PARTY STRUGGLES IN THE KINGDOM OF SERBIA DURING THE GOVERNMENT OF VLADAN ĐORĐEVIĆ (1897–1900)

Abstract

The parliamentary regime introduced by the Constitution of 1888 enabled the absolute dominance of the People’s Radical Party. King Alexander felt the need to quickly put an end to all the innovations brought by the parliamentary system, and therefore he was constantly in conflict with political parties, frequently resorting to coups d’état. After the abolition of the 1888 Constitution, a personal regime of power was established, which lasted until 1901. The last Obrenović sought to undermine the existence of the Constitution, the government, and the National Assembly through various experiments. His “neutral” governments, made up of lesser-known political figures, were subject to his influence. The entire political life revolved around a single person, the king, who managed to divide the parties and skillfully manipulate them. The neutralization of the dominance of the People’s Radical Party in Serbia’s political life by the royal court could not last long, as it was inconceivable for the party with the greatest popular support to remain in opposition. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, a young generation of politicians entered the Serbian political scene. Although heterogeneous in composition, they were united in condemning King Alexander’s absolutist methods of rule. While the old radicals were ready to compromise, the new political forces were uncompromising toward the court and strongly influenced public opinion in the country with their ideas. Around this younger generation of politicians, more and more individuals from the world of literature and journalism gathered.