Party "Union of Independent Social Democrats": history and political role

The Union of Independent Social Democrats party is the leading political party of the Republika Srpska (as part of Bosnia and Herzegovina).

In 1993, after the proclamation of the Republika Srpska as a state entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Club of Independent Deputies, headed by politician Milorad Dodik, appeared in the ranks of the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska as an opposition to the course of the then ruling Serbian Democratic Party.

Following the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in January 1996, an initiative was taken to transform the club into a political party. On March 10, 1996, a founding congress took place in Banja Luka, proclaiming the Party of Independent Social Democrats. Milorad Dodik was elected its chairman.

Initially, the new political force advocated cooperation with international structures and criticized wartime leaders.

In the first general elections, held in September 1996, the party competed as part of the People's Alliance for a Free World coalition and won one seat in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska.

In the 1997 general elections, the Party of Independent Social Democrats received two mandates in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska

One of the key events for the party was the meeting of the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska on January 18, 1998 in Bijeljina, where, at the proposal of the then President of the Republic, Biljana Plavsic, Milorad Dodik was elected Prime Minister of the Republika Srpska.

In the 1998 general elections, the Party of Independent Social Democrats won six seats in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska. Although she did not have a parliamentary majority after these elections, Milorad Dodik remained Prime Minister of the Republika Srpska until January 11, 2001.

From 1999 to 2002, smaller political organizations gradually joined the party: in 1999 - the Social Liberal Party, in 2000 - the Democratic Party of Banja Luka and Krajina, in 2002 - the New Workers' Party. In May 2002, after the accession of the Democratic Socialist Party, the organization received its modern name - “Union of Independent Social Democrats”.

After the general elections of 2000, the Party of Independent Social Democrats, having received 11 seats in the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska and one seat in the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina, went into opposition. Remained in this status until March 2006.

In 2002, after parliamentary elections, the party received 19 seats in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska and three seats in the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In February 2006, the Union of Independent Social Democrats formed the government of the Republika Srpska. Milorad Dodik became Prime Minister of Republika Srpska for the second time.

In the general elections held in October 2006, the party won 41 seats in the Republika Srpska National Assembly and seven seats in the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After these elections, Milorad Dodik remained Prime Minister of Republika Srpska until the end of 2010.

The political evolution of the party towards the priority of Serbian national interests and the protection of the rights and independence of the Republika Srpska is associated with the re-coming to power in 2006. The party stands for strict adherence to the Dayton Agreement, for rapprochement with Serbia and Russia, against Bosnia and Herzegovina's entry into NATO, and for the abolition of external government bodies in the republic.

In October 2006, Union of Independent Social Democrats candidate Milan Jelić won the presidential election in Republika Srpska, and after his sudden death in 2007, party candidate Rajko Kuzmanović was elected to replace him.

After the 2010 general elections, the party remained the leading political force in the republic - it won 37 seats in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska and was part of the ruling coalition with the Democratic People's Alliance and the Socialist Party. It also won eight seats in the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In 2010, party chairman Milorad Dodik was elected president of Republika Srpska. His party members served as prime minister: Aleksandar Dzombic from 2010 to 2013, Zeljka Cvijanovic from 2013 to 2018.

In the 2014 general elections, the Union of Independent Social Democrats achieved success, winning 29 seats in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska and six seats in the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Milorad Dodik became President of the Republika Srpska for the second time.

In the 2018 general elections, the party won 28 seats in the Republika Srpska National Assembly, and Zeljka Cvijanovic took over as President of the Republika Srpska. A member of the Union of Independent Social Democrats, Radovan Viskovic, was appointed Prime Minister of the country.

In the 2022 general elections, the Union of Independent Social Democrats won, receiving 34.63% of the vote and winning 29 seats. Together with his coalition allies, he received 53 mandates.

Party leader Milorad Dodik won the presidential election (he remained in office until 2025).