Novi Sad, 20 September 2026. At the founding assembly held at the Workers’ Centre (Radnički dom), the Political Platform Solidarity and the informal civic group Struggle is an
Obligation united to form the Initiative for Democratic Socialism (IDS).
The Initiative for Democratic Socialism is an organisation of the democratic left dedicated to the struggle for a society in which everyone can live with dignity from their work, in which
workers have a voice in decision-making regarding working conditions, and where education, healthcare, culture and other public services are accessible to all. It is a society in which a roof over one’s head is a guaranteed right of every human being and in which public goods and wealth belong to everyone, rather than the privileged. As emphasised in the IDS Manifesto, only in such a society can democracy grow as an everyday right and with it, the
real possibility for each of us to take part in managing our community and shaping our future.
The founding assembly of IDS was further marked by the strong support and presence of the European Left. Attendees were addressed by Walter Baier, President of the European Left,
Günther Hopfgartner, Chair of the KPÖ (Austria) and Lefteris Stoukogeorgos, member of the Central Committee of Nea Aristera (Greece), whilst a video message of support was also
sent by Ines Schwerdtner, Co-President of Die Linke (Germany).
Core Principles & Stance
IDS will base its activities on the struggle for strong workers’ and trade union rights, social justice and democratic participation, as well as on the principles of regionalisation and decentralisation, anti-fascism, and a civic and secular society. The foundational values of IDS are freedom, equality and solidarity.
From its inception, IDS directs its activities towards the struggle against the autocratic regime of Aleksandar Vučić and provides full support to the student movement.
The first political decision of the IDS assembly was the unanimous adoption of the Declaration on Support for the Student Movement and the Electoral List “Student List – Students Win”. Following this, the Declaration on the Inalienability of Public Goods was also unanimously adopted, thereby confirming their protection and preservation for the community as one of the strategic goals of IDS.
Leadership
Co-President: Melanija Lojpur
Co-President: Radivoje Jovović
Deputy Co-President: Miloš Baković Jadžić
Deputy Co-President: Sanja Vojinović
“Work must not be a struggle for survival. Education must not be a privilege. A home must not be a luxury. These are rights that belong to all of us. This is the society we are fighting
for,” pointed out IDS Co-President Melanija Lojpur at the founding assembly. “The dignity we deserve belongs to all of us. It is time to take that dignity and power back into our own hands. It is time for democratic socialism,” stated IDS Co-President Radivoje
Jovović.
The founding assembly of the Initiative for Democratic Socialism concluded with the joint message of those gathered: „STUDENTS WIN!“
