The Serbian Progressive Party (Serbian: Српска напредна странка, Srpska napredna stranka) is a political party in Serbia.
History
The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) formed as a group of breakaway MPs in parliament from the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) led by Tomislav Nikolić over disagreements about the direction of the party. Its founding congress was held on 21 October 2008. Aleksandar Vučić is the party's deputy leader.
Program
The political activity of the Serbian Progressive Party is based on 10 main principles.
1. Safeguarding territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia. Kosovo and Metohija is the heart of Serbia and integral part of the territory of the Republic. Serbia cannot, must not, and will not accept any outside attempts to raid any part of its territory and will, in an uncompromising manner, protect its state and national interests on every part of its territory. At the same time, various political and economic measures will be used by the Republic in order to stop further fragmentation of its political and law systems, especially in the Autonomous province of Vojvodina, which has been, it is, and will be integral part of Serbia in accordance with its constitutional, executive, judicial and legislative framework.
2. Serbia, as a state of Serbian people and all its citizens, is under the obligation to help Serbs who live outside its borders, especially in the territories of former Yugoslavia. Human right to a decent life, and the return of refugees to their ancestral homes in Croatia, Kosovo, will be in the focus of party’s activities. At the same time, closer ties and economic unity with the Republic of Srpska represent real policy, which will in the future, in a peaceful way with the respect for the peoples’ will, create conditions
3. Serbian Progressive Party will campaign for building a stable state in which the rule of law and the respect of the principles of the constitutional order and law system will represent foundations of state authority. Equal treatment of the individual by the law must be thoroughly enforced, which means that no individual is above the law in any way, no matter their office, they must bear their rights and responsibilities as fully as any citizen of the Republic of Serbia.
4. Serbian Progressive Party will campaign for the adherence to the Constitution, as well as to all principles of international law that guarantee rights to various ethnic minorities. Serbia, as a country which is proud of its ethnic and religious varieties, must be an example of ethnic and religious tolerance, where friendliness and living side by side are the marks of people who love their country and abide by its laws.
5. Serbia, as a small country of proud and self-respected people, may improve its role and position in the world if it is to be a bridge between East and West, if it cooperates with all its friends and using the benefits which come from all corners of the globe, be it East or West. Orientation of Serbia towards entering the European Union must not be questioned and it can only become a member with Kosovo and Metohija as its integral part. At the same time, Serbia must nurture and develop closest ties with Russian Federation, China, India, Brazil and other great political and economic powers in the world, as well as with traditional friends and allies of our country. In line with these principles, Serbia must persevere and in a determined way work to improve bilateral relationships, which in itself means policy of action to change the attitude of those states who recently have not been supportive to Serbia and its legitimate interests.
6. Military neutrality is the only logical and rational solution for the state of Serbia in the environment of stark confrontation between NATO and Russia. Military neutrality implies an effective, technically equipped, professional and strong Serbian army that will regain its shaken image and trust of the people. At the same time, it will be a force to be reckoned with for every potential aggressor.
7. Fight against crime and corruption is a fundamental orientation of Serbian Progressive Party. Without honest and legally enforced struggle against the greatest evil of modern Serbian society there is not any economic or social progress in the state of Serbia.
8. Economic and social welfare, strong economy with rational using of natural resources in line with the most valued interests of the citizens of Serbia, as well as unemployment suppression, are basic policies of Serbian Progressive Party’s political action. A favourable political environment which we will create by confronting ideas, not citizens, changes and modernization of both school and educational systems, cooperation with other countries, enforcing fair privatization and reassessment, reevaluation of privatized entities so far, favourable international contracts that we have and plan to use, making it possible for Serbian entrepreneurs to have good conditions to take part and successfully participate in any market game. All this will bring about conditions for a swift economic growth and better standard of living for the citizens of Serbia.
9. Serbian Progressive Party will create a state of social justice. That means that in every aspect of social life we can and must provide conditions for a normal life to the most vulnerable citizens: children, special needs persons, pensioners who have been brutally robbed and tricked by the state. The right of healthcare must be given to everyone, equally. Also, every child must be given equal opportunity to display its capabilities, to have access to educational institutions, to better its own life.
10. Equal regional development and de-centralized state are conditions for Serbia’s progress. Unless immediate action is taken towards rural development, preventing depopulation and population migration from smaller to bigger communities, Serbia will lose its comparative advantages and lessen its chances for serious economic recovery. Thus de-centralized state does not mean territorial autonomy per se, but rights and authorization that are given to local self-governing communities.
