The Serbian Right (Serbian: Српска десница, romanized: Srpska desnica, abbr. SD) is a far-right political party in Serbia. The party was founded in 2018 by Miša Vacić.[1] The party has been accused of being a satellite of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).[2]
Serbian Right Српска десница | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | SD |
| President | Miša Vacić |
| Founded | 22 January 2018 |
| Headquarters | Belgrade |
| Ideology | Ultranationalism |
| Political position | Far-right |
| European affiliation | Alliance for Peace and Freedom (cooperation) |
| Colors | Purple |
| National Assembly | 0 / 250 |
| Assembly of Vojvodina | 0 / 120 |
| City Assembly of Belgrade | 0 / 110 |
| Website | |
| srpskadesnica | |
History
editSerbian Right was founded in January 2018. Miša Vacić, a former spokesman of the 1389 Movement was elected first president of the party, and former parliamentarian Saša Dujović was chosen as its deputy president. The congress was attended by 150 delegates. Among the guests at this ceremony were Milenko Jovanov, vice-president of the SNS Main Board, Branislav Puhalo, former security chief of Ratko Mladić, as well as singer Marko Bulat.[1][3]
Miša Vacić stated that the party was founded to help Serbia and its institutions both in resolving the issue of Kosovo, and in everything that is important for the survival of the Serbs and that the Serbian Right will support the initiative of the President Aleksandar Vučić to open a dialogue on the status of Kosovo and Metohija and that they expect an invitation for active participation in the dialogue.[1]
Controversy
editThe party has been accused of being a satellite of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). It automatically received access and positive treatment in the pro-government yellow press and television, where only the Progressives and their allies have such a privilege.[2] Vacić gave a speech in Šabac which at that time was one of the few cities in Serbia controlled by the opposition and he said that he would "push Mayor Zelenović and his criminals down Cer into the Serbian Drina and strangle him", and that he would build a prison in which he would be exposed and spat at.[2] The days before the local elections in Medveđa were marked by very debatable pre-election actions of the representatives of the Serbian Right, and the most public attention was attracted by the presence of members of this party in the premises where ballot papers are printed, as well as by publishing recordings of the whole process on social networks.[4]
On 16 November 2023 the U.S. Department of State sanctioned Miša Vacić pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being responsible by working with the Government of the Russian Federation by acting as an observer in Russia’s sham referenda for purported annexation of the Russia-occupied regions of Ukraine in September 2022.[5]
Ideology
editIts views are orientated towards ultranationalism,[6] and it is staunchly socially conservative.[7][8] It is positioned on the far-right on the political spectrum.[6][9][10]
Electoral performance
editSerbian Right participated the 2019 local elections in Medveđa and it received 6.5% of the popular vote managing to pass the electoral threshold and enter the local parliament.[4] The party also participated at the 2020 local elections in New Belgrade and only won 1% of the popular vote failing to enter the local parliament.[11]
Parliamentary elections
edit| Year | Leader | Popular vote | % of popular vote | # of seats | Seat change | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Miša Vacić | Did not participate | 0 / 250
|
 0
|
no seats | |
| 2022 | 0 / 250
|
0
|
no seats | |||
Presidential elections
edit| Election year | Candidate | 1st Round | 2nd Round | Results | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # Votes | % Votes | # Votes | % Votes | |||
| 2022 | Miša Vacić | 32,947 | 0.89 | — | Lost 
| |
References
edit- ^ a b c Tašković, M. (22 January 2018). "NOVA STRANKA NACIONALISTA Miša Vacić na čelu Srpske desnice, podržali ga Lav Pajkić i Marko Bulat". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Srpska desnica Miše Vacića – produžena ruka SNS | DW | 14 November 2019". DW.COM (in Serbian). Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "Izabrano rukovodstvo i doneta odluka o izlasku na beogradske izbore", Novosti, 11 January 2018, accessed 7 September 2023.
- ^ a b A.P.M (10 September 2019). "MUTNE RADNJE Kako je Miša Vacić prvi put PREŠAO CENZUS posle niza SKANDALOZNIH predizbornih poteza u Medveđi". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "The U.S. Government Designates Individuals and Entities in the Western Balkans for Corruption and Malign Activities". 16 November 2023.
- ^ a b Mörner, Ninna (2022). The Many Faces of the Far Right in the Post-Communist Space: A Comparative Study of Far-Right Movements and Identity in the Region. Malmö: Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies. p. 148. ISBN 978-91-85139-13-2.
- ^ Mladenov Jovanović, Srđan (2020). "A New Political Scarecrow? The Political Program and Activity of the "Serbian Right"". Suvremene Teme. 11: 11–26. doi:10.46917/st.11.1.1. S2CID 232858193.
- ^ Mulhall, Joe; Khan-Ruf, Safya (2021). State of Hate: Far-right extremism in Europe. London: Hope Not Hate; Amadeu Antonio Foundation; EXPO. p. 108.
- ^ Lažetić, Marina (2018). ""Migration Crisis" and the Far Right Networks in Europe: A Case Study of Serbia". Journal of Regional Security. 13 (2). Belgrade: Belgrade Centre for Security Policy: 28. doi:10.5937/jrs13-19429. S2CID 239774318.
- ^ Nadjivan, Silvia; Schubert, Lucas Maximilian (2020). "Parliamentary elections in Serbia" (PDF). Politische Akademie.
- ^ "Lokalni izbori 21. jun 2020. : Gradska Opština Novi Beograd". novibeograd.rs. Retrieved 15 September 2020.