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Movement of Socialists

Political party in Serbia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Movement of Socialists (Serbian: Покрет социјалиста, romanised: Pokret socijalista, abbr. PS) is a left-wing nationalist political party in Serbia. It was founded in 2008 by Aleksandar Vulin, who served as the party's president until 2022 when he was succeeded by Bojan Torbica.

AbbreviationPS
Founded8 August 2008 (2008-08-08)
Quick facts Abbreviation, Leader ...
Movement of Socialists
Покрет социјалиста
AbbreviationPS
LeaderBojan Torbica
FounderAleksandar Vulin
Founded8 August 2008 (2008-08-08)
Split fromSocialist Party of Serbia
HeadquartersBulevar Milutina Milankovića 120B, Belgrade
Ideology
Political positionCentre-left
International affiliationSovintern[1]
Parliamentary groupAleksandar Vučić – Serbia Must Not Stop
Colours
  •   Red
  •   Yellow
National Assembly
2 / 250
Assembly of Vojvodina
2 / 120
City Assembly of Belgrade
1 / 110
Party flag
Website
pokretsocijalista.rs
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History

It was founded on 8 August 2008 by Aleksandar Vulin, a former high-ranking member of Yugoslav Left[2] who left it in 1998 after perceiving the party to have "betrayed its programme and became a political mask for the wealthy sitting in the party".[3] It is a part of the governing coalition with the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). It was formed by former members of the Socialist Party of Serbia because they disagreed with the pro-European policy of the party; however, it was a member of the pro-European SNS-led coalitions in the 2012 (as part of Let's Get Serbia Moving alliance) and in the 2014 Serbian parliamentary elections. In December 2022, Vulin resigned as the leader of PS after being appointed as the director of the Security Intelligence Agency.[4]

Ideology and platform

It is a self-described radical left[5] or leftist political party.[6][7] Observers have described it as a centre-left, social-democratic, and left-wing nationalist party.[2][8][9] Its foreign policy views are Eurosceptic and anti-Western.[8][10][11] PS is supportive of further cooperation with China and Russia.[12]

It was created as a party vehicle for Vulin,[13] who has been described as a nationalist,[14][15] and has expressed irredentist views.[16][17] In 2022, PS proclaimed the "Serbian world" idea as its primary political idea and goal.[18] It has been also described as a satellite party of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party.[19]

In an opinion article, Miloš Baković Jadžić, now-leader of the Political Platform Solidarity and member of the party Together, criticised PS by describing it as a conservative and neoliberal party "with nothing in common with progressive left-wing politics but its name, symbolism, occasional rhetoric and a somewhat radical programme," having engaged in active anti-worker and anti-progressive politics.[20] Sociologist Jovo Bakić has also disputed the leftism of PS due to "their support for the nationalistic and neoliberal policies".[21] Political theorist Srećko Horvat noted PS' participation in the governing coalition's "harsh neoliberal measures, including pension cuts, public sector wage cuts, deregulation and labour market flexibilization" and minister Vulin's direct responsibility for "one of the worst new labour laws" that had been passed in Serbia in 2014. He further discredited the party as having nothing to do with socialism or left-wing politics.[22]

In 2015, Vulin said that he was opposed to same-sex marriage and that, as minister for social policy, he would never sign a law making it possible.[23]

Organisation

Its headquarters are at Bulevar Milutina Milankovića 120B in Belgrade.[24]

List of presidents

More information #, President ...
# President Born–Death Term start Term end
1 Aleksandar Vulin1972–7 August 20085 December 2022
2 Bojan Torbica1974–5 December 2022Incumbent
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Electoral performance

Parliamentary elections

More information Year, Leader ...
National Assembly of Serbia
Year Leader Popular vote % of popular vote # # of seats Seat change Coalition Status Ref.
2012 Aleksandar Vulin 940,659 25.16% Increase 1st
1 / 250
Increase 1 PS Government [25]
2014 1,736,920 49.96% Steady 1st
3 / 250
Increase 2 BKV Government [26]
2016 1,823,147 49.71% Steady 1st
3 / 250
Steady 0 SP Government [27]
2020 1,953,998 63.02% Steady 1st
3 / 250
Steady 0 ZND Government [28]
2022 1,635,101 44.27% Steady 1st
2 / 250
Decrease 1 ZMS Support [29]
2023 Bojan Torbica 1,783,701 48.07% Steady 1st
2 / 250
Steady 0 SNSDS Government [30]
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Presidential elections

More information Year, Candidate ...
President of Serbia
Year Candidate 1st round popular vote % of popular vote 2nd round popular vote % of popular vote Notes Ref.
2012 Tomislav Nikolić 2nd 979,216 26.22% 1st 1,552,063 51.16% Supported Nikolić [25]
2017 Aleksandar Vučić 1st 2,012,788 56.01% N/a Supported Vučić [31]
2022 1st 2,224,914 60.01% N/a [32]
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References

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