Social Democratic Union of Macedonia
Encyclopedia
The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia is a centre-left
political party
in the Macedonia.
It is the successor of the League of Communists of Macedonia
, the ruling party during the communist regime which ruled SR Macedonia as a constituent republic
of SFR Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1990. The current party leader is Branko Crvenkovski
. From September 1992 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2006 the SDSM was the largest party in the Macedonian parliament and the main party in the government, and has shown a moderate and reconciliatory attitude towards ethnic minorities in Macedonia. Concerning its ideology
, it can be said that although the SDSM is a successor of a communist party and claims to be social-democratic, but the influential business lobby in SDSM is moving the party in a neoliberal
direction. Consequently, the SDSM has fewer supporters in lower classes and more supporters in upper classes than one can expect from a social-democratic party.
The party lost the 1998 elections
, but at the legislative elections, 15 September 2002, the party became the strongest party winning 43 out of 120 seats in the Macedonian Assembly
as the major party of the Together for Macedonia alliance, led by SDSM and the Liberal Democratic Party. Together for Macedonia ruled in coalition with the Democratic Union for Integration
.
The leader of the party until 2004 and after May 2009 is Branko Crvenkovski
, who served as prime minister of Macedonia from 1992 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2004. Crvenkovski was then elected on the Social Democratic ticket to become President of the Republic of Macedonia
a post that he held until May 2009. The Presidency was handed to Vlado Bučkovski
, who was the party leader and Prime Minister until the 2006 Parliamentary elections. Other prominent members of this party are: Jani Makraduli, Zoran Zaev, Goran Mincev, Nikola Popovski, Ilinka Mitreva
, Nikola Kjurkciev and others. The SDSM is a full member of the Socialist International
and a PES
associate member.
On 30 November 2005 one of the most prominent members of the SDSM, Tito Petkovski
, who ran for president in 1999 and came in second place, left the party to form the New Social Democratic Party
. This is the second major split from the SDSM, the first one being the 1993 split of Petar Gošev, who has established the Democratic Party.
At the last parliamentary elections in Macedonia, held on 1 June 2008, the coalition Sun (of which SDSM was the leading party) was defeated, receiving 18 of the 120 seats. At the last local elections from 2009, the Social Democrats won in 7 out of 84 municipalities in the country
. The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia is the second largest political party and the main opposition party in the country.
In May 2009, after finishing the 5-year-term of President of the Republic of Macedonia
, Branko Crvenkovski returned to the SDUM and was reelected leader of the party. He reorganized the party profoundly.
Centre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the Macedonia.
It is the successor of the League of Communists of Macedonia
League of Communists of Macedonia
League of Communists of Macedonia was the Macedonian branch of the ruling League of Communists of Yugoslavia during the period 1943 – 1990. It was formed under the name Communist Party of Macedonia during the antifascist National Liberation War of Macedonia in the Second World War...
, the ruling party during the communist regime which ruled SR Macedonia as a constituent republic
Constituent country
Constituent country is a phrase sometimes used in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity. The term constituent country does not have any defined legal meaning, and is used simply to refer to a country which is a part Constituent country is a phrase sometimes used in contexts...
of SFR Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1990. The current party leader is Branko Crvenkovski
Branko Crvenkovski
Branko Crvenkovski leads the Republic of Macedonia's largest opposition party, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia. He was Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2002 to 2004, then President of the Republic of Macedonia from 2004 to 2009.Crvenkovski was...
. From September 1992 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2006 the SDSM was the largest party in the Macedonian parliament and the main party in the government, and has shown a moderate and reconciliatory attitude towards ethnic minorities in Macedonia. Concerning its ideology
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
, it can be said that although the SDSM is a successor of a communist party and claims to be social-democratic, but the influential business lobby in SDSM is moving the party in a neoliberal
Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism is a market-driven approach to economic and social policy based on neoclassical theories of economics that emphasizes the efficiency of private enterprise, liberalized trade and relatively open markets, and therefore seeks to maximize the role of the private sector in determining the...
direction. Consequently, the SDSM has fewer supporters in lower classes and more supporters in upper classes than one can expect from a social-democratic party.
The party lost the 1998 elections
Macedonian parliamentary election, 1998
The 1998 parliamentary election in the Republic of Macedonia were held on 18 October and 1 November 1998. The winner was VMRO-DPMNE, which later formed coalition government with Democratic Alternative and Democratic Party of Albanians....
, but at the legislative elections, 15 September 2002, the party became the strongest party winning 43 out of 120 seats in the Macedonian Assembly
Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia
The Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia, the Assembly , has 123 members, elected for a four year term, by proportional representation from 6 electoral districts, each contributing 20 MPs.- Result :...
as the major party of the Together for Macedonia alliance, led by SDSM and the Liberal Democratic Party. Together for Macedonia ruled in coalition with the Democratic Union for Integration
Democratic Union for Integration
The Democratic Union for Integration is the largest Albanian political party in the Republic of Macedonia, and the third largest political party in all of Macedonia...
.
The leader of the party until 2004 and after May 2009 is Branko Crvenkovski
Branko Crvenkovski
Branko Crvenkovski leads the Republic of Macedonia's largest opposition party, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia. He was Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2002 to 2004, then President of the Republic of Macedonia from 2004 to 2009.Crvenkovski was...
, who served as prime minister of Macedonia from 1992 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2004. Crvenkovski was then elected on the Social Democratic ticket to become President of the Republic of Macedonia
President of the Republic of Macedonia
The President of the Republic of Macedonia is the head of state of the Republic of Macedonia. The institution of the Presidency of the modern Republic of Macedonia began after the Macedonian declaration of independence on 8 September 1991. Its first president was Kiro Gligorov, the oldest president...
a post that he held until May 2009. The Presidency was handed to Vlado Bučkovski
Vlado Buckovski
Vlado Bučkovski Vlado Bučkovski Vlado Bučkovski (born December 2, 1962 in Skopje Social Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Republic of Macedonia) is a former prime minister of the Republic of Macedonia, elected by parliament on December 15, 2004. He was previously the defense minister of...
, who was the party leader and Prime Minister until the 2006 Parliamentary elections. Other prominent members of this party are: Jani Makraduli, Zoran Zaev, Goran Mincev, Nikola Popovski, Ilinka Mitreva
Ilinka Mitreva
Ilinka Mitreva is a former foreign minister of the Republic of Macedonia. She was first appointed to that position in May 2001, but resigned in November 2001. However, she was reappointed in November 2002, and held the position until August 2006, when a new government took office after...
, Nikola Kjurkciev and others. The SDSM is a full member of the Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
and a PES
Party of European Socialists
The Party of European Socialists is a European political party led by Sergei Stanishev, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The PES comprises social-democratic national-level political parties primarily from Member state of the European Union, as well as other nations of the European continent. The...
associate member.
On 30 November 2005 one of the most prominent members of the SDSM, Tito Petkovski
Tito Petkovski
Tito Petkovski is a politician of the Republic of Macedonia, and leads the New Social Democratic Party. He was born on January 23, 1945 in Kriva Palanka, Yugoslavia .He was named after longtime President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito....
, who ran for president in 1999 and came in second place, left the party to form the New Social Democratic Party
New Social Democratic Party
The New Social Democratic Party is a centre-left social democratic party in the Republic of Macedonia. Its leader is Tito Petkovski, who parted with the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia in November 2005...
. This is the second major split from the SDSM, the first one being the 1993 split of Petar Gošev, who has established the Democratic Party.
At the last parliamentary elections in Macedonia, held on 1 June 2008, the coalition Sun (of which SDSM was the leading party) was defeated, receiving 18 of the 120 seats. At the last local elections from 2009, the Social Democrats won in 7 out of 84 municipalities in the country
Municipalities of the Republic of Macedonia
The Municipalities of the Republic of Macedonia are first-order administrative divisions. In August 2004, the Republic of Macedonia was reorganised into 84 municipalities ; 10 of the municipalities constitute the City of Skopje , a distinct unit of local self-government and the country's...
. The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia is the second largest political party and the main opposition party in the country.
In May 2009, after finishing the 5-year-term of President of the Republic of Macedonia
President of the Republic of Macedonia
The President of the Republic of Macedonia is the head of state of the Republic of Macedonia. The institution of the Presidency of the modern Republic of Macedonia began after the Macedonian declaration of independence on 8 September 1991. Its first president was Kiro Gligorov, the oldest president...
, Branko Crvenkovski returned to the SDUM and was reelected leader of the party. He reorganized the party profoundly.