View source for Independent Democratic Serb Party

{{short description|Croatian political party}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Independent Democratic Serb Party
| native_name      = Samostalna demokratska srpska stranka<br />Самостална демократска српска странка
| country          = Croatia
| logo             = Independent Democratic Serb Party logo 2020.svg
| logo_size        = 180px
| abbreviation     = SDSS
| president        = [[Milorad Pupovac]]<ref name="JL">{{cite news|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/milorad-pupovac-izabran-za-predsjednika-sdss-a/6326269/|title=Milorad Pupovac izabran za predsjednika SDSS-a|date=2 July 2017|agency=[[HINA]]|work=[[Jutarnji list]]|language=hr}}</ref>
| general_secretary = Danko Nikolić
| leader1_title    = Vice-presidents
| leader1_name     = [[Dragan Crnogorac (politician)|Dragan Crnogorac]]<br>Mirjana Galo<br>Mile Horvat<br>Ognjen Vukmirović
| colorcode        = {{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}
| foundation       = {{start date|1997|3|5|df=y}}<ref name="Novosti">{{cite web|url=http://www.portalnovosti.com/vojislav-stanimirovic-desnicarenje-je-usmjereno-na-aktualnu-vlast-a-srbi-su-samo-povod|title=Desničarenje je usmjereno na aktualnu vlast, a Srbi su samo povod|date=13 March 2015|work=portalnovosti.com|language=sr|access-date=2 July 2017}}</ref>
| founder          = [[Vojislav Stanimirović (politician)|Vojislav Stanimirović]]
| colors           = {{ubl|{{colorbox|#C50200|border=silver}} Red|{{colorbox|#2D3C8C|border=silver}} Blue}}
| membership_year  = 2022
| membership       = 10,324<ref>{{cite web|date=29 August 2023|title=Izvješće o obavljenoj financijskoj reviziji - Samostalna demokratska srpska stranka za 2022. |url=https://www.revizija.hr/UserDocsImages/izvjesca-novo/Revizije%20-%202023/IZVJESCA_%20O_OBAVLJENIM_REVIZIJAMA/FINANCIJSKE_REVIZIJE/POLIT_STR_NEZ_ZAS/POJEDINACNA/POLITI%C4%8CKE%20STRANKE/SAMOSTALNA%20DEMOKRATSKA%20SRPSKA%20STRANKA.pdf|work=State Audit Office|language=hr|access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref>
| ideology         = [[Serbs of Croatia|Serb minority politics]]<br>[[Social democracy]]<ref name=nordeatrade>{{cite web|title=The political framework of Croatia|url=https://www.nordeatrade.com/en/explore-new-market/croatia/political-context|website=nordeatrade.com|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-date=22 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622094921/https://www.nordeatrade.com/en/explore-new-market/croatia/political-context|url-status=dead}}</ref><br>[[Social liberalism]]
| position         = [[Centre-left]]<ref name=europeelects/>
| headquarters     = Trg drvena pijaca 28, [[Vukovar]]
| europarl         = [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=5352|title=Hrvatski sabor - Zastupnici promatrači Hrvatskoga sabora u Europskom parlamentu|publisher=Sabor.hr|language=hr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924114700/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=5352|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| seats1_title     = [[Croatian Parliament|Sabor]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|3|151|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[European Parliament]]
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|0|12|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
| website          = {{URL|sdss.hr}}
}}

The '''Independent Democratic Serb Party''' ({{lang-sh-Cyrl-Latn|Самостална демократска српска странка|Samostalna demokratska srpska stranka}}, '''SDSS''') is a [[social-democratic]] [[political party in Croatia]] representing the interests of the [[Croatian Serbs]]. It holds [[Progressivism|progressive]], [[Pro-Europeanism|pro-European]] stances and is generally considered a [[Centre-left politics|centre-left party.]]<ref name=europeelects>{{cite web|title=Croatia – Parties|url=https://europeelects.eu/european-union/croatia/|website=[[Europe Elects]]}}</ref>

== History ==
It was formed in 1997 and led by [[Vojislav Stanimirović (politician)|Vojislav Stanimirović]]. In the [[2003 Croatian parliamentary election]], it beat its main rival, the [[Serb People's Party (Croatia)|Serb People's Party]] (SNS), taking all three seats reserved for Serb representatives in the Croatian parliament.<ref>[http://sdss.hr/nastanak-i-razvoj/ Nastanak i razvoj], SDSS official website</ref>

After the elections, the Independent Democratic Serb Party made an agreement with the winning [[Croatian Democratic Union]] led by [[Ivo Sanader]] in which they agreed on fulfilling several Independent Democratic Serb Party demands such as refugee return, strengthening of national equality, judicial reform and cooperation with neighbouring countries. In the [[2007 Croatian parliamentary election]], they retained their three seats in the Parliament of Croatia.

In the [[Cabinet of Ivo Sanader II]], their member [[Slobodan Uzelac]] received the position of vice-president of government. In the [[2011 Croatian parliamentary election]], they again won all three seats for Serb minority lists in the Parliament.

In the 2015 and 2016 Croatian parliamentary elections, the SDSS also held all of 3 Serb national minority seats in the Croatian Parliament, continuing to support the [[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]-led government of Croatia.

The party participated in [[2019 European Parliament election in Croatia]], winning 2.66% of votes. After the [[2020 Croatian parliamentary election|2020 parliamentary election]], SDSS member [[Boris Milošević]] received the position of [[Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia]], in charge of social affairs and human and minority rights, within the [[Cabinet of Andrej Plenković II|Second Cabinet]] of [[Andrej Plenković]], representing national minorities in Croatia.

== Electoral performances ==
=== Croatian Parliament ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ [[Croatian Parliament]]
! Year
! % of popular vote in District XII (Serb seats)
! Overall seats won
! District XII
! District XII <br />(Serb seats)
! Government
|-
! [[2003 Croatian parliamentary election|2003]]
|57.66%
| {{Composition bar|3|151|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|8|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|3|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|  {{partial|government support}}
|-
! [[2007 Croatian parliamentary election|2007]]
|62.56%
| {{Composition bar|3|151|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|8|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|3|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|  {{yes|government}}
|-
! [[2011 Croatian parliamentary election|2011]]
|73.36%
| {{Composition bar|3|151|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|8|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|3|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|  {{partial|government support}}
|-
! [[2015 Croatian parliamentary election|2015]]
|77.63%
| {{Composition bar|3|151|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|8|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|3|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|  {{no|opposition}}
|-
! [[2016 Croatian parliamentary election|2016]]
|83.55%
| {{Composition bar|3|151|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|8|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|3|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|  {{partial|government support}}
|-
! [[2020 Croatian parliamentary election|2020]]
|85.95%
| {{Composition bar|3|151|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|8|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|3|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|  {{yes|government}}
|-
! [[2024 Croatian parliamentary election|2024]]
|89.0%
| {{Composition bar|3|151|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|8|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|3|3|hex={{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}}}
|  {{no|opposition}}
|}

=== European Parliament ===
[[File:2019 European Parliament election in Croatia (SDSS).jpg|thumb|SDSS results in the [[2019 European Parliament election in Croatia]] by municipality. Saturation of colour denotes strength of vote.]]
For the [[2014 European Parliament election in Croatia]], the Independent Democratic Serb Party joined the centre-left [[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|SDP]]-led [[Kukuriku coalition]]. The coalition eventually won 4 out of 11 Croatian seats in [[European Parliament]], with SDSS received no seat.

In 2019, the Independent Democratic Serb Party ran independently for the first time in a [[2019 European Parliament election|European Parliament election]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/35199-european-parliament-elections|title=Živi Zid, SDSS Submit Candidates for European Parliament Elections|publisher=Total Croatia News|date=9 April 2019|access-date=28 April 2020|archive-date=31 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531182711/https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/35199-european-parliament-elections|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although there were speculations that the SDSS might leave the ruling coalition with HDZ, its leader [[Milorad Pupovac]] confirmed that the SDSS would remain a part it, following a meeting with Prime Minister [[Andrej Plenković]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://glashrvatske.hrt.hr/en/news/politics/sdss-to-stay-on-with-the-hdz-led-coalition-government|title=SDSS to stay on with the HDZ-led coalition government|publisher=[[Croatian Radio Television]]|date=25 March 2019|access-date=28 April 2020|archive-date=16 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416173816/https://glashrvatske.hrt.hr/en/news/politics/sdss-to-stay-on-with-the-hdz-led-coalition-government/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Campaign was marked by SDSS jumbo posters with inscription "Do you know what it is like to be a Serb in Croatia?" in which a word Serb was written in [[Serbian Cyrillic]]: {{lang|sh|"Znate li kako je biti '''Србин''' u Hrvatskoj?"}}.<ref name="Osseratorio">{{Cite news |url=https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Croatia/Dejan-Jovic-an-alarm-call-for-Croatian-society-195196|title=Dejan Jović, an alarm call for Croatian society |last=Vale |first=Giovanni |date=24 June 2019 |access-date=25 April 2020 |publisher=[[Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa]] |location=[[Trento]], [[Italy]]}}</ref> [[University of Zagreb]] professor [[Dejan Jović]] was second on the list, just behind party leader Milorad Pupovac.<ref name="BBC-Izbori">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/cyr/balkan-48371240|title=Интервју петком - Дејан Јовић: "Поставили смо огледало пред лице и савест људи" |last=Miladinović |first=Aleksandar |date=24 May 2019 |access-date=25 April 2020 |publisher=[[BBC]] }}</ref> As it was expected by campaign leaders, the jumbo posters were target of widespread [[Croatian nationalism]] vandalism and destruction, which underlined the ethnic intolerance and discrimination issues of [[anti-Serb sentiment in Croatia]].<ref name="BBC-Izbori" />

== Party presidents ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|--
! {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! width=180|Name<br /><small>(Born–Died)</small>
! Portrait
! colspan=2|Term of Office
|--
!align=center style="background: {{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}; color:white;"| 1
| [[Vojislav Stanimirović (politician)|Vojislav Stanimirović]]<br /><small>(b. 1953)</small> ||[[File:Stanimirovic.jpg|80px]] || 5 March 1997 || 2 July 2017
|--
!align=center style="background: {{party color|Independent Democratic Serb Party}}; color:white;"| 2
| [[Milorad Pupovac]]<br /><small>(b. 1955)</small> || [[File:Pupovac.jpg|80px]] || 2 July 2017 || Incumbent
|}

== Party platform ==
[[File:Independent Democratic Serb Party 2019 European Parliament Election.png|thumb|280x280px|SDSS [[2019 European Parliament election]] campaign jumbo poster in [[Vukovar]], with inscription "[[Serbs in Croatia#Modern Croatia|Do you know how it is to be a Serb in Croatia?]]", with added [[Croatian nationalist]] graffiti stating "To be above the law".]]
The SDSS defines itself as a democratic party of liberal and social-democratic orientation but also as a Serb national party. Political goals include:
#Refugee return, especially of Serbs, which its represent in parliament; finishing renewal of war damaged areas
#The right to buy earlier state-owned flats, under earlier legislation (before peaceful reintegration of Croatian Podunavlje, when deadline for buying state-owned flats ended)
#State protection and securing of existing rights of national minorities, especially [[Serbs of Croatia|Serbs in Croatia]]
#Cultural and educational autonomy of Serbs in Croatia, through use of [[Serbian language]] and writings, use of Serbian [[Flag of Serbia|national symbols]], education in Serbian, foundation of Serb organizations in education and culture, foundation of Serbian information media and the maintaining of Serbian traditions and customs
#Professionalization of the armed forces
#Regionalism and decentralization
#Croatian integration into the [[EU]] and developing relations with [[Serbia]]

== See also ==
* ''[[Novi Plamen]]'', some of the party leaders are members of its Advisory Board
* ''[[Novosti (Croatia)|Novosti]]'', weekly magazine published by the [[Serb National Council]] (SNV)
* [[Serb Independent Party]]
* [[Independent Democratic Party (Yugoslavia)]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Croatian political parties}}
{{Serbian minority institutions and organizations in Croatia}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1997 establishments in Croatia]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1997]]
[[Category:Pro-European political parties in Croatia]]
[[Category:Serb political parties in Croatia]]
[[Category:Social democratic parties in Croatia]]
[[Category:Vukovar]]