# Yugoslav Left

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Communist political party in Serbia

Yugoslav Left Југословенска левица Jugoslovenska levica Founder Mirjana Marković Founded 23 July 1994 Dissolved 12 April 2010 Preceded by League of Communists – Movement for Yugoslavia Headquarters Venizelosova 31, Belgrade Ideology Neocommunism Serbian nationalism Political position Far-left Colours Red Slogan "Jul je kul!" ("JUL is cool!") Website jul.org.yu (archived) Politics of Yugoslavia Political parties Elections Politics of Serbia Political parties Elections

The **Yugoslav Left**,[a] also known as the **Yugoslav United Left**[b] (**JUL**), was a [political party](/source/List_of_political_parties_in_Serbia) in [Serbia](/source/Serbia) and the [Federal Republic of Yugoslavia](/source/Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia).[1] At its peak, the party had 20 seats in [Republic of Serbia's](/source/Republic_of_Serbia_(1992%E2%80%932006)) [National Assembly](/source/National_Assembly_(Serbia)) following the [1997 general election](/source/1997_Serbian_general_election).

## History

The party was formed in 1994 by merging 19 left-wing parties, led by the [League of Communists – Movement for Yugoslavia](/source/League_of_Communists_%E2%80%93_Movement_for_Yugoslavia) (SK-PJ). It was led by [Mirjana Marković](/source/Mirjana_Markovi%C4%87), originally holding the title of President of the Directorate.

Unlike the [Socialist Party of Serbia](/source/Socialist_Party_of_Serbia) (SPS) and its ally the [Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro](/source/Democratic_Party_of_Socialists_of_Montenegro) (DPS) which were direct descendants of the [League of Communists of Serbia](/source/League_of_Communists_of_Serbia) and [Montenegro](/source/League_of_Communists_of_Montenegro) respectively, the Yugoslav Left was an all-Yugoslav party with members from both constituent bodies.[2]

Despite these differences, the JUL and the SPS collaborated closely. The JUL generally did not take part in elections separately. Several members of the SPS [crossed the floor](/source/Crossing_the_floor) to JUL at some stage.[3]

On 24 and 25 March 1995, the party held its 1st Congress at the [Sava Center](/source/Sava_Center) in [Belgrade](/source/Belgrade), and theatre director Ljubiša Ristić was elected president.[4]

In 1996, the JUL joined the [Left Coalition](/source/Left_Coalition_(Serbia)) with the SPS and [New Democracy](/source/Liberals_of_Serbia). Following the [1997 election](/source/1997_Serbian_parliamentary_election), the party had 20 MPs and representatives in various local assemblies. It held five ministerial posts in the [second cabinet of Mirko Marjanović](/source/Second_cabinet_of_Mirko_Marjanovi%C4%87).

At the 2nd Congress in [Kragujevac](/source/Kragujevac) on 6 April 2002, Marković was elected President of the Yugoslav Left.[5]

It had a minimal presence in Montenegrin politics. At its peak, the JUL was part of the [Patriotic Coalition for Yugoslavia](/source/Patriotic_Coalition_for_Yugoslavia) in the [2002 election](/source/2002_Montenegrin_parliamentary_election) with the [People's Socialist Party of Montenegro](/source/People's_Socialist_Party_of_Montenegro), and the [Serbian Radical Party](/source/Serbian_Radical_Party). The coalition won less than 3% of the vote and no seats.

In the [2003 election in Serbia](/source/2003_Serbian_parliamentary_election), the JUL received only 0.1% of the vote.[6] The party officially ceased to exist on 12 April 2010.[7]

## Ideology and platform

JUL has been described as a [radical](/source/Radical_politics) or [far-left](/source/Far-left_politics) political party by various sources.[8][9][10] It has been described as [neocommunist](/source/Neocommunist),[11][12][13][14] [communist](/source/Communist),[15] [Marxist](/source/Marxist),[3] [nationalist](/source/Serbian_nationalism),[16][17] and [Eurosceptic](/source/Eurosceptic).[18] In its political platform, it supported communism and general [Yugoslavism](/source/Yugoslavism).[19] JUL declared itself to be a party of all "left-wing and progressive forces that believed that the general interest always comes above private interest", including communists, [socialists](/source/Socialism), [greens](/source/Green_politics),[20] [social democrats](/source/Social_democracy), and [democratic socialists](/source/Democratic_socialism).[1]

Political scientist [Srbobran Branković](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Srbobran_Brankovi%C4%87&action=edit&redlink=1) [[sr](https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srbobran_Brankovi%C4%87)] stated about JUL that "its policies were totally opposite to its rhetoric."[21] [Aleksandar Vulin](/source/Aleksandar_Vulin), a co-founder and spokesman for JUL, left the party after perceiving it to have "betrayed its program and became a political mask for the wealthy sitting in the party", and later went on to found the [Movement of Socialists](/source/Movement_of_Socialists).[22]

### Demographic characteristics

Its supporters believed in [postmaterialism](/source/Postmaterialism), were opposed to private ownership, and supported law and order.[23] Its social base was mainly amongst peasants and pauperised workers, but it also had members from the so-called *[nouveau riche](/source/Nouveau_riche)* of Serbia during [Milošević's](/source/Slobodan_Milo%C5%A1evi%C4%87) terms in office, and many high-ranked civil servants and army staff. During the 1990s, opponents of Milošević's government sometimes referred to the JUL "a branch of [Communist Party of China](/source/Communist_Party_of_China) in Yugoslavia".[3]

## Organisation

[Mirjana Marković](/source/Mirjana_Markovi%C4%87), one of the original co-founders, was the first president of JUL.[24][25]

### International cooperation

The JUL visited the gatherings of several far-left political groups in [Europe](/source/Europe) and worldwide. It held ties with the [Communist Party of China](/source/Communist_Party_of_China), the [Communist Party of Cuba](/source/Communist_Party_of_Cuba) and the [Workers' Party of Korea](/source/Workers'_Party_of_Korea).[3]

## Electoral results

### Serbian parliamentary elections

Year Popular vote % of popular vote # of seats Seat change Coalition Status 1997 1,418,036 34.26% 20 / 250 20 Left Coalition government 2000 14,324 0.38% 0 / 250 20 no seats 2003 3,771 0.09% 0 / 250 0 no seats

### Montenegrin parliamentary elections

Year Popular vote % of popular vote # of seats Seat change Coalition Government 1996 1,668 0.55% 0 / 250 New no seats 1998 345 0.10% 0 / 250 0 no seats 2001 190 0.05% 0 / 250 0 no seats 2002 9,911 2.84% 0 / 250 0 PKJ no seats

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Serbian](/source/Serbian_language): Југословенска левица, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Serbian): *Jugoslovenska levica*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Serbian](/source/Serbian_language): Југословенска удружена левица, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Serbian): *Jugoslovenska udružena levica*

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Janusz_Bugajski_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Janusz_Bugajski_3-1) Janusz Bugajski. Political Parties of Eastern Europe: A Guide to Politics in the Post-Communist Era. Armonk, New York, USA: The Center for Strategic and International Studies. p. 407.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Yugoslav Left leader: "All people in Yugoslavia should live together"](http://www.ptb.be/scripts/article.phtml?section=A3ABBBAC&obid=7220)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Free_Serbia_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Free_Serbia_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Free_Serbia_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Free_Serbia_5-3) ["Yugoslav Left"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120302213219/https://freeserb.home.xs4all.nl/politics/e-jul.html). *Free Serbia*. 10 December 1999. Archived from [the original](https://freeserb.home.xs4all.nl/politics/e-jul.html) on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas1999225–6_6-0)** [Thomas 1999](#CITEREFThomas1999), pp. 225–6.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["MIRJANA MARKOVIC IZABRANA ZA PREDSEDNICU JUL-A"](https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2002&mm=04&dd=06&nav_category=1&nav_id=57898) (in Serbian). B92. 6 April 2002. Retrieved 4 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Broad Left entry on JUL](https://www.broadleft.org/yu.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190009/http://www.broadleft.org/yu.htm) 3 March 2016 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Mira Marković danas nema šanse kao politički lider"](https://www.srbijadanas.com/clanak/miru-markovic-danas-ne-bi-niko-podrzao-kao-politickog-lidera-28-03-2015). *srbijadanas.com*. Srbija Danas. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** March, Luke (2011). *Radical left parties in Europe*. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-203-15487-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-203-15487-8). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [782918602](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/782918602).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Milosevic Moves to Stifle Dissent in Academia"](https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/world/europe/110198yugoslavia-purges.html). *archive.nytimes.com*. Retrieved 16 April 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Goati, Vladimir (1999). "The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia". *Societies in conflict: the contribution of law and democracy to conflict resolution*. Bled, Slovenia: European Commission For Democracy Through Law. p. 105.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Serb Reformers Claim Victory"](https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=81861&page=1). *ABC News*. Retrieved 16 April 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Serbia, Montenegro Future Undecided"](https://apnews.com/article/8b4a9e47404b47da95485b91a92ca80d). *AP NEWS*. Retrieved 16 April 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Steele, Jonathon (2000). ["Yugoslavia's hated regime crumbles"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/06/yugoslavia-milosevic-revolution-2000). *Guardian*. Retrieved 9 January 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Goati, Vladimir (2013). [*Izbori u Srbiji i Crnoj Gori od 1990. do 2013. i u SRJ od 1992. do 2003*](http://www.cesid.rs/images/1372054311_Vladimir%20Goati_knjiga.pdf) (PDF) (in Serbian). Belgrade: CeSID. p. 132. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-86-83491-53-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-86-83491-53-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Porodične vrednosti Miloševićevih"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230427182335/https://www.vreme.rs/arhiva_html/451/13.html). *Vreme* (in Serbian). 28 August 1999. Archived from [the original](https://www.vreme.rs/arhiva_html/451/13.html) on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Breuilly, John (2013). *The Oxford Handbook of the History of Nationalism*. OUP Oxford. p. 527.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Golubović, Zagorka (2003). *Politika i svakodnevni život: Srbija 1999–2002*. IFDT. p. 225.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Stojic, Marko (2018). *Party responses to the EU in the western Balkans : transformation, opposition or defiance?*. Cham, Switzerland. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-319-59563-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-319-59563-4). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1003200383](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1003200383).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["ŽIVA JE LEVICA, UMRLA NIJE: Evo da li je JUL JOŠ UVEK KUL. Iznenadiće vas čime se bave bivši funkcioneri partije Mire Marković! (VIDEO)"](https://www.telegraf.rs/vesti/politika/1700433-ziva-je-levica-umrla-nije-evo-da-li-je-jul-jos-uvek-kul-iznenadice-vas-cime-se-bave-bivsi-funkcioneri-partije-mire-markovic-video). *Telegraf.rs* (in Serbian). 12 August 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Vulić, Zorica (8 April 2000). ["Ko je ovaj čovek: Vladimir Štambuk"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221123055710/http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2000/04/08/srpski/P00040710.shtm) (in Serbian). Glas javnosti. Archived from [the original](http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2000/04/08/srpski/P00040710.shtm) on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** [Branković, Srbobran](https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srbobran_Brankovi%C4%87) [in Serbian] (2003). "The Yugoslav "Left" Parties". [*The Communist Successor Parties of Central and Eastern Europe*](https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003063629-12/yugoslav-left-parties-srbobran-brankovi%C4%87). [Routledge](/source/Routledge). pp. 206–223. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.4324/9781003063629-12](https://doi.org/10.4324%2F9781003063629-12). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781003063629](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781003063629). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [225474951](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:225474951).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Vučićev klaun s misijom otkrivanja neprijatelja Srbije"](https://www.nacional.hr/vucicev-klaun-s-misijom-otkrivanja-neprijatelja-srbije/). *[Nacional](/source/Nacional_(weekly))* (in Croatian). 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Pavlović, Zoran M. (2006). *Stranačke pristalice i komponente političke kulture u Srbiji* (in Serbian). Belgrade: Institute of Social Studies.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Umrla Mira Marković"](https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-47928797). *BBC News na srpskom* (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved 27 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["Preminula Mira Marković"](https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/preminula-mira-markovic/). *Danas* (in Serbian). 14 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2023.

## Sources

- Thomas, Robert (1999). [*Serbia Under Milošević: Politics in the 1990s*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ih_Is_q4Rz8C). London: Hurst & Company. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85065-341-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85065-341-0). Retrieved 4 April 2019.

- [M. Marković interview on the party (2008)](https://web.archive.org/web/20090519095942/http://www.pravda.rs/kolumne/1398/23-ul) (in Serbian)

v t e Political parties in Serbia Bracketed numbers indicate number of seats in parliament National Assembly (250) Serbian Progressive Party (104) Party of Freedom and Justice (15) We–The Voice from the People (13) Socialist Party of Serbia (12) People's Movement of Serbia (12) Green–Left Front (10) Serbia Centre (9) Democratic Party (8) New Democratic Party of Serbia (7) Movement for the Restoration of the Kingdom of Serbia (6) Social Democratic Party of Serbia (6) Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (6) Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (6) Ecological Uprising (5) United Serbia (5) Movement of Free Citizens (3) Healthy Serbia (3) Justice and Reconciliation Party (2) Movement of Socialists (2) Party of Democratic Action of Sandžak (2) Serbian People's Party (2) Serbian Renewal Movement (2) New Face of Serbia (2) Alliance of Social Democrats (1) Greens of Serbia (1) Party for Democratic Action (1) People's Peasant Party (1) United Peasant Party (1) Serbian Left (1) United Trade Unions of Serbia "Sloga" (1) Russian Party (1) Non-parliamentary Alternative for Changes Bosniak Democratic Union Bosniak People's Party Bunjevci Citizens of Serbia Civic Democratic Forum Civic Platform Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina Democratic Fellowship of Vojvodina Hungarians Democratic Party of Bosniaks Democratic Party of Macedonians Democratic Party of Vojvodina Hungarians Democratic Union of Croats Dveri Enough is Enough Fatherland Hungarian Civic Alliance Independent Serbian Party League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina Leviathan Movement Liberal Democratic Party Liberation Movement Montenegrin Party Movement for Reversal Movement of Veterans of Serbia National Network New Communist Party of Yugoslavia New Serbia Party of Labour Party of Modern Serbia Party of the Radical Left People's Freedom Movement People's Party People's Strong Serbia Pirate Party of Serbia Reformist Party Reformists of Vojvodina Roma Party Roma Union of Serbia Serbia 21 Serbian Party Oathkeepers Serbian Radical Party Serbian Right Slovaks Forward Social Democratic Party Strength of Serbia Movement Together Together for Vojvodina Vlach National Party Vojvodina's Party Coalitions Current Albanian Coalition of Preševo Valley Coalition for Peace and Tolerance National Democratic Alternative Serbia Must Not Stop Defunct All Together Alliance for Serbia Choice for a Better Life Citizens' Bloc 381 Clean Hands of Vojvodina Democratic Movement of Serbia Democratic Opposition of Serbia Good Morning Serbia For a European Serbia For National Unity Forward to Europe Hungarian Coalition Hungarian Union Independent Serbia Left Coalition List for Sandžak National Gathering Serbia Against Violence Sovereignists Together for Tolerance Together for Vojvodina U-Turn United Democratic Serbia United for the Victory of Serbia United Opposition of Serbia (1990) United Opposition of Serbia (2020) Vojvodina Coalition Vojvodina Front Vojvodina Parties We Must Defunct Association for the Yugoslav Democratic Initiative Bosniak Democratic Party of Sandžak Christian Democratic Party of Serbia Civic Alliance of Serbia Communist Party Conservatives Council of Serbian Unity Croatian Bunjevac-Šokac Party Croatian National Alliance Croatian Syrmian Initiative Democratic Alternative Democratic Centre Democratic Fatherland Party Do not let Belgrade drown Federal Party of Yugoslavs G17 Plus Green Party Hungarian Hope Movement I Live for Krajina Independent Democratic Party of Serbia Labour Party of Serbia League of Communists – Movement for Yugoslavia League of Communists of Serbia League of Communists of Vojvodina League of Communists of Yugoslavia in Serbia Liberal Democratic Party (1989) Liberal Party Liberals of Serbia Movement of Veterans New Party Otpor Party of Serbian Progress Party of Serbian Unity Peasants Party of Serbia People's Democratic Party People's Party (1990) People's Party (2008) People's Radical Party (1881) People's Radical Party (1990) Rich Serbia Sarmu probo nisi Progressives Serbian Chetnik Movement Serbian Democratic Renewal Movement Serbian Left Serbian Liberal Party Serbian National Renewal Serbian Patriotic Alliance Serbian Radical Party – Nikola Pašić Serbian Social Democratic Party Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement Social Democracy Social Democratic Union Social Democratic Party (2001) Social Liberal Party of Sandžak Socialist People's Party Third Serbia – Rich Serbia Together for Serbia Together for Šumadija Union of Reform Forces United Regions of Serbia Yugoslav Left Politics of Serbia Political parties by country Politics portal

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Yugoslav Left](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugoslav_Left) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugoslav_Left?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.