Croatian Peasant Party
Croatian Peasant Party Hrvatska seljačka stranka | ||
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Sabor 1 / 151 | ||
European Parliament | 0 / 12 | |
County Prefects | 0 / 21 | |
Mayors | 1 / 128 | |
Party flag | ||
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hss | ||
The Croatian Peasant Party (Croatian: Hrvatska seljačka stranka, HSS) is an agrarian[4] political party in Croatia founded on 22 December 1904 by Antun and Stjepan Radić as Croatian Peoples' Peasant Party (HPSS). The Brothers Radić believed that the realization of Croatian statehood was possible within Austria-Hungary, but that it had to be reformed as a Monarchy divided into three equal parts – Austria, Hungary, Croatia. After the creation of Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1918, Party requested for the Croatian part of the Kingdom to be based on self-determination. This brought them great public support which culminated in 1920 parliamentary election when HPSS won all 58 seats assigned to Croatia.
In 1920, disgruntled with a bad position of Croats in the Kingdom, the party changed its name into Croatian Republican Peasant Party (HRSS) and started advocating secession from the Kingdom and the establishment of "peaceful peasant Republic of Croatia". On
In 1927, faced with a constant prosecution by the regime, HRSS was forced to soften its policy, change its name into Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), recognize the
After
On 25 May 1991, HSS was restored under the leadership of Drago Stipac at the so-called Assembly of Unification. The party first entered Government after
History
Radić presidency
The Croatian People's Peasant Party (Hrvatska pučka seljačka stranka, HPSS) was established in 1904 by brothers Stjepan Radić and Antun Radić in the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia – itself a part of the Hungarian part of the dualist Austria-Hungary at the time. The founding of the HPSS was a part of the process of fragmentation of the United Croat Opposition .[12] The party pursued the establishment of a comprehensive grassroots network, national unity and agrarianism, as the Radić's distrusted traditional political parties. Even though the HPSS achieved only minor significance before the end of World War I, the party gradually became a mass movement after 1918. This gave it the central role in the completion of Croatian national integration.[13] The HPSS platform of antimilitarism and pacifism became very popular in the final year of the war, especially in Croatia-Slavonia, which was affected by widespread unrest associated with the Green Cadres. Furthermore, the restricted voting rights were expanded after 1918 by the introduction of universal manhood suffrage, allowing the proportionally large peasant population (80% of Croatia-Slavonia at the time) to predominantly vote for the HPSS.[14] Antun Radić died in 1919, leaving Stjepan as the sole leader of the HPSS.[15]
After the war, following the
The HSS had little real influence in the coalition government which lasted until 1927. At the same time, the Radić's participation in the coalition was criticised in Croatia and in the HSS – although not sufficiently to threaten his leadership. A part of the membership split in protest, forming the Croatian Federalist Peasant Party. The
The HSS left the government in January 1927.[20] Radić resumed pursuit of resolution of the Croatian question by advocating unification of Croatian lands including Slavonia and Dalmatia into a single self-governing unit and stopping Italian immigration by abolishing the 1925 Treaty of Nettuno.[21] In November, the HSS formed the Peasant-Democratic Coalition with the Independent Democratic Party (Samostalna demokratska stranka, SDS), the most popular party among the Serbs of Croatia.[22] Tense relations between the opposition and the government deteriorated further until a shouting match in the parliament escalated to the point where NRS deputy Puniša Račić shot several HSS parliament members killing two and wounding three including Radić on 20 June 1928. Radić suggested that the shootings were a result of a regime plan and that the HSS should abandon pacifism. Soon afterwards, Radić died of the wounds on 8 August. Following the assassinations, the Yugoslav state lost any legitimacy among Croats – who appeared united in demands for overhaul of the state.[23] HSS thus became the only major political party among Croats.[24] Vladko Maček was elected to replace Radić almost immediately after his death.[25]
Year | Popular vote | % of popular vote | Coalition | Seats won | Seat change | Government |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 1920 | 230,590 | 14.3% | — | 50 / 315
|
50 | opposition |
March 1923 | 473,733 | 21.9% | — | 70 / 315
|
20 | opposition |
February 1925 | 545,466 | 22.2% | — | 67 / 315
|
3 | government |
September 1927 | 367,570 | 15.8% | — | 61 / 315
|
6 | opposition |
Maček presidency
Under Maček, the HSS continued political opposition to the regime. The United Opposition which included the HSS, stood in 1935 and 1938 Yugoslavian parliamentary election. In the latter, the United Opposition won the majority of votes, but due to operation of the election law, it received 67 out of 373 seats in the parliament.[26]
Prompted by the failure of the government to secure the rule of law and public order, the HSS established the Croatian Peasant Defence (HSZ) as a party paramilitary force in 1936. The force was established to protect Croats against paramilitaries supported or tolerated by the regime. The force was also designed as a response to Ustaše challenge for dominance among Croats as a force capable of providing physical protection following the Velebit uprising. It was meant to demonstrate that the HSS is not a pacifist organisation resigned to passivity. In cities, the HSZ operated under the name of Croatian Civil Defence.[27]
In 1936 and 1937, Maček unsuccessfully negotiated with Regent
In 1939, Stojadinović was replaced by Dragiša Cvetković and Maček contacted him with the same request. The two reached a preliminary agreement, but Prince Paul vetoed the idea objecting to partition of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Maček then wrote back to Ciano explaining that he seeks status of a federal unit for Croatia within Yugoslavia, with joint foreign affairs, defence, central bank, state monopolies, and customs. He modified the territorial demands by moving the Vrbas line to the Bosna River. In return, the Italian Foreign Ministry drafted a document offering Maček a loan to finance an uprising which the HSS would launch and then invite Italian military intervention. The plan also envisaged establishment of a Croatian state under Italian protection. Maček wrote back declining the offer and saying that was not what he asked for and that he had struck a deal with Cvetković government in the meantime.[29]
The Cvetković–Maček Agreement was concluded on 26 August 1939 establishing autonomous Banovina of Croatia. Maček became the deputy prime minister of Yugoslavia and several members of the Peasant–Democratic Coalition were added to the cabinet. The agreement angered Ustaše who launched a propaganda campaign against Maček and the HSS as traitors of Croatian interests while Italy switched its support back to Ustaše.[30]
Year | Popular vote | % of popular vote | Coalition | Seats won | Seat change | Government |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 1931 | banned | — | 0 / 370
|
61 | no seats | |
May 1935 | 1,076,345 | 37.4% | United Opposition | 67 / 370
|
67 | opposition |
December 1938 | 1,364,524 | 44.9% | United Opposition | 67 / 373
|
government |
World War II and afterwards
The party's fortunes declined precipitously with the outbreak of
After the communist victory, the KPJ established one-party rule — the HSS, along with other political parties were declared illegal.[
Modern party
With the advent of multi-party system in 1990, the HSS was reconstituted and on the 1990 election won several seats in the Croatian Parliament. They remained in opposition until the 2000 elections when they received three ministerial portfolios as part of their participation in the winning Social Democratic Party of Croatia-led coalition.
On elections 2000 HSS led center coalition alongside IDS-HNS-LS and Coalition won 25 seats in parliament with 17 seats for HSS (16 domestic and one minority seat). After the elections HSS formed coalition with SDP and had three ministers in government (education, agriculture and entrepreneurship), vice president of government and
On local elections 2001. HSS achieved its best results ever and won 8 out of 21 county prefects (župan) and lot of municipalities and towns and became party which was second in number of local elected officials.
Today, the HSS considers itself among other center European political parties that advocate pro-agrarian policies and greater economic interventionism by the state. On social matters the HSS is largely conservative, supporting a Christian-based morality in public life. HSS is an associate member of the European People's Party (EPP).
At the elections in November 2003, the party won 7.2% of the popular vote and 10 out of 151 seats (nine domestic seats and one minority seat).
Before the 2007 parliamentary elections, HSS announced a coalition with opposition parties Alliance of Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Croatian Social Liberal Party. The coalition received 6.5% of the popular vote and 8 out of 153 seats (six for HSS itself). After elections they became part of Ivo Sanader's governing coalition and received two ministerial portfolios (regional development and tourism), vicepresident of government and vicepresident of Parliament.
On 2011 parliamentary elections party score worst result in party's history receiving only one parliamentary seat and 3% of popular vote.
Party convention 28 January 2012 elected Branko Hrg as new president.
In 2014 Croatian Peasant Party in coalition with Croatian Democratic Union won one seat in European Parliament – Marijana Petir. However, on 6 June 2017 Petir was expelled from Croatian Peasant Party, which left the party without seats in European Parliament.[31]
Election history
Parliamentary
The following is a summary of HSS's results in parliamentary elections for the
Election | In coalition with | Votes won (Coalition totals) |
Percentage | Total seats won (HSS only) |
Change | Government |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 1992 | None | 111,869 | 4.25 | 3 / 138
|
Opposition | |
October 1995 | HNS-IDS–HKDU–SBHS | 441,390 | 18.26 | 10 / 127
|
7 | Opposition |
January 2000 | HNS–IDS–LS–ASH | 432,527 | 14.70 | 17 / 151
|
7 | Government |
November 2003 | None | 177,359 | 7.20 | 10 / 151
|
7 | Opposition |
November 2007 | HSLS-PGS | 161,814 | 6.50 | 6 / 153
|
4 | Government |
December 2011 | None | 71,450 | 3.00 | 1 / 151
|
5 | Opposition |
November 2015 | Patriotic Coalition | 744,507 (23,423[32]) | 33.46 | 1 / 151
|
Government support | |
September 2016 | People's Coalition
|
636,602 (33,514) |
33.82 | 5 / 151
|
4 | Opposition |
July 2020 | Restart Coalition
|
414,615 | 24.87 | 2 / 151
|
3 | Opposition |
Presidential
The following is a list of presidential candidates who were endorsed by HSS.
Election year(s) | Candidate | 1st round | 2nd round | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# of overall votes | % of overall votes | # of overall votes | % of overall votes | |||
2000 | Stjepan Mesić (HNS) | 1.100.671 | 41.3 (#1) | 1.433.372 | 56.01 (#1) | Won |
2005 | Stjepan Mesić (Ind.) | 1.089.398 | 48.92 (#1) | 1.454.451 | 65.93 (#1) | Won |
2009-10 | None | |||||
2014–15 | Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović (HDZ) | 665.379 | 37.22 (#2) | 1.114.945 | 50.74 (#1) | Won |
2019–20 | Zoran Milanović (SDP) | 562,783 | 29.55 (#1) | 1,034,170 | 52.66 (#1) | Won |
European Parliament
Election | In coalition with | Votes won (Coalition totals) |
Percentage | Total seats won (HSS only) |
Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 2013 | HSLS | 28,646 | 3.86 | 0 / 12
|
|
May 2014 | HSP-AS
|
381,844 | 41.4 | 1 / 11
|
1 |
May 2019 | Amsterdam Coalition | 55,806 | 5.19% | 0 / 12
|
1 |
Party presidents
- Stjepan Radić (1904–1928)
- Vladko Maček (1928–1964)
- Juraj Krnjević (1964–1988)
- Josip Torbar (1988–1991)
- Drago Stipac (1991–1994)
- Zlatko Tomčić (1994–2005)
- Josip Friščić (2005–2012)
- Branko Hrg (2012–2016)
- Krešo Beljak (2016–)
See also
- Croatian Peasant Party (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Slovene Peasant Party
References
- ^ "Hrvatska seljačka stranka - HSS". digured.srce.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ^ "Izvješće o obavljenoj financijskoj reviziji - Hrvatska seljačka stranka za 2022" (PDF). State Audit Office (in Croatian). 6 November 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ a b Nordsieck, Wolfram (2020). "Croatia". Parties and Elections in Europe.
- ^ a b c Gladoic, Andrea (14 June 2018). "Croatia's Largest Political Parties". Expat in Croatia. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Homoseksualcima onemogućili udomljavanje djece; Glasovac: "Zakon je nelogičan, šaljemo ga na Ustavni sud"". 20 February 2019.
- ^ a b c "RADIKALNI POLITIČKI ZAOKRET BELJAKOVOG HSS-a, STRANKA IMA NOVU STRATEGIJU 'Zbogom demokršćanstvu, mi smo progresivni liberali'". 13 October 2017.
- ^ "HSS u programu napravio nagli zaokret: 'Više nismo konzervativni, sad smo zeleni i progresivni'". 10 June 2018.
- ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2016). "Croatia". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Key Political Parties in Croatia". Balkan Insight. 27 September 2010.
- ^ "HSS usvojio novi Statut stranke: 'Siguran sam da možemo napraviti pozitivno iznenađenje na izborima'". 9 February 2019.
- ^ "U Kolanu otvorena izložba povodom obilježavanja 110. obljetnice HSS-a". Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ^ Biondich 2000, pp. 59–61.
- ^ Biondich 2000, pp. 62–63.
- ^ Newman 2015, p. 139.
- ^ Biondich 2000, p. 162.
- ^ Biondich 2000, pp. 150–152.
- ^ Biondich 2000, pp. 200–203.
- ^ Biondich 2000, p. 214.
- ^ Biondich 2000, pp. 208–214.
- ^ Biondich 2000, p. 222.
- ^ Biondich 2000, pp. 234–235.
- ^ Biondich 2000, p. 228.
- ^ Biondich 2000, pp. 238–244.
- ^ Biondich 2000, p. 245.
- ^ Biondich 2000, p. 242.
- ^ Tomasevich 2001, p. 40.
- ^ Ramet 2007, pp. 215–223.
- ^ Tomasevich 2001, pp. 40–41.
- ^ Tomasevich 2001, pp. 41–42.
- ^ Tomasevich 2001, pp. 42–44.
- ^ "Marijana Petir izbačena iz HSS-a". Index.hr (in Croatian). 6 June 2016.
- ^ Suzana Barilar (13 November 2015). "Preferencijalni glasovi". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
Sources
- ISBN 0-8020-4727-0.
- Newman, John Paul (2015). Yugoslavia in the Shadow of War: Veterans and the Limits of State Building, 1903–1945. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107070769.
- S2CID 162808232.
- ISBN 978-0-8047-0857-9.
Further reading
- Stallaerts, Robert (2010). Historical dictionary of Croatia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-271-01810-2.
- Petrić, Hrvoje (2015). "O braći Radić i počecima Hrvatske pučke seljačke stranke" [About Radić brothers and the beginnings of the Croatian People's Peasant Party]. 110 godina Hrvatske seljačke stranke. Matica hrvatska. pp. 539–606. ISBN 978-953-341-064-7.
- Dragnich, Alex N. (1983). The First Yugoslavia: Search for a Viable Political System. Hoover Press. ISBN 978-0-8179-7843-3.
External links
- Official website (in Croatian)