Croatian Peasant Party Hrvatska seljačka stranka | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | HSS |
| President | Vacant |
| Founders | Antun Radić Stjepan Radić |
| Founded | 22 December 1904 (1904-12-22)(historical party) 15 December 1989 (1989-12-15)(modern party)[1] |
| Headquarters | Zagreb |
| Paramilitary wing | Croatian Peasant Defence [hr] (1936–1941) |
| Membership(2022) | 11,421[2] |
| Ideology | Historical: |
| Political position | Centre[3][9] tocentre-left[10] Historical: Centre tocentre-right |
| National affiliation | Rivers of Justice (since 2016) Patriotic Coalition (2015–2016) |
| European affiliation | European People's Party (until 2019) |
| International affiliation | Green International (1921–1988) Peasant International (1924–1925) |
| Colours | Green |
| Slogan | Faith in God and Peasant Unity |
| Anthem | "Slavni sine hrvatskoga roda"[11]lit. 'Glorious Son of the Croatian People' |
| Sabor | 1 / 151 |
| European Parliament | 0 / 12 |
| County Prefects | 0 / 21 |
| Mayors | 2 / 128 |
| Party flag | |
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| Website | |
| hss.hr | |
TheCroatian Peasant Party (Croatian:Hrvatska seljačka stranka,HSS) is anagrarian[4]political party inCroatia founded on 22 December 1904 byAntun andStjepan Radić asCroatian Peoples' Peasant Party (HPSS). The Brothers Radić believed that the realization of Croatian statehood was possible withinAustria-Hungary, but that it had to be reformed as a monarchy divided intothree equal parts – Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. After the creation ofKingdom of Yugoslavia in 1918, the party requested self-determination for the Croatian part of the kingdom. This brought them great public support, which culminated in HPSS winning 50 seats, a majority assigned to Croatia in the1920 parliamentary election.
In 1920, disgruntled with the position of Croats in the kingdom, the party changed its name intoCroatian Republican Peasant Party (HRSS) and started advocating secession from the kingdom and the establishment of a "peaceful peasant Republic of Croatia". In the1923 and1925 elections, HRSS doubled the number of votes they received, making them the second largest party in theParliament of Yugoslavia.
In 1927, faced with constant prosecution by the regime, HRSS was forced to soften its policy and change its name into theCroatian Peasant Party (HSS), recognize theVidovdan Constitution, and form a coalition with the SerbianPeople's Radical Party. This resulted in HSS losing its popularity and one-third of its vote share in the1927 election. After the termination of the coalition agreement with the Radicals, HSS formed the Peasant-Democratic Coalition withPribičević'sIndependent Democratic Party. After theassassination of Stjepan Radić in 1928,Vladko Maček become the new president of HSS.
AfterKing Alexander declared a dictatorship in 1929, HSS was banned and its members prosecuted. HSS participated in the1935 and1938 elections as a part of the United Opposition coalition, which helped it to regain its influence. In 1939, theCvetković–Maček Agreement established the HSS-governedBanovina of Croatia. After the establishment of theIndependent State of Croatia (NDH), a Nazi-puppet state, in 1941, HSS was banned once again, with half of its members joining either theUstaše or thePartisans. A part stayed loyal to Maček, who believed that the victory ofAllies would bringliberal democracy into Croatia and that HSS would return to power. In May 1945, Maček left the country, while HSS split into two fractions which boycotted the1945 election because of their opposition to theCommunists. Under theSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945–1991), HSS was active abroad.
During thebreakup of Yugoslavia, HSS was restored under the leadership of Drago Stipac on 25 May 1991. The party first entered government after the2000 Croatian elections as part of a liberal coalition (HSS-IDS-HNS-LS-SDA), withIvica Račan (SDP) serving as Prime Minister and HSS presidentZlatko Tomčić asSpeaker of the Parliament. HSS lost the2003 election and joined the opposition. In2007, HSS formed yet another liberal coalition (HSLS-PGS-ZDS-ZS) and led the Ministries ofTourism andAgriculture in theCabinet of Ivo Sanader II, and Ministries of Tourism and Regional Development in theCabinet of Jadranka Kosor. In2011, the party won only one seat in Parliament and moved to the opposition. In2015, HSS won one seat as part of the conservativePatriotic Coalition and supportedTihomir Orešković as prime minister. In2016, HSS won 5 seats as part of the liberalPeople's Coalition.
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The Croatian People's Peasant Party (Hrvatska pučka seljačka stranka, HPSS) was established in 1904 by brothersStjepan Radić andAntun Radić in theKingdom of Croatia-Slavonia – itself a part of theHungarian part of thedualistAustria-Hungary at the time. The founding of the HPSS was a part of the process of fragmentation of theUnited Croat Opposition [hr].[12] The party pursued the establishment of a comprehensivegrassroots network, national unity andagrarianism, as the Radić's distrusted traditional political parties. Even though the HPSS achieved only minor significance before the end ofWorld 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 ofantimilitarism andpacifism became very popular in the final year of the war, especially in Croatia-Slavonia, which was affected by widespreadunrest associated with the Green Cadres. Furthermore, the restricted voting rights were expanded after 1918 by the introduction ofuniversal 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 the1920 Croatian Peasant Rebellion, the HPSS became the only significant political party in Croatia, and the second largest party in the newly establishedKingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later renamed Yugoslavia). In 1920s, the HPSS policy was based onrepublicanism, opposition to further unification of the new state, demands for a neutral Croat peasant republic, and the advocation ofnational self-determination. To reinforce the republican message, the HPSS was formally renamed the Croatian Republican Peasant Party in 1920.[16] Shortly following its accession to thePeasant International, the regime initiated a campaign to suppress the party activities in the run up to the1925 Yugoslav parliamentary election using political, police, military and paramilitary pressure, and arresting its leaders. Even though the party achieved the second-largest share of seats, the government retained its parliamentary majority. Nonetheless, shortly after the election, there were negotiations between Radić andKing Alexander's envoys. The talks ended in Radić renouncing republicanism and accepting the monarchy in return for his release and participation in a coalition government led by thePeople's Radical Party (NRS). The party was renamed the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS).[17] Radić later admitted that he accepted the monarchy to protect his people.[18]
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. TheCommunist Party of Yugoslavia (Komunistička partija Jugoslavije, KPJ) also criticised Radić for his cooperation with the regime. The KPJ had recently adopted the federalist approach to reform of the country and saw the republican movement of the HRSS as a potential recruitment pool. The HSS conversely, regardless of KPJ's formal federalist policy, saw the KPJ as unitarists and essentially a political endeavour to promote Serbian agenda.[19]
The HSS left the government in January 1927.[20] Radić resumed pursuit of resolution of theCroatian question by advocating unification of Croatian lands includingSlavonia andDalmatia into a single self-governing unit and stopping Italian immigration by abolishing the 1925Treaty of Nettuno.[21] In November, the HSS formed the Peasant-Democratic Coalition with theIndependent Democratic Party (Samostalna demokratska stranka, SDS), the most popular party among theSerbs 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 deputyPuniša 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 |
Under Maček, the HSS continued political opposition to the regime. TheUnited Opposition [hr] which included the HSS, stood in1935 and1938 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 therule of law and public order, the HSS established theCroatian Peasant Defence [hr] (HSZ) as a partyparamilitary 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 theVelebit 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 RegentPrince PaulPrime MinisterMilan Stojadinović with the aim of consolidation of Croatian lands within Yugoslavia – with a degree of autonomy. Then, after contacting several European governments and failing to get their support, he turned toItalian foreign ministerGaleazzo Ciano in 1938. Through an intermediary, Maček explained the HSS wanted Croatia united as a federal unit of Yugoslavia encompassing territories of former Croatia–Slavonia to a line betweenIlok andSremska Mitrovica, and Dalmatia without theBay of Kotor with the addition ofBosnia and Herzegovina west ofVrbas andNeretva Rivers. At the time, Italy was harbouring and supporting Croatian nationalist groupUstaše, but Ciano preferred to work with Maček because the HSS enjoyed far greater support among Croats and because Ciano believed that would discourage contacts between the HSS andNazi Germany – denying German access to theAdriatic Sea. Ciano wrote back to Maček urging him to demand more territory and elaborate on his ideas.[28]
In 1939, Stojadinović was replaced byDragiša 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 theBosna 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]
TheCvetković–Maček Agreement was concluded on 26 August 1939 establishing autonomousBanovina 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 |
The party's fortunes declined precipitously with the outbreak ofWorld War II and theAxis invasion in April 1941. Some party members were divided among those who sympathized with the Croatian fascistUstasha independence movement, and those whose left-leaning beliefs led them to join thePartisans. But the vast majority of HSS supporters remained passive and neutral for the duration of the war as the Ustasha, the communist Partisans and the royalistChetniks fought for control.
After the communist victory, the KPJ established one-party rule — the HSS, along with other political parties were declared illegal.[citation needed] In 1947, HSS joined theInternational Peasants' Union. Maček represented the HSS in exile until his death in 1964.Juraj Krnjević took over as leader until his own death 1988, only a year before the HSS could resume its work within Croatia.
With the advent of multi-party system in 1990, the HSS was reconstituted byIvan Zvonimir Čičak and on the1990 election won several seats in theCroatian Parliament.[31] They remained in opposition until the2000 elections when they received three ministerial portfolios as part of their participation in the winningSocial 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 andSpeaker of Croatian Parliament,Zlatko Tomčić.
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 greatereconomic 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 theEuropean People's Party (EPP).
At theelections 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 the2007 parliamentary elections, HSS announced a coalition with opposition partiesAlliance of Primorje-Gorski Kotar andCroatian 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 ofIvo Sanader's governing coalition and received two ministerial portfolios (regional development and tourism), vicepresident of government and vicepresident of Parliament.
On2011 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 electedBranko Hrg as new president.
In 2014 Croatian Peasant Party in coalition withCroatian 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.[32]
The following is a summary of HSS's results in parliamentary elections for theCroatian parliament. The "Total votes" and "Percentage" columns include sums of votes won by pre-election coalitions HSS had been part of. Afterpreferential votes were introduced into the electoral system, the total votes column includes the statistic of the sum of votes given to HSS candidates on the coalition lists. The "Total seats" column includes sums of seats won by HSS in election constituencies plus representatives of ethnic minorities affiliated with HSS.
| Election | In coalition with | Votes won | Percentage | Seats won | Change | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Coalition totals) | (HSS only) | |||||
| 1992 | None | 111,869 | 4.25 | 3 / 138 | New | Opposition |
| 1995 | HNS-IDS–HKDU–SBHS | 441,390 | 18.26 | 10 / 127 | 7 | Opposition |
| 2000 | HNS–IDS–LS–ASH | 432,527 | 14.70 | 17 / 151 | 7 | Government |
| 2003 | None | 177,359 | 7.20 | 10 / 151 | 7 | Opposition |
| 2007 | HSLS-PGS | 161,814 | 6.50 | 6 / 153 | 4 | Government |
| 2011 | None | 71,450 | 3.00 | 1 / 151 | 5 | Opposition |
| 2015 | Patriotic Coalition | 744,507 (23,423[33]) | 33.46 | 1 / 151 | 0 | Government support |
| 2016 | People's Coalition | 636,602 (33,514) | 33.82 | 5 / 151 | 4 | Opposition |
| 2020 | Restart Coalition | 414,615 | 24.87 | 2 / 151 | 3 | Opposition |
| 2024 | Rivers of Justice | 538,748 | 25.40 | 1 / 151 | 1 | Opposition |
The following is a list of presidential candidates who were endorsed by HSS.
| Election year(s) | Candidate | 1st round | 2nd round | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | 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 |
| 2024–25 | Zoran Milanović (Ind.) | 797,938 | 49.68 (#1) | 1,122,859 | 74.68 (#1) | Won |
| Election | List leader | Coalition | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coalition | HSS | ||||||
| 2013 | Miroslav Rožić | HSLS | 28,646 | 3.86 (#4) | 0 / 12 | New | – |
| 2014 | Andrej Plenković | HDZ–HSP-AS–BUZ–ZDS–HDS | 381,844 | 41.42 (#1) | 1 / 11 | 1 | EPP |
| 2019 | Valter Flego | Amsterdam Coalition | 55,806 | 5.19 (#5) | 0 / 12 | 1 | – |
| 2024 | Biljana Borzan | Rivers of Justice | 192,859 | 25.62 (#2) | 0 / 12 | 0 | |
(in Croatian)| International | |
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| National | |
