People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia
Political party in Slovakia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (Slovak: Hnutie za demokratické Slovensko, HZDS), later known as the People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (Slovak: Ľudová strana – Hnutie za demokratické Slovensko, ĽS–HZDS), was a populist[2][3][4][5] political party in Slovakia. The party is commonly considered as having been authoritarian and illiberal.[13][14][15]
People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia Ľudová strana – Hnutie za demokratické Slovensko | |
---|---|
First leader | Vladimír Mečiar |
Last leader | Collective leadership |
Founder | Vladimír Mečiar |
Founded | 27 April 1991 |
Dissolved | 11 January 2014 |
Split from | Public Against Violence |
Succeeded by | Party of Democratic Slovakia |
Headquarters | Tomášikova 32/A, Bratislava |
Youth wing | Democratic Youth Forum |
Membership (1990s) | "circa 40,000"[1] |
Ideology | |
Political position | Syncretic[12] |
European affiliation | European Democratic Party (2009–2014) |
International affiliation | Alliance of Democrats |
European Parliament group | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (2009–2014) |
Colours | Blue |
Anthem | "Vivat Slovakia" |
Website | |
hzds | |
During 1992–1998, HDZS was the leading party of the government, led by Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar. The party rule was characterized by a fundamental violation of civil liberties, rule of law and a halt to post-communist economic reforms, European integration.[16][17][18][19]
After 1998 parliamentary election, the party remained in opposition for two terms still as the strongest party.[20][21] In opposition, HZDS moved its positions from Euroscepticism to pro-Europeanism and joined European Democratic Party, although it did not profess EDP's liberal ideology.[22] In the 2006 parliamentary election, the party dropped to 5th place and became a junior partner in the Fico's First Cabinet.[23]
In 2010 parliamentary election the party did not exceed the electoral threshold narrowly for the first time, and this was repeated in 2012, when it won less than 1%. In 2014, HZDS officially dissolved and designated the Party of Democratic Slovakia as the successor.