The Independent Liberal Party (ILP, , Samostalna liberalna stranka, СЛС/SLS) was a political party in Kosovo, representing the Kosovo Serbs. It was founded in 2006, and participated in several electoral cycles. The party was headed by Slobodan Petrović. It was abolished in 2020.KoSSev (2019): Kosovo Serb political landscape: Independent Liberal PartyIndeks Online (2020): Slobodan Petrovic's Independent Liberal Party no longer exists!
History In the 2007 parliamentary election, the party won 3 out of 120 seats in the Transitional Assembly of Kosovo (Slobodan Petrović, Bojan Stojanović, Kosara Nikolić),OSCE (2007): 2007 Kosovo Assembly Elections Results - Seats allocation with Petrović also being elected into the Presidency of the Assembly, while in January 2008 ILP also gained two ministerial posts in the Transitional Government of Kosovo (Boban Stanković, Nenad Rašić).B92 (2008): Thaci names new Kosovo cabinet
In February 2008, upon the Kosovo declaration of independence, ministers from ILP left the Government in protest, but returned to their posts already by the end of March.Balkan Insight (2008): Serb Ministers Return to Kosovo Government
In the 2010 parliamentary election, the party won 2.1% of the popular vote and 8 out of 120 seats. In February 2011, the ILP joined the coalition government of Hashim Thaçi, with ILP leader Slobodan Petrović becoming one of five deputy prime ministers. In the same time, ILP got three ministries: Local Self-Government (Slobodan Petrović), Communities and Return (Radojica Tomić), and Labor and Social Welfare (Nenad Rašić).Thaci, minority parties sign deal on new Kosovo government, Sofia Echo, 20/02/2011B92, 20/02/2011
In the spring of 2014, a fraction led by minister Nenad Rašić splintered from ILP and formed the Progressive Democratic Party.KoSSev (2014): Nenad Rašić is officially the president of PDS
In the 2014 parliamentary election, the party joined the Serb List coalition that won 9 seats (4 seats for ILP candidates: Slobodan Petrović, Saša Milosavljević, Jelena Bontić, Jasmina Živković), while the separate electoral list of ILP won only 0.05% of the popular vote, and thus no additional seats.
In the 2017 parliamentary election, the party won 0.49% of the popular vote, and one seat (Slobodan Petrović).
In the 2019 parliamentary election, the ILP won only 0.22% of the popular vote, and got no seats.
The party was recognizing Kosovo's independence from Serbia. Its overall stance was liberal.
References
External links Official website