Forward to Europe

Forward to Europe
Правац Европа
Pravac Evropa
AbbreviationPE
ChairpersonMarinika Tepić
Deputy ChairmanPavle Grbović
Founded1 August 2022 (2022-08-01)
Dissolved6 February 2024
Preceded byUnited for the Victory of Serbia
National affiliationSerbia Against Violence
Colors  Orange
Website
pravacevropa.rs

Forward to Europe (Serbian Cyrillic: Правац Европа, romanized: Pravac Evropa, abbr. PE), previously known as United (Serbian Cyrillic: Уједињени, romanized: Ujedinjeni), was a parliamentary group in the National Assembly of Serbia and City Assembly of Belgrade. The parliamentary groups were composed of parties that took part in the United for the Victory of Serbia (UZPS) coalition in the 2022 Serbian general election. In the National Assembly, the parliamentary group was headed by Marinika Tepić, while in the City Assembly of Belgrade, it was headed by Mila Popović.

History

Formation

The United for the Victory of Serbia (UZPS) coalition, which included the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), Movement of Free Citizens (PSG), Movement for Reversal (PZP), United Trade Unions of Serbia "Sloga" (USS Sloga), and the Fatherland movement, took part in the 2022 general election.[1] The coalition placed second, winning 38 seats in total.[2] Shortly following the election, a series of disagreements came to light in the UZPS, which ultimately led to its dissolution.[3][4] In May 2022, it was announced that the parties would continue their cooperation in the National Assembly and City Assembly of Belgrade.[5]

Following the constitutive session of the 13th convocation of the National Assembly on 1 August, the United parliamentary group became the largest opposition parliamentary group.[6] Borko Stefanović was nominated by the United parliamentary group as one of the seven candidates for the deputy president of the National Assembly. He was elected on 2 August.[7]

Activity

The United parliamentary group in the City Assembly of Belgrade proposed to implement free public transport for high school and university students and war veterans in Belgrade, and to implement an anti-corruption committee.[8][9] Additionally, it criticised the SNS-proposed budget for Belgrade.[10] In October 2022, the parliamentary group filed a proposal for dismissal of mayor Aleksandar Šapić, citing alleged illegal legalisation of the extension of an apartment at Bežanija.[11] Their proposal received support from the People's Party (Narodna), Democratic Party (DS), We Must (Moramo), and Dveri.[12][13] The proposal failed after it only received support from 44 members of the City Assembly.[14] The United group later became critical of the proposed budget, describing it as populistic.[15][16] In February 2023, the United group criticised the decision to move the Belgrade Zoo to Ada Ciganlija.[17]

In the National Assembly, it opposed the report on Kosovo that was submitted by SNS.[18] Additionally, it proposed a new labour law; it claimed that the law would improve workers' rights.[19] It voted against in the investiture vote for the third cabinet of Ana Brnabić on 28 October 2022.[20]

Its name was changed to Forward to Europe in July 2023.[21] The groups ceased to exist after the 2023 elections.

Members

In the National Assembly, the Forward to Europe parliamentary group was headed by Marinika Tepić while Pavle Grbović served as deputy chairperson.[22] In the City Assembly of Belgrade, Mila Popović served as its head.[10] In December 2022, its parliamentary group in the National Assembly was reduced to 15 members after Dejan Bulatović departed from the parliamentary group.[23]

Name Leader Main ideology Political position National Assembly City Assembly of Belgrade
Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP) Dragan Đilas Social democracy Centre-left
15 / 250
6 / 110
Movement of Free Citizens (PSG) Pavle Grbović Liberalism Centre
3 / 250
3 / 110
United Trade Unions of Serbia "Sloga" (USS Sloga) Željko Veselinović Labourism Left-wing
1 / 250
1 / 110
Movement for Reversal (PZP) Janko Veselinović Social democracy Centre-left
1 / 250
1 / 110
Fatherland Slaviša Ristić Kosovo Serb minority politics
1 / 250
0 / 110

References

  1. ^ "Ujedinjena Srbija predstavila kandidate za predsednika i premijerku Srbije, gradonačelnika Beograda". Voice of America (in Serbian). 2 February 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Rezultati predsedničkih, parlamentarnih i beogradskih izbora 2022". CRTA (in Serbian). 4 April 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  3. ^ Milenković, Mirjana (23 April 2022). "Marinika Tepić: Naši dojučerašnji partneri strmoglavili su se u populizam". Danas (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  4. ^ Milenković, Mirjana (23 April 2022). "Marinika Tepić: Naši dojučerašnji partneri strmoglavili su se u populizam". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  5. ^ "SSP, PSG, Pokret za preokret i Sindikat Sloga zajedno u Skupštinu, predvodnik Marinika Tepić". Danas (in Serbian). 24 May 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  6. ^ Janković, Marija (1 August 2022). "Ko je ko u Skupštini Srbije". BBC News (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Poslanički klub "Ujedinjeni" za tri potpredsednička mesta opoziciji u Skupštini". N1 (in Serbian). 29 July 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Ujedinjeni predlažu besplatan javni prevoz u Beogradu za srednjoškolce, studente, ratne invalide". Danas (in Serbian). 19 September 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Odbornička grupa "Ujedinjeni" podnela zahtev za formiranje antikorupcijske komisije za Grad Beograd". Danas (in Serbian). 17 August 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Šta kažu odbornici Ujedinjenih o rebalansu budžeta: Beograd se raspada, ništa od velikog Šapićevog zaokreta". Danas (in Serbian). 26 September 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  11. ^ "SSP traži hitnu smenu Šapića zbog nezakonite legalizacije dograđenog stana". N1 (in Serbian). 13 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Inicijativa za smenu Šapića: Deo opozicije "za", a šta misli o tome desnica". N1 (in Serbian). 22 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  13. ^ ""Ujedinjeni" pred Skupštinu grada: Dveri će podržati inicijativu za smenu Šapića". N1 (in Serbian). 25 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  14. ^ Kovačević, Emina (29 November 2022). "Šapić ostaje gradonačelnik Beograda". N1 (in Serbian). Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Mila Popović uoči sednice Skupštine grada o budžetu za 2023: Gde su pare Beograđana?". Danas (in Serbian). 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Opozicioni odbornici smatraju da budžet grada Beograda za 2023. godinu nije u interesu gradjana". Novinska agencija Beta (in Serbian). 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  17. ^ Aleksić, Dejan. "Zoo-park umesto zoo-vrta i HPV vakcina za sve". Politika (in Serbian). Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Borko Stefanović: Poslanička grupa "Ujedinjeni" neće podržati izveštaj o KiM". Tanjug (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Ujedinjeni predložili novi zakon o radu". Danas (in Serbian). 30 September 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Tepić (Ujedinjeni): Od nove vlade očekujemo jedino kontinuitet pogoršanja i sve goreg stanja". Novinska agencija Beta (in Serbian). 26 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  21. ^ Đurić, Vanja (19 July 2023). "Poslanička grupa "Ujedinjeni" menja naziv". N1 (in Serbian). Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  22. ^ "Poslanička grupa Ujedinjeni - SSP, PSG, PREOKRET, SLOGA". National Assembly of Serbia. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Dejan Bulatović podneo ostavku na stranačke funkcije i istupio iz SSP". Novinska agencija Beta (in Serbian). 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.