People's Party (Serbia, 2017)

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The People's Party (Narodna stranka) is a conservative, right‑wing party in Serbia. Since 2024 its president is Vladimir Gajić. The party was created on 22 October 2017 when Vuk Jeremić reorganized the People's Movement of Serbia (NPS), which had been led by Miroslav Aleksić.

In its early years Narodna worked with other opposition groups. In 2018 a joint coalition in Belgrade won 19% of the vote, and Narodna itself won 5 seats. The party joined the Alliance for Serbia (SZS), which organized large protests after an attack on an opposition leader in 2018.

Narodna and SZS boycotted the 2020 parliamentary elections, saying the conditions were not free and fair. It later joined the United Opposition of Serbia (UOPS) and then the United for the Victory of Serbia (UZPS) coalition for the 2022 elections. With UZPS, Narodna helped nominate Zdravko Ponoš for president. The coalition won about 14% of the vote nationally, and Narodna took 12 seats in the National Assembly. After internal conflicts, UZPS dissolved.

In 2023 a split occurred: Aleksić and other members left Narodna and restarted the NPS. Narodna failed to win seats in the 2023 elections. Jeremić remained party president until a leadership vote in October 2023; Aleksić had left the party in August 2023. In 2024 Narodna formed a joint list with New Serbia for the Belgrade elections, but the list did not win seats overall except in the Vračar municipality, where Narodna won representation.

Ideology and stances: Narodna began as center-right but moved to the right and became more nationalist. It shifted from pro‑EU to a more Eurosceptic position and supports military neutrality. It backs Serbia joining the European Economic Area rather than the European Union. The party is generally pro‑Russia and opposes recognizing Kosovo. It has opposed certain mining projects like Rio Tinto’s Jadar lithium project and supports mandatory military service. Narodna promotes traditional family values and opposed Belgrade’s 2022 EuroPride event. In 2023 it adopted the Proclamation on the Serbian Question in the 21st Century, emphasizing freedom, independence, self‑reliance, and strength as its guiding pillars.

Structure and size: Narodna has a Youth Wing (Youth of the People’s Party) and a Women’s Network. Its Belgrade headquarters are at Njegoševa 76. The party reported around 13,000 members in 2021. In Parliament and cooperation with other groups, Narodna has often been in opposition to the ruling party.