1932, the Yugoslav Radical Peasants' Democracy was established as a regime party under the leadership of Petar Živković
Petar Živkovic
Petar Živković was a Serbian soldier and political figure in Yugoslavia. He was Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia from January 7, 1929 until April 4, 1932.-Life:...
. It was formed mostly by dissident members of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Democratic Party, State Party of Serbian, Croatian and Slovene Democrats and Democratic Party was the name of a series of social-liberal political parties that existed in succession in the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, and the Kingdom...
and the People's Radical Party
People's Radical Party
The People's Radical Party of Serbia was a political party formed on January 8, 1881, which was active in the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes...
, as well as the Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n section of the Independent Democratic Party
Independent Democratic Party (Yugoslavia)
The Independent Democratic Party was a social liberal political party in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, and later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. It was established by Svetozar Pribićević as a breakaway faction of the Democratic Party in 1924...
and the right wing of the Slovenian Peasant's Party. Individual members from other parties, and from nationalist organizations like Orjuna
ORJUNA
ORJUNA, ОРЈУНА, the commonly used acronym for Organizacija Jugoslavenskih Nacionalista, Организација Југославенских Националиста , was a political organization during the 1920s in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. It was the foremost fascist movement in interwar Yugoslavia...
also joined. In June 1933, it was renamed to Yugoslav National Party, and adopted a program stressing the unity of the Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
nation, centralized government
Centralized government
A centralized or centralised government is one in which power or legal authority is exerted or coordinated by a de facto political executive to which federal states, local authorities, and smaller units are considered subject...
and secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
.
From 1932 to 1935, the party formed the nation's government. Petar Živković, Milan Srškić and Nikola Uzunović
Nikola Uzunovic
Nikola Uzunović was a Serbian politician. He served as Prime Minister of Yugoslavia from April 8, 1926 until April 17, 1927 and from January 1934 to December 1934....
were the country's prime ministers while the party was in power. After King Alexander was assassinated in 1934, the party assumed most of the powers. However, the economic and political instability of the country, and fierce opposition from 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 ...
challenged the party's power. Elections were called in 1935; although they were not free, the regime party suffered a serious setback. A former member of the Yugoslav National Party Milan Stojadinović
Milan Stojadinovic
Milan Stojadinović was a Yugoslav political figure and a noted economist.Stojadinović was born in Čačak in central Serbia, and went to school in Užice and Kragujevac. In 1910 he graduated from the University of Belgrade's Law School, and gained a Ph.D. in economics in 1911...
formed a new regime party, called Yugoslav Radical Community, based on a more conservative political alliance, which included Bosnian Muslims
Yugoslav Muslim Organization
Yugoslav Muslim Organization was a Bosnian Muslim political party in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. It was founded in Sarajevo on February 16, 1919 and was led by Mehmed Spaho. In election campaigns the JMO did mobilize on religious slogans rather than Bosnian nationality, calling...
and Slovenian right-wing Catholics
Slovene People's Party (historical)
The Slovene People's Party was a Slovenian political party in the 19th and 20th centuries, active in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Between 1907 and 1941, it was the largest and arguably the most influential political party in the Slovene Lands...
. The Yugoslav National Party went into opposition, where it remained until 1941.