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Dijana Vukomanović

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Dijana Vukomanović
Дијана Вукомановић
Vukomanović in 2015
Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia
In office
31 May 2012 – 3 August 2020
Member of the City Assembly of Belgrade
In office
9 May 2018 – 11 June 2022
Personal details
Born (1967-01-03) 3 January 1967 (age 57)
Virovitica, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Political partySPS (1996–?, 2010–17)
Narodna (2017–22)
SRCE (2022–present)
Alma materUniversity of Belgrade, Central European University

Dijana Vukomanović (Serbian Cyrillic: Дијана Вукомановић; born 3 January 1967) is a Serbian political scientist and politician. She served in the Serbian parliament from 2012 to 2020, initially as a member of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and later with the People's Party (Narodna). She is now a member of Serbia Centre (SRCE).

Early life and career

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Vukomanović was born in Virovitica, in what was then the Socialist Republic of Croatia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Political Sciences (1989), a master's degree from Central European University in Hungary (1995), and a Ph.D. from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Political Sciences (2009). She worked as a researcher at the University of Belgrade Institute of Social Sciences from 1992 to 2000, when she became a research associate at the Institute of Political Studies in Belgrade. She has published widely on topics such as nationalism and political transitions in post-communist countries and has been active with non-governmental organizations devoted to human rights, democracy, and local self-government.[1]

Politician

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Socialist Party

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Early years

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Vukomanović joined the Socialist Party in October 1996, although she was not publicly associated with the party for several years thereafter. In 2010, she explained her initial decision to join the party as follows: "At that time the Socialists claimed to have 600,000 members. I doubted the authenticity of those claims and asked Milan Jovanović, a Socialist, whether that number could be verified. He told me the best way to check was to become an SPS member. I took his advice and signed up and I received a membership card with a serial number based on the number 600,000."[2] Notwithstanding her membership in the party, she was an opponent of SPS leader Slobodan Milošević in this period. In July 2001, she argued that the Socialist Party would benefit from Milošević's extradition to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), in that it would allow the party to become a modern pro-European organization.[3] Milošević died in ICTY custody in 2006, and the SPS subsequently distanced itself from his legacy.

At the eighth Socialist Party congress in December 2010, Vukomanović co-authored a new platform that positioned the SPS as a centre-left party focused on European integration.[4] She was elected as a party vice-president at the same congress. In accepting the position, she said, "My political orientation has always been leftist, which is why it was natural for me to be with the Socialists, because they are the most authentic party in Serbia." Referring to the SPS's position in Serbia's political culture, she said, "We are neither communist nor nationalists; we are socialists."[5]

Parliamentarian

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Vukomanović received the fifth position on the Socialist Party's electoral list in the 2012 Serbian parliamentary election and was elected when the list won forty-four mandates.[6] During the campaign, she said that the party's top priorities would be "preserving existing jobs and enabling employment for young and qualified people."[7] In the immediate aftermath of the election, she speculated on the continuation of Serbia's existing coalition government of the Democratic Party (DS) and the Socialists.[8] Ultimately, however, the Socialists formed a new government with the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Vukomanović served as a government supporter in the assembly. She was a member of the committee for European integration and the committee for the diaspora and Serbs in the region, a member of Serbia's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA), the leader of Serbia's parliamentary friendship group with the United Kingdom, and a member of the friendship group with Montenegro.[9] She was a prominent SPS media spokesperson in this period.[10]

In October 2012, Serbian president Tomislav Nikolić said that Serbia would abandon its plans to join the European Union (EU) if it was required to recognize the independence of Kosovo as a condition of membership. Responding to this statement, Vukomanović said, "We must be prepared both for the best-case scenario, which is to have both Kosovo and EU integration, and for the worst-case scenario, which is to lose both." She added that, in the event of Serbia receiving an ultimatum on Kosovo, the question of continuing on a path to EU membership should be decided via a referendum.[11]

Vukomanović again received the fifth position on the Socialist Party's list in the 2014 Serbian parliamentary election and was re-elected when it again won forty-four mandates.[12] The Progressive Party and its allies won a majority victory, and the SNS afterward formed a new coalition government with the Socialists and other parties. Vukomanović became leader of the SPS assembly group in her second term; she was also deputy chair of the foreign affairs committee, a member of the education committee,[a] a deputy member of the committee for European integration, the leader of Serbia's delegation to the OSCE PA, and a member of the friendship groups with Japan, Montenegro, and the United Kingdom.[13] At a 2014 OSCE meeting in Croatia, she spoke of the shared historical, cultural, and economic ties binding all countries in south-eastern Europe and urged other countries to follow the example of Slovenia and Croatia in joining the European Union.[14]

After Syriza won a historic victory in the January 2015 Greek legislative election, Vukomanović dismissed suggestions that the Socialist Party would shift its economic program further to the left. She noted that the SPS was aligned with the rival Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) and described Syriza as an "ultra-leftist" group.[15]

Vukomanović's term as an SPS vice-president came to an end in September 2015, and she became chair of the party's executive committee at this time.[16]

She received the sixth position on the Socialist Party's electoral list for the 2016 parliamentary election and was elected for a third term when the list won twenty-nine mandates.[17] The Progressives won another majority victory, and the SPS remained a part of the country's coalition government. There were rumours that Vukomanović would be appointed to a cabinet position, though ultimately this did not occur.[18] She continued to lead the SPS's assembly group.[19]

Vukomanović left the Socialist Party in October 2016. She did not provide a reason for her departure, though media reports noted that she had been reprimanded for a public quarrel with party official Ivana Petrović.[20][21] After leaving the party, she lost her committee roles and her position in the OSCE PA.[22]

In early 2017, she said that the Socialist Party had lost its identity and become a vassal of Progressive Party leader Aleksandar Vučić.[23]

People's Party

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Parliamentarian

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Vukomanović joined a new opposition parliamentary group called New Serbia–Movement for Serbia's Salvation in February 2017, serving with members of New Serbia (NS) and former members of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).[24] She was a prominent supporter of Vuk Jeremić's candidacy in the 2017 Serbian presidential election[25] and joined Jeremić's People's Party on its founding convention in October 2017.[26] She was chosen as a member of Narodna's presidency and was the president of its women's forum.[27] During this time, she was a member of the parliamentary friendship groups with Germany, Montenegro, and the United Kingdom.[28]

The People's Party began boycotting the national assembly in early 2019, against the backdrop of significant public protests against Serbia's SNS-led government. It subsequently boycotted the 2020 Serbian parliamentary election, and Vukomanović's parliamentary tenure came to an end in that year.

City politics in Belgrade

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The People's Party contested the 2018 Belgrade city assembly election on a coalition electoral list led by former mayor Dragan Đilas. Vukomanović received the thirteenth position on the list and was elected when the alliance won twenty-six seats.[29] The Progressive Party and its allies won a majority victory. Vukomanović became deputy leader of the People's Party group in the municipal assembly.[30] She was not a candidate in the 2022 city election.

Serbia Centre

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Vukomanović left the People's Party after the 2022 Serbian parliamentary election, in which she was not candidate, and joined the newly formed Serbia Centre party. In a July 2022 interview, she said that her decision was ideological: the People's Party was by this time positioned as a party of a right, whereas Serbia Centre was pro-European party with a centre-left orientation on social issues.[31]

She was elected as a vice-president of Serbia Centre in December 2022.[32]

Notes

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  1. ^ Formally known as the Committee on Education, Science, Technological Development, and the Information Society.

References

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  1. ^ DIJANA VUKOMANOVIĆ, Otvoreni Parlament, accessed 19 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Serbia: Newly elected Socialist Party deputy chairwoman profiled," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 16 December 2010 (Source: Danas website, Belgrade, in Serbian 14 Dec 10).
  3. ^ "JUGOSLAVIA - GOVERNO, KOSTUNICA CERCA SOLUZIONE MORBIDA /ANSA," ANSA - Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, 2 July 2001.
  4. ^ DIJANA VUKOMANOVIĆ, Otvoreni Parlament, accessed 19 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Serbia: New Socialist Party deputy chairwoman to focus on party reforms," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 15 December 2010 (Source: Vecernje novosti website, Belgrade, in Serbian 14 Dec 10).
  6. ^ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине, 6. мај 2012. године – ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (7 ИВИЦА ДАЧИЋ - "СОЦИЈАЛИСТИЧКА ПАРТИЈА СРБИЈЕ (СПС), ПАРТИЈА УЈЕДИЊЕНИХ ПЕНЗИОНЕРА СРБИЈЕ (ПУПС), ЈЕДИНСТВЕНА СРБИЈА (ЈС)"), Archived 2020-08-09 at the Wayback Machine, Republic Election Commission, Republic of Serbia, accessed 3 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Highlights from Serbian press 5 Apr 12," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 12 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Serbia's Tadic in running for PM," Reuters News, 22 May 2012.
  9. ^ DIJANA dr VUKOMANOVIĆ, Archived 2013-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, accessed 23 November 2024.
  10. ^ See for instance "Highlights from Serbian press 16 Jan 13," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 7 January 2013; "Serbian ruling parties dismiss early polls, hint at new Belgrade city government," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 5 February 2013 (Source: Vecernje novosti website, Belgrade, in Serbian 4 Feb 13); "Serbian expert says Progressive leader may replace premier without election," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 20 March 2013 (Source: Blic website, Belgrade, in Serbian 0000 gmt 19 Mar 13); "Serbian parties differ on possibility of Kosovo talks triggering early elections," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 4 April 2013 (Source: Blic website, Belgrade, in Serbian 0000 gmt 4 Apr 13); "Serbian Socialist Party deputy chief says 'time not right' for early election," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 23 December 2013 (Source: Radio B92 text website, Belgrade, in English 0000 gmt 23 Dec 13).
  11. ^ "Paper views reactions to president's remark Serbia may drop EU bid," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 20 October 2012 (Source: Politika website, Belgrade, in Serbian 17 Oct 12).
  12. ^ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине одржани 16. и 23. марта 2014. године – ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (2 ИВИЦА ДАЧИЋ - "Социјалистичка партија Србије (СПС), Партија уједињених пензионера Србије (ПУПС), Јединствена Србија (ЈС)"), Archived 2020-08-09 at the Wayback Machine, Republic Election Commission, Republic of Serbia, accessed 3 April 2024.
  13. ^ DIJANA dr VUKOMANOVIĆ, Archived 2015-06-02 at the Wayback Machine, National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, accessed 23 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Delegations of regional parliaments to OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meet in Zagreb," HINA, 19 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Paper views possible impact of Greek far-left party's victory on Serbia," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 28 January 2015 (Source: Politika website, Belgrade, in Serbian 27 Jan 15).
  16. ^ "Socialist Party of Serbia elects new leadership," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 7 September 2015 (Source: Dnevnik, Novi Sad, in Serbian 4 Sep 15).
  17. ^ Избори за народне посланике 2016. године – Изборне листе (3 ИВИЦА ДАЧИЋ – „Социјалистичка партија Србије (СПС), Јединствена Србија (ЈС) – Драган Марковић Палма“), Archived 2020-07-25 at the Wayback Machine, Republic Election Commission, Republic of Serbia, accessed 27 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Sources say Serbia's government to be formed by 4 August," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 28 July 2016 (Source: Vecernje novosti website in Serbian 1500 gmt 26 Jul 16).
  19. ^ Dijana Vukomanović, istinomer.rs, accessed 23 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Dijana Vukomanović napustila SPS: Od danas sam samostalna poslanica", Blic (Source: Tanjug), 4 October 2016, accessed 19 July 2018.
  21. ^ "SPS: Dve ostavke, jedan odlazak", Danas, 4 October 2016, accessed 19 July 2018.
  22. ^ "Vukomanović nije više šefica delegacije u PS OEBS", Danas, 16 December 2016, accessed 19 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Vukomanović: SPS je Vučićev vazal", Danas, 17 March 2017, accessed 19 July 2018.
  24. ^ "Vukomanović: Vučić će biti najveći gubitnik izbora" Archived 2017-02-09 at the Wayback Machine, N1, 4 February 2017, accessed 19 July 2018.
  25. ^ "Ex-Serbia foreign minister announces his presidential bid," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 16 January 2017 (Source: Radio B92 text website in English 0900 gmt 16 Jan 17).
  26. ^ M. Stojanović, "Vukomanović: Narodna stranka će umiriti borbu desnice i levice", Danas, 29 September 2017, accessed 19 July 2018.
  27. ^ Председништво Народне странке, Archived 2018-07-20 at the Wayback Machine, People's Party, accessed 23 November 2024.
  28. ^ DIJANA dr VUKOMANOVIĆ, Archived 2018-06-09 at the Wayback Machine, National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, accessed 23 November 2024.
  29. ^ Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 62 Number 17 (21 February 2018), p. 17.
  30. ^ Дејан Спаловић, "СНС и СПС договорили се о сарадњи у Београду", Politika, 4 May 2018, accessed 19 July 2018.
  31. ^ "Dijana Vukomanović (SRCE): Ponoš promovisao logo pokreta u obliku crveno-plavo-belog srca, Vučić oblači Vulina i Radoičića u ratobornu maslinasto zelenu", Danas, 8 July 2022, accessed 23 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Ponoš i zvanično izabran za predsednika pokreta SRCE", N1, 4 December 2022, accessed 23 November 2024.
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