View source for Croatian Peasant Party

{{Short description|Political party in Croatia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox political party
| colorcode        = {{Political party data|color}}
| name             = Croatian Peasant Party
| native_name      = Hrvatska seljačka stranka
| logo             = Croatian Peasant Party alt logo.svg
| logo_size        = 115px
| abbreviation     = HSS
| president        = ''Vacant''
| founders          =[[Antun Radić]]<br/>[[Stjepan Radić]]
| foundation       = {{start date|1904|12|22|df=yes}} {{small|(historical party)}}<br/>{{start date|1989|12|15|df=yes}} {{small|(modern party)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digured.srce.hr/webpac-hidra-imns/?filter=hidra-imns&f1=Title&v1=selja%E8ka&last_PAGER_offset=0&rm=results&show_full=1&path=hidra-imns%2357 |title=Hrvatska seljačka stranka - HSS  |work=digured.srce.hr |language=hr |access-date=2017-06-08}}</ref>
| headquarters     = [[Zagreb]]
| membership_year  = 2022
| membership       = 11,421 <ref>{{cite web|date=6 November 2023|title=Izvješće o obavljenoj financijskoj reviziji - Hrvatska seljačka stranka za 2022. |url=https://www.revizija.hr/UserDocsImages/izvjesca-novo/Revizije%20-%202023/IZVJESCA_%20O_OBAVLJENIM_REVIZIJAMA/FINANCIJSKE_REVIZIJE/POLIT_STR_NEZ_ZAS/POJEDINACNA/POLITI%C4%8CKE%20STRANKE/HRVATSKA%20SELJA%C4%8CKA%20STRANKA.pdf|work=State Audit Office|language=hr|access-date=21 December 2023}}</ref>
| wing1_title      = Paramilitary wing
| wing1            = {{ill|Croatian Peasant Defence|hr|Hrvatska građanska i seljačka zaštita}} (1936–1941)
| ideology         = {{ubl
 |[[Agrarianism]]<ref name="PEE">{{Cite web|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/croatia.html|title=Croatia|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|date=2020|website=Parties and Elections in Europe}}</ref><ref name="expat"/>
 |[[Social liberalism]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.antenazadar.hr/clanak/2019/02/homoseksualcima-onemogucili-udomljavanje-djece-glasovac-zakon-je-nelogican-saljemo-ga-na-ustavni-sud/|title = Homoseksualcima onemogućili udomljavanje djece; Glasovac: "Zakon je nelogičan, šaljemo ga na Ustavni sud"|date = 20 February 2019}}</ref>
 |[[National liberalism]]<ref name="Jutarnji">{{cite web|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/radikalni-politicki-zaokret-beljakovog-hss-a-stranka-ima-novu-strategiju-zbogom-demokrscanstvu-mi-smo-progresivni-liberali/6640194/|title=RADIKALNI POLITIČKI ZAOKRET BELJAKOVOG HSS-a, STRANKA IMA NOVU STRATEGIJU 'Zbogom demokršćanstvu, mi smo progresivni liberali'|date=13 October 2017}}</ref>
 |[[Green politics]]<ref name="RTL">{{cite web|url=http://vijesti.rtl.hr/novosti/hrvatska/3206407/hss-u-programu-napravio-nagli-zaokret-vise-nismo-konzervativni-sad-smo-zeleni-i-progresivni/|title=HSS u programu napravio nagli zaokret: 'Više nismo konzervativni, sad smo zeleni i progresivni'|date=10 June 2018|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135512/http://vijesti.rtl.hr/novosti/hrvatska/3206407/hss-u-programu-napravio-nagli-zaokret-vise-nismo-konzervativni-sad-smo-zeleni-i-progresivni/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 |[[Republicanism]]<ref name="Jutarnji"/>
 |[[Pro-Europeanism]]<ref name="expat"/><ref name="Jutarnji"/>}}'''Historical:'''<br/>{{ubl|[[Christian&nbsp;democracy]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/croatia.html|title=Croatia|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|date=2016|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091006/http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/croatia.html|archive-date=27 March 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>|[[Social conservatism]]<ref name="BIRN"/>|[[Federalism]] (before [[World War II in Yugoslavia|WW2]])}}
| position         = [[Centrism|Centre]]<ref name="PEE"/><ref name="BIRN">{{cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2010/09/27/who-is-who-political-parties-in-croatia/|website=[[Balkan Insight]]|date=27 September 2010|title=Key Political Parties in Croatia}}</ref> to [[Centre-left politics|centre-left]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vijesti.rtl.hr/novosti/hrvatska/3336687/sef-hss-a-nakon-usvajanja-novo-statuta-stranke-siguran-sam-da-mozemo-napraviti-pozitivno-iznenadjenje-na-izborima/|title=HSS usvojio novi Statut stranke: 'Siguran sam da možemo napraviti pozitivno iznenađenje na izborima'|date=9 February 2019|access-date=31 May 2019|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531235150/https://vijesti.rtl.hr/novosti/hrvatska/3336687/sef-hss-a-nakon-usvajanja-novo-statuta-stranke-siguran-sam-da-mozemo-napraviti-pozitivno-iznenadjenje-na-izborima/|url-status=dead}}</ref><br/>'''Historical:'''<br/>[[Centrism|Centre]] to [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]]
| national         = [[Rivers of Justice]] (since 2016)<br>[[Patriotic Coalition (Croatia)|Patriotic Coalition]] (2015–2016)
| international    = [[International Peasants' Union|Green International]]<br/>(1921–1988)<br/>[[Krestintern|Peasant International]]<br/>(1924–1925)
| european         = [[European People's Party]] (until 2019)
<!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/ -->
| seats1_title     = [[Croatian Parliament|Sabor]]
| seats1           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}}
| seats2_title     = [[European Parliament]]
| seats2           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|EP}}
| seats5_title     = [[Counties of Croatia|County Prefects]]
| seats5           = {{Composition bar|0|21|hex={{party color|Croatian Peasant Party}}}}
| seats6_title     = [[List of mayors in Croatia|Mayors]]
| seats6           = {{Composition bar|2|128|hex={{party color|Croatian Peasant Party}}}}
| colours          = {{Color box|{{party color|Croatian Peasant Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green]]
| anthem           = {{lang|hr|"Slavni sine hrvatskoga roda"}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hss.hr/u-kolanu-otvorena-izloba-povodom-obiljeavanja-110-obljetnice-hss-a/ |title=U Kolanu otvorena izložba povodom obilježavanja 110. obljetnice HSS-a |access-date=2018-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613041012/http://www.hss.hr/u-kolanu-otvorena-izloba-povodom-obiljeavanja-110-obljetnice-hss-a/ |archive-date=2018-06-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{lit|Glorious Son of the Croatian People}}
| website          = {{Political party data|website}}
| country          = Croatia
| footnotes        = 
| slogan           = Faith in God and Peasant Unity
| flag             = Flag of the Croatian Peasant Party.png
}}

The '''Croatian Peasant Party''' ({{langx|hr|Hrvatska seljačka stranka}}, '''HSS''') is an [[agrarianism|agrarian]]<ref name="expat">{{cite web|url=https://www.expatincroatia.com/croatia-largest-political-parties/|title=Croatia's Largest Political Parties|website=Expat in Croatia|last=Gladoic|first=Andrea|date=14 June 2018|access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref> [[List of political parties in Croatia|political party]] in [[Croatia]] founded on 22 December 1904 by [[Antun Radić|Antun]] and [[Stjepan Radić]] as '''Croatian Peoples' Peasant Party''' (HPSS). The Brothers Radić believed that the realization of Croatian statehood was possible within [[Austria-Hungary]], but that it had to be reformed as a monarchy divided into [[Trialism in Austria-Hungary|three equal parts]] – Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. After the creation of [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] in 1918, the party requested self-determination for the Croatian part of the kingdom. This brought them great public support, which culminated in HPSS winning 50 seats, a majority assigned to Croatia in the [[1920 Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes Constitutional Assembly election|1920 parliamentary election]]. 

In 1920, disgruntled with the position of Croats in the kingdom, the party changed its name into '''Croatian Republican Peasant Party''' ('''HRSS''') and started advocating secession from the kingdom and the establishment of a "peaceful peasant Republic of Croatia". In the [[1923 Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes parliamentary election|1923]] and [[1925 Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes parliamentary election|1925]] elections, HRSS doubled the number of votes they received, making them the second largest party in the [[Parliament of Yugoslavia]].

In 1927, faced with constant prosecution by the regime, HRSS was forced to soften its policy and change its name into the '''Croatian Peasant Party''' (HSS), recognize the [[Vidovdan Constitution]], and form a coalition with the Serbian [[People's Radical Party]]. This resulted in HSS losing its popularity and one-third of its vote share in the [[1927 Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes parliamentary election|1927 election]]. After the termination of the coalition agreement with the Radicals, HSS formed the Peasant-Democratic Coalition with [[Svetozar Pribičević|Pribičević]]'s [[Independent Democratic Party (Yugoslavia)|Independent Democratic Party]]. After the [[Stjepan Radić#Assassination in Parliament|assassination of Stjepan Radić]] in 1928, [[Vladko Maček]] become the new president of HSS.

After [[Alexander I of Yugoslavia|King Alexander]] declared a dictatorship in 1929, HSS was banned and its members prosecuted. HSS participated in the [[1935 Yugoslavian parliamentary election|1935]] and [[1938 Yugoslavian parliamentary election|1938 elections]] as a part of the United Opposition coalition, which helped it to regain its influence. In 1939, the [[Cvetković–Maček Agreement]] established the HSS-governed [[Banovina of Croatia]]. After the establishment of the [[Independent State of Croatia]] (NDH), a Nazi-puppet state, in 1941, HSS was banned once again, with half of its members joining either the [[Ustaše]] or the [[Yugoslav partisans|Partisans]]. A part stayed loyal to Maček, who believed that the victory of [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] would bring [[liberal democracy]] into Croatia and that HSS would return to power. In May 1945, Maček left the country, while HSS split into two fractions which boycotted the [[1945 Yugoslavian parliamentary election|1945 election]] because of their opposition to the [[League of Communists of Yugoslavia|Communists]]. Under the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] (1945–1991), HSS was active abroad.

During the [[breakup of Yugoslavia]], HSS was restored under the leadership of Drago Stipac on 25 May 1991. The party first entered government after the [[2000 Croatian parliamentary election|2000 Croatian elections]] as part of a liberal coalition (HSS-[[Istrian Democratic Assembly|IDS]]-[[Croatian People's Party-Liberal Democrats|HNS]]-[[Liberal Party|LS]]-[[Social Democratic Action of Croatia|SDA]]), with [[Ivica Račan]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|SDP]]) serving as Prime Minister and HSS president [[Zlatko Tomčić]] as [[Speaker of the Croatian Parliament|Speaker of the Parliament]]. HSS lost the [[2003 Croatian parliamentary election|2003 election]] and joined the opposition. In [[2007 Croatian parliamentary election|2007]], HSS formed yet another liberal coalition ([[Croatian Social Liberal Party|HSLS]]-[[Alliance of Primorje-Gorski Kotar|PGS]]-[[Democratic Party of Zagorje|ZDS]]-[[Zagorje Party|ZS]]) and led the Ministries of [[Ministry of Tourism (Croatia)|Tourism]] and [[Ministry of Agriculture (Croatia)|Agriculture]] in the [[Cabinet of Ivo Sanader II]], and Ministries of Tourism and Regional Development in the [[Cabinet of Jadranka Kosor]]. In [[2011 Croatian parliamentary election|2011]], the party won only one seat in Parliament and moved to the opposition. In [[2015 Croatian parliamentary election|2015]], HSS won one seat as part of the conservative [[Patriotic Coalition (Croatia)|Patriotic Coalition]] and supported [[Tihomir Orešković]] as prime minister. In [[2016 Croatian parliamentary election|2016]], HSS won 5 seats as part of the liberal [[People's Coalition (Croatia)|People's Coalition]].

== History ==
===Radić presidency===
{{multiple image
 | width1 = 193
 | image1 =
 | alt1 = Photograph of Antun Radić
 | width2 = 200
 | image2 = Stjepan Radić (2).jpg
 | alt2 = Photograph of Stjepan Radić
 | footer = Brothers Antun (left) and Stjepan Radić (right)
}}
The Croatian People's Peasant Party (''Hrvatska pučka seljačka stranka'', HPSS) was established in 1904 by brothers [[Stjepan Radić]] and [[Antun Radić]] in the [[Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia]] – itself a part of the [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungarian part]] of the [[Dualism (politics)|dualist]] [[Austria-Hungary]] at the time. The founding of the HPSS was a part of the process of fragmentation of the {{ill|United Croat Opposition|hr|Hrvatska opozicija}}.{{sfn|Biondich|2000|pp=59–61}} The party pursued the establishment of a comprehensive [[grassroots]] network, national unity and [[agrarianism]], as the Radić's distrusted traditional political parties. Even though the HPSS achieved only minor significance before the end of [[World War I]], the party gradually became a mass movement after 1918. This gave it the central role in the completion of Croatian national integration.{{sfn|Biondich|2000|pp=62–63}} The HPSS platform of [[antimilitarism]] and [[pacifism]] became very popular in the final year of the war, especially in Croatia-Slavonia, which was affected by widespread [[Green Cadres#Croatia-Slavonia and Bosnia|unrest associated with the Green Cadres]]. Furthermore, the restricted voting rights were expanded after 1918 by the introduction of [[universal manhood suffrage]], allowing the proportionally large peasant population (80% of Croatia-Slavonia at the time) to predominantly vote for the HPSS.{{sfn|Newman|2015|p=139}} Antun Radić died in 1919, leaving Stjepan as the sole leader of the HPSS.{{sfn|Biondich|2000|p=162}}

After the war, following the [[1920 Croatian Peasant Rebellion]], the HPSS became the only significant political party in Croatia, and the second largest party in the newly established [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]] (later renamed Yugoslavia). In 1920s, the HPSS policy was based on [[republicanism]], opposition to further unification of the new state, demands for a neutral Croat peasant republic, and the advocation of [[national self-determination]]. To reinforce the republican message, the HPSS was formally renamed the Croatian Republican Peasant Party in 1920.{{sfn|Biondich|2000|pp=150–152}} Shortly following its accession to the [[Krestintern|Peasant International]], the regime initiated a campaign to suppress the party activities in the run up to the [[1925 Yugoslav parliamentary election]] using political, police, military and paramilitary pressure, and arresting its leaders. Even though the party achieved the second-largest share of seats, the government retained its parliamentary majority. Nonetheless, shortly after the election, there were negotiations between Radić and [[King Alexander I of Yugoslavia|King Alexander]]'s envoys. The talks ended in Radić renouncing republicanism and accepting the monarchy in return for his release and participation in a coalition government led by the [[People's Radical Party]] (NRS). The party was renamed the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS).{{sfn|Biondich|2000|pp=200–203}} Radić later admitted that he accepted the monarchy to protect his people.{{sfn|Biondich|2000|p=214}}

[[File:Radic govori na skupstini.jpg|thumb|Stjepan Radić at the assembly in [[Dubrovnik]]]]
The HSS had little real influence in the coalition government which lasted until 1927. At the same time, the Radić's participation in the coalition was criticised in Croatia and in the HSS – although not sufficiently to threaten his leadership. A part of the membership split in protest, forming the Croatian Federalist Peasant Party. The [[Communist Party of Yugoslavia]] (''Komunistička partija Jugoslavije'', KPJ) also criticised Radić for his cooperation with the regime. The KPJ had recently adopted the federalist approach to reform of the country and saw the republican movement of the HRSS as a potential recruitment pool. The HSS conversely, regardless of KPJ's formal federalist policy, saw the KPJ as unitarists and essentially a political endeavour to promote Serbian agenda.{{sfn|Biondich|2000|pp=208–214}}

The HSS left the government in January 1927.{{sfn|Biondich|2000|p=222}} Radić resumed pursuit of resolution of the [[Croatian question]] by advocating unification of Croatian lands including [[Slavonia]] and [[Dalmatia]] into a single self-governing unit and stopping Italian immigration by abolishing the 1925 [[Treaty of Nettuno]].{{sfn|Biondich|2000|pp=234–235}} In November, the HSS formed the Peasant-Democratic Coalition with the [[Independent Democratic Party (Yugoslavia)|Independent Democratic Party]] (''Samostalna demokratska stranka'', SDS), the most popular party among the [[Serbs of Croatia]].{{sfn|Biondich|2000|p=228}} Tense relations between the opposition and the government deteriorated further until a shouting match in the parliament escalated to the point where NRS deputy [[Puniša Račić]] shot several HSS parliament members killing two and wounding three including Radić on 20 June 1928. Radić suggested that the shootings were a result of a regime plan and that the HSS should abandon pacifism. Soon afterwards, Radić died of the wounds on 8 August. Following the assassinations, the Yugoslav state lost any legitimacy among Croats – who appeared united in demands for overhaul of the state.{{sfn|Biondich|2000|pp=238–244}} HSS thus became the only major political party among Croats.{{sfn|Biondich|2000|p=245}} [[Vladko Maček]] was elected to replace Radić almost immediately after his death.{{sfn|Biondich|2000|p=242}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"|
! Year
! Popular vote
! % of popular vote
! Coalition
! Seats won
! Seat change
! Government
|-
| [[1920 Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes Constitutional Assembly election|November 1920]]
| 230,590 
| 14.3%
| ''—''
| {{Infobox political party/seats|50|315|hex=green}}
| {{increase}} 50
| {{no2|opposition}}
|-
| [[1923 Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes parliamentary election|March 1923]]
| 473,733 
| 21.9%
| ''—''
| {{Infobox political party/seats|70|315|hex=green}}
| {{increase}} 20
| {{no2|opposition}}
|-
| [[1925 Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes parliamentary election|February 1925]]
| 545,466
| 22.2%
| ''—''
| {{Infobox political party/seats|67|315|hex=darkgreen}}
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{yes2|government}}
|-
| [[1927 Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes parliamentary election|September 1927]]
| 367,570
| 15.8%
| ''—''
| {{Infobox political party/seats|61|315|hex=darkgreen}}
| {{decrease}} 6
| {{no2|opposition}}
|}

===Maček presidency===
[[File:Atentat u skupstini.JPG|thumb|Photograph of the shootings of HSS representatives by Puniša Račić]]
Under Maček, the HSS continued political opposition to the regime. The {{ill|United Opposition (Yugoslavia)|lt=United Opposition|hr|Ujedinjena opozicija}} which included the HSS, stood in [[1935 Yugoslavian parliamentary election|1935]] and [[1938 Yugoslavian parliamentary election]]. In the latter, the United Opposition won the majority of votes, but due to operation of the election law, it received 67 out of 373 seats in the parliament.{{sfn|Tomasevich|2001|p=40}}

Prompted by the failure of the government to secure the [[rule of law]] and public order, the HSS established the {{ill|Croatian Peasant Defence|hr|Hrvatska građanska i seljačka zaštita}} (HSZ) as a party [[paramilitary]] force in 1936. The force was established to protect Croats against paramilitaries supported or tolerated by the regime. The force was also designed as a response to Ustaše challenge for dominance among Croats as a force capable of providing physical protection following the [[Velebit uprising]]. It was meant to demonstrate that the HSS is not a pacifist organisation resigned to passivity. In cities, the HSZ operated under the name of Croatian Civil Defence.{{sfn|Ramet|2007|pp=215–223}}

In 1936 and 1937, Maček unsuccessfully negotiated with Regent [[Prince Paul of Yugoslavia|Prince Paul]] [[Prime Minister of Yugoslavia|Prime Minister]] [[Milan Stojadinović]] with the aim of consolidation of Croatian lands within Yugoslavia – with a degree of autonomy. Then, after contacting several European governments and failing to get their support, he turned to [[Fascist Italy (1922–1943)|Italian]] foreign minister [[Galeazzo Ciano]] in 1938. Through an intermediary, Maček explained the HSS wanted Croatia united as a federal unit of Yugoslavia encompassing territories of former Croatia–Slavonia to a line between [[Ilok]] and [[Sremska Mitrovica]], and Dalmatia without the [[Bay of Kotor]] with the addition of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] west of [[Vrbas (river)|Vrbas]] and [[Neretva]] Rivers. At the time, Italy was harbouring and supporting Croatian nationalist group [[Ustaše]], but Ciano preferred to work with Maček because the HSS enjoyed far greater support among Croats and because Ciano believed that would discourage contacts between the HSS and [[Nazi Germany]] – denying German access to the [[Adriatic Sea]]. Ciano wrote back to Maček urging him to demand more territory and elaborate on his ideas.{{sfn|Tomasevich|2001|pp=40–41}}

In 1939, Stojadinović was replaced by [[Dragiša Cvetković]] and Maček contacted him with the same request. The two reached a preliminary agreement, but Prince Paul vetoed the idea objecting to partition of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Maček then wrote back to Ciano explaining that he seeks status of a federal unit for Croatia within Yugoslavia, with joint foreign affairs, defence, central bank, state monopolies, and customs. He modified the territorial demands by moving the Vrbas line to the [[Bosna (river)|Bosna River]]. In return, the Italian Foreign Ministry drafted a document offering Maček a loan to finance an uprising which the HSS would launch and then invite Italian military intervention. The plan also envisaged establishment of a Croatian state under Italian protection. Maček wrote back declining the offer and saying that was not what he asked for and that he had struck a deal with Cvetković government in the meantime.{{sfn|Tomasevich|2001|pp=41–42}}

The [[Cvetković–Maček Agreement]] was concluded on 26 August 1939 establishing autonomous [[Banovina of Croatia]]. Maček became the deputy prime minister of Yugoslavia and several members of the Peasant–Democratic Coalition were added to the cabinet. The agreement angered Ustaše who launched a propaganda campaign against Maček and the HSS as traitors of Croatian interests while Italy switched its support back to Ustaše.{{sfn|Tomasevich|2001|pp=42–44}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"|
! Year
! Popular vote
! % of popular vote
! Coalition
! Seats won
! Seat change
! Government
|-
| style="background:#ddd;" | [[1931 Yugoslavian parliamentary election|November 1931]]
| colspan=2 style="background:#ddd;" | ''[[6 January Dictatorship|banned]]''
| style="background:#ddd;" | ''—''
| style="background:#ddd;" | {{Composition bar|0|370|hex=green}}
| style="background:#ddd;" | {{decrease}} 61
| style="background:#ddd;"| no seats
|-
| [[1935 Yugoslavian parliamentary election|May 1935]]
| 1,076,345
| 37.4%
|{{small|[[:hr:Ujedinjena opozicija|United Opposition]]}}
| {{Composition bar|67|370|hex=green}}
| {{increase}} 67
| {{no2|opposition}}
|-
| [[1938 Yugoslavian parliamentary election|December 1938]]
| 1,364,524
| 44.9%
| {{small|United Opposition}}
| {{Infobox political party/seats|67|373|hex=green}}
| {{nochange}}
| {{yes2|government}}
|}

=== World War II and afterwards ===
{{main|Croatian Peasant Party during World War II}}
The party's fortunes declined precipitously with the outbreak of [[World War II]] and the [[Axis powers|Axis]] invasion in April 1941. Some party members were divided among those who sympathized with the Croatian fascist [[Ustasha]] independence movement, and those whose left-leaning beliefs led them to join the [[Partisans (Yugoslavia)|Partisans]]. But the vast majority of HSS supporters remained passive and neutral for the duration of the war as the Ustasha, the communist Partisans and the royalist [[Chetniks]] fought for control.

After the communist victory, the KPJ established one-party rule — the HSS, along with other political parties were declared illegal.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} In 1947, HSS joined the [[International Peasants' Union]]. Maček represented the HSS in exile until his death in 1964. [[Juraj Krnjević]] took over as leader until his own death 1988, only a year before the HSS could resume its work within Croatia.

=== Modern party ===
[[File:Croatian Peasant Party logo.png|thumb|right|Initial logo of the party|170px]]
With the advent of multi-party system in 1990, the HSS was reconstituted by [[Ivan Zvonimir Čičak]] and on the [[1990 Croatian parliamentary election|1990 election]] won several seats in the [[Croatian Parliament]].<ref name=vijesti>{{cite news |first=|last= |title=Preminuo Ivan Zvonimir Čičak |url=https://vijesti.hrt.hr/hrvatska/preminuo-ivan-zvonimir-cicak-11847002 |work=[[Vijesti]] |publisher= |date=2024-11-06 |access-date=2024-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202141231/https://vijesti.hrt.hr/hrvatska/preminuo-ivan-zvonimir-cicak-11847002 |archive-date=2024-12-02 |url-status=live}}</ref> They remained in opposition until the [[2000 Croatian parliamentary election|2000 elections]] when they received three ministerial portfolios as part of their participation in the winning [[Social Democratic Party of Croatia]]-led coalition.

On elections 2000 HSS led center coalition alongside IDS-HNS-LS and Coalition won 25 seats in parliament with 17 seats for HSS (16 domestic and one minority seat).
After the elections HSS formed coalition with SDP and had three ministers in government (education, agriculture and entrepreneurship), vice president of government and [[Speaker of Croatian Parliament]], [[Zlatko Tomčić]].

On local elections 2001. HSS achieved its best results ever and won 8 out of 21 county prefects (župan) and lot of municipalities and towns and became party which was second in number of local elected officials.

Today, the HSS considers itself among other center European political parties that advocate pro-agrarian policies and greater [[economic interventionism]] by the state. On social matters the HSS is largely conservative, supporting a Christian-based morality in public life. HSS is an associate member of the [[European People's Party]] (EPP).

At the [[2003 Croatian parliamentary election|elections in November 2003]], the party won 7.2% of the popular vote and 10 out of 151 seats (nine domestic seats and one minority seat).

Before the [[2007 Croatian parliamentary election|2007 parliamentary elections]], HSS announced a coalition with opposition parties [[Alliance of Primorje-Gorski Kotar]] and [[Croatian Social Liberal Party]]. The coalition received 6.5% of the popular vote and 8 out of 153 seats (six for HSS itself). After elections they became part of [[Ivo Sanader]]'s governing coalition and received two ministerial portfolios (regional development and tourism), vicepresident of government and vicepresident of Parliament.

On [[2011 Croatian parliamentary election|2011 parliamentary elections]] party score worst result in party's history receiving only one parliamentary seat and 3% of popular vote.

Party convention 28 January 2012 elected [[Branko Hrg]] as new president.

In 2014 Croatian Peasant Party in coalition with [[Croatian Democratic Union]] won one seat in European Parliament – [[Marijana Petir]]. However, on 6 June 2017 Petir was expelled from Croatian Peasant Party, which left the party without seats in European Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/marijana-petir-izbacena-iz-hssa/975253.aspx |language=hr |newspaper=[[Index.hr]] |title=Marijana Petir izbačena iz HSS-a |date=6 June 2016}}</ref>

== Election results ==

=== Parliamentary ===
The following is a summary of HSS's results in parliamentary elections for the [[Croatian parliament]]. The "Total votes" and "Percentage" columns include sums of votes won by pre-election coalitions HSS had been part of. After [[Elections in Croatia#Parliamentary elections|preferential votes were introduced]] into the electoral system, the total votes column includes the statistic of the sum of votes given to HSS candidates on the coalition lists. The "Total seats" column includes sums of seats won by HSS in election constituencies plus representatives of ethnic minorities affiliated with HSS.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Election
! rowspan=2 | In coalition with
! Votes won
! Percentage !! Seats won
! Change
! rowspan=2|Government
|-
! colspan="2" | {{small|(Coalition totals)}} !! colspan=2 | {{small|(HSS only)}}
|-
![[1992 Croatian parliamentary election|1992]]
|''None''
|align="right"|111,869
|align="right"|4.25
|style="text-align:center;"|{{Composition bar|3|138|green}}
| style="text-align:center;"|New
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1995 Croatian parliamentary election|1995]]
|[[Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats|HNS]]-[[Istrian Democratic Assembly|IDS]]–[[Croatian Christian Democratic Union|HKDU]]–[[Slavonia-Baranja Croatian Party|SBHS]]
|align="right"|441,390
|align="right"|18.26
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Composition bar|10|127|green}}
| style="text-align:center;"|{{increase}} 7
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2000 Croatian parliamentary election|2000]]
|[[Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats|HNS]]–[[Istrian Democratic Assembly|IDS]]–[[Liberal Party (Croatia)|LS]]–[[Social Democratic Action of Croatia|ASH]]
|align="right"|432,527
|align="right"|14.70
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Composition bar|17|151|green}}
| style="text-align:center;"|{{increase}} 7
| {{yes2|Government}}
|-
![[2003 Croatian parliamentary election|2003]]
|''None''
|align="right"|177,359
|align="right"|7.20
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Composition bar|10|151|green}}
| style="text-align:center;"|{{decrease}} 7
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2007 Croatian parliamentary election|2007]]
|[[Croatian Social Liberal Party|HSLS]]-[[Alliance of Primorje-Gorski Kotar|PGS]]
|align="right"|161,814
|align="right"|6.50
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Composition bar|6|153|green}}
| style="text-align:center;"|{{decrease}} 4
| {{yes2|Government}}
|-
![[2011 Croatian parliamentary election|2011]]
||''None''
| style="text-align:right;"| 71,450
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.00
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Composition bar|1|151|green}}
| style="text-align:center;"|{{decrease}} 5
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2015 Croatian parliamentary election|2015]]
||[[Patriotic Coalition (Croatia)|Patriotic Coalition]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 744,507<br/>(23,423<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/hsls-ovi-kandidati-dobili-manje-glasova-nego-sto-imaju-clanova--ovo-pokazuje-koliko-su-jake-male-stranke---rejting-hns-a-je-5-59--a-hss-a-1-48-posto-/1456874/ |language=hr |newspaper=[[Jutarnji list]] |title=Preferencijalni glasovi |author=Suzana Barilar |date=13 November 2015 |access-date=24 December 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091026/http://www.jutarnji.hr/hsls-ovi-kandidati-dobili-manje-glasova-nego-sto-imaju-clanova--ovo-pokazuje-koliko-su-jake-male-stranke---rejting-hns-a-je-5-59--a-hss-a-1-48-posto-/1456874/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>)
| style="text-align:right;"| 33.46
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Composition bar|1|151|green}}
| style="text-align:center;"|{{steady}} 0
| {{partial|Government support}}
|-
![[2016 Croatian parliamentary election|2016]]
||[[People's Coalition (Croatia)|People's Coalition]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 636,602<br>(33,514)
| style="text-align:right;"| 33.82
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Composition bar|5|151|green}}
| style="text-align:center;"|{{increase}} 4
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2020 Croatian parliamentary election|2020]]
|[[Restart Coalition]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 414,615
| style="text-align:right;"| 24.87
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Composition bar|2|151|green}}
| style="text-align:center;"|{{decrease}} 3
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2024 Croatian parliamentary election|2024]]
| [[Rivers of Justice]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 538,748
| style="text-align:right;"| 25.40
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Composition bar|1|151|green}}
| align=center| {{decrease}} 1
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|}

=== Presidential ===
The following is a list of presidential candidates who were endorsed by HSS.

{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan=2|Election year(s)
! rowspan=2|Candidate
! colspan=2|1st round
! colspan=2|2nd round
! rowspan=2|Result
|-
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
|-
! [[2000 Croatian presidential election|2000]]
| [[Stjepan Mesić]] ([[Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats|HNS]])
| 1.100.671
| 41.3 (#'''1''')
| 1.433.372
| 56.01 (#'''1''')
| {{Yes2|Won}}
|-
! [[2005 Croatian presidential election|2005]]
| [[Stjepan Mesić]] ([[Independent politician|Ind.]])
| 1.089.398
| 48.92 (#'''1''')
| 1.454.451
| 65.93 (#'''1''')
| {{yes2|Won}}
|-
! [[2009–10 Croatian presidential election|2009–10]]
|''None''
| colspan="5" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[2014–15 Croatian presidential election|2014–15]]
| {{nowrap|[[Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović]] ([[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]])}}
| 665.379
| 37.22 (#'''2''')
| 1.114.945
| 50.74 (#'''1''')
| {{yes2|Won}}
|- 
! [[2019–20 Croatian presidential election|2019–20]]
| [[Zoran Milanović]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|SDP]])
| 562,783
| 29.55 (#'''1''')
| 1,034,170
| 52.66 (#'''1''')
| {{yes2|Won}}
|- 
! [[2024 Croatian presidential election|2024–25]]
| [[Zoran Milanović]] ([[Independent politician|Ind.]])
| 797,938
| 49.68 (#'''1''')
| 1,122,859
| 74.68 (#'''1''')
| {{yes2|Won}}
|}

=== European Parliament ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Election
! rowspan=2 | List leader
! rowspan=2 | Coalition
! Votes
! % 
! Seats
! +/–
! rowspan=2 | EP Group
|-
! colspan=2 | {{small|Coalition}}
! colspan=2 | {{small|HSS}}
|-
! [[2013 European Parliament election in Croatia|2013]]
| [[Miroslav Rožić]]
| [[Croatian Social Liberal Party|HSLS]]
| 28,646
| 3.86 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|0|12|{{party color|Croatian Peasant Party}}}}
| New
| –
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in Croatia|2014]]
| [[Andrej Plenković]]
| [[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]–[[Croatian Party of Rights dr. Ante Starčević|HSP-AS]]–[[Bloc Pensioners Together|BUZ]]–[[Democratic Party of Zagorje|ZDS]]–[[Croatian Demochristian Party|HDS]]
| 381,844
| 41.42 (#1)
| {{Composition bar|1|11|{{party color|Croatian Peasant Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| [[European People's Party Group|EPP]]
|-
! [[2019 European Parliament election in Croatia|2019]]
| [[Valter Flego]]
| [[Amsterdam Coalition]]
| 55,806
| 5.19 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|0|12|{{party color|Croatian Peasant Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| rowspan=2 |–
|-
! [[2024 European Parliament election in Croatia|2024]]
| [[Biljana Borzan]]
| [[Rivers of Justice]]
| 192,859
| 25.62 (#2)
| {{Composition bar|0|12|{{party color|Croatian Peasant Party}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|}

== Party presidents ==
* [[Stjepan Radić]] (1904–1928)
* [[Vladko Maček]] (1928–1964)
* [[Juraj Krnjević]] (1964–1988)
* [[Josip Torbar (politician, born 1922)|Josip Torbar]] (1988–1991)
* Drago Stipac (1991–1994)
* [[Zlatko Tomčić]] (1994–2005)
* [[Josip Friščić]] (2005–2012)
* [[Branko Hrg]] (2012–2016)
* [[Krešo Beljak]] (2016–2025)

== See also ==
* [[Croatian Peasant Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
* [[Slovene Peasant Party]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book
|first= Mark
|last= Biondich
|author-link= Mark Biondich
|title= Stjepan Radić, the Croat Peasant Party, and the Politics of Mass Mobilization, 1904-1928
|isbn= 0-8020-4727-0
|publisher= [[University of Toronto Press]]
|location= Toronto, Canada
|year= 2000
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=dZBgIIZ18WMC
}}
*{{cite book
|first= John Paul 
|last= Newman
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8nSCQAAQBAJ
|title= Yugoslavia in the Shadow of War: Veterans and the Limits of State Building, 1903–1945
|isbn= 9781107070769
|publisher= Cambridge University Press
|location= Cambridge
|year= 2015
}}
*{{cite journal
|first= Sabrina P.
|last= Ramet
|author-link= Sabrina P. Ramet
|url= https://www.jstor.org/stable/20081354
|title= Vladko Maček and the Croatian Peasant Defence in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
|journal= [[Contemporary European History]]
|publisher= [[Cambridge University Press]]
|location= Cambridge, UK
|issn= 0960-7773
|volume= 16
|issue= 2
|year= 2007
|pages= 215–231
|doi= 10.1017/S0960777307003803
|jstor= 20081354
|s2cid= 162808232
|url-access= subscription
}}
*{{cite book
|last = Tomasevich
|first = Jozo 
|author-link = Jozo Tomasevich
|title = War and Revolution in Yugoslavia, 1941–1945: Occupation and Collaboration 
|year = 2001
|publisher = Stanford University Press
|isbn = 978-0-8047-0857-9
|location = Stanford, California
|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=fqUSGevFe5MC
}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last=Stallaerts|first=Robert|title=Historical dictionary of Croatia|year=2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-271-01810-2|ref=none}}
* {{cite book
  | title = 110 godina Hrvatske seljačke stranke
  | last = Petrić
  | first = Hrvoje
  | year = 2015
  | chapter =  O braći Radić i počecima Hrvatske pučke seljačke stranke
  | trans-chapter = About Radić brothers and the beginnings of the Croatian People's Peasant Party
  | chapter-url = https://www.academia.edu/26605556
  | publisher = Matica hrvatska
  | pages=539–606
  | isbn = 978-953-341-064-7
  |ref=none}}
* {{cite book
  | last = Dragnich
  | first = Alex N.
  | title = The First Yugoslavia: Search for a Viable Political System
  | year = 1983
  | publisher = Hoover Press
  | isbn = 978-0-8179-7843-3
  |ref=none}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Official website}} {{in lang|hr}}
{{Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia parties}}
{{KoY parties}}
{{Cro45-89parties}}
{{Croatian political parties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1904 establishments in Croatia]]
[[Category:Agrarian parties in Croatia|Peasant]]
[[Category:Anti-communist parties]]
[[Category:Centrist parties in Croatia]]
[[Category:Liberal parties in Croatia]]
[[Category:Member parties of the European People's Party]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Zagreb]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1904]]
[[Category:Political parties in Austria-Hungary]]
[[Category:Political parties in Yugoslavia]]
[[Category:Pro-European political parties in Croatia]]
[[Category:Social liberal parties]]