Liberalism in Croatia


This article gives an overview of liberalism in Croatia. Liberals became active since 1860 in Dalmatia and since 1904 in the rest of Croatia. It never became a major political party. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.

History

After the restoration of democracy in 1989 liberalism became very divided. Before 2020, one could have distinguished five parties: the right of center Croatian Social Liberal Party, two center liberal parties: People's Party - Liberal Democrats and People's Party - Reformists, while left of center is Civic Liberal Alliance. Reformists and GLAS are formed from dissidents of the Croatian People's Party-Liberal Democrats. Istrian Democratic Assembly is considered as Istrian regionalist, but also as a liberal party. In the 2020 Croatian parliamentary election two additional liberal parties emerged as factors on the national scene: Centre and Focus, both members of ALDE.
Main media exponents of Croatian liberalism or liberal ideas include or included newspapers Novi list and Glas Istre, culture magazine Zarez and the defunct weekly Feral Tribune.

1860–1945

;National Party
;From Progressive Party to Progressive Democratic Party
;Democratic Party
  • 1906: Dalmatian liberals formed the Democratic Party
  • 1908: The DS merged into the ⇒ Croatian People's Progressive Party
;From Democratic Community to Democratic Party
;Independent Democratic Party

1989–present

;Croatian Social Liberal Union / Croatian Social Liberal Party
;Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats
;Liberal Party
;Party of Liberal Democrats
;People's Party - Reformists
;Civic Liberal Alliance
;Pametno / Centre

Liberal leaders

Liberal thinkers