Liberal Party (Croatia)

The Liberal Party (Croatian: Liberalna stranka or LS) was a Croatian social-liberal[1] political party active between January 1998 and April 2006.[2] During its existence the party ran in two general elections (in 2000 and 2003) and in each election won two seats in the 151-seat Sabor. LS was a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. Its last leader was Zlatko Benašić.

Liberal Party

Liberalna stranka
FounderVlado Gotovac
Founded24 January 1998 (1998-01-24)
Dissolved27 April 2006 (2006-04-27)
Split fromCroatian Social Liberal Party
Merged intoCroatian Social Liberal Party
IdeologySocial liberalism
European affiliationEuropean Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
International affiliationLiberal International
Colours  Yellow
  Blue

The party was formed in January 1998 following a party split in November 1997 when a faction led by Vlado Gotovac, then chairman of Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), left the party because of internal power struggles which resulted in former chairman Dražen Budiša taking back control of the party.[3] Gotovac was joined by other prominent liberals such as Osijek mayor Zlatko Kramarić and historian Ivo Banac.

In 2000, the party had two representatives in the Parliament and had one minister in a coalition government with the much larger Social Democratic Party of Croatia. In 2002 another HSLS faction split from the party after party leader Dražen Budiša announced pulling out of the ruling coalition. They called themselves LIBRA, and their members participated in the Cabinet of Ivica Račan II.

LS confirmed their two representatives in the Parliament in the 2003 elections, in an alliance with the social democrats, but became part of the opposition.

After the 2003 election party leader Ivo Banac announced the merger of LS with the Croatian People's Party and LIBRA into one big liberal party, but this initiative was opposed by faction led by Zlatko Kramarić. Banac was replaced at the party convention.

After the 2005 local elections Zlatko Kramarić started merger negotiations with the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS). That prompted a group of dissidents in Split to form a new party called Dalmatian Liberal Party.

Liberal Party formally ceased to exist with all of its membership and party infrastructure re-joining HSLS in April 2006.[2] In the meantime, LIBRA (Party of Liberal Democrats) merged with Croatian People's Party (HNS) in February 2005.

Presidents

Election history
Election In coalition with Votes won

(coalition totals)

 Percentage Seats won

(LS only)

 Change Government
2000 HSS-IDS-HNS-ASH 432,527 14.70%
2 / 151
 2 Government
2003 SDP-IDS-LIBRA 560,593 22.60%
2 / 151
 Opposition

See also

References
  1. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2003). "Croatia". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 13 September 2005.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "Liberalna stranka" (in Croatian). HIDRA. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  3. Marjanović, Vedran; Luetić, Tomislav (18 January 2010). "HDZ nastao, a HSLS skoro nestao u raskolu". Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian). Retrieved 22 October 2011.
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