# Vojislav Koštunica

> Serbian politician

**Wikidata**: [Q33031](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q33031)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vojislav_Koštunica)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vojislav-kostunica

## Summary

Vojislav Koštunica is a Serbian politician and jurist born on March 24, 1944. He served as the first Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia following the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević in 2000, and later as Prime Minister of Serbia from 2004 to 2008. A graduate of the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law, Koštunica founded the New Democratic Party of Serbia in 1992 and became a prominent opposition leader during the Milošević era.

## Biography

- **Born:** March 24, 1944
- **Nationality:** Serbian (citizen of Serbia, formerly Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and Serbia and Montenegro)
- **Education:** Graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law; educated at the University of Belgrade
- **Known for:** Leading the democratic opposition against Slobodan Milošević; serving as Prime Minister of Yugoslavia (2000–2003) and Prime Minister of Serbia (2004–2008); founding the New Democratic Party of Serbia
- **Employer(s):** University of Belgrade
- **Field(s):** Politics, Law, Pedagogy

## Contributions

Vojislav Koštunica's political career spans several decades of Serbian and Yugoslav history. In 1992, he founded the New Democratic Party of Serbia (Demokratska stranka Srbije), becoming one of the primary opposition leaders against the Milošević regime. Following the Bulldozer Revolution of 2000, which overthrew Slobodan Milošević, Koštunica became Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, serving from 2000 to 2003. After the transformation of Yugoslavia into Serbia and Montenegro in 2003, he served as Prime Minister of Serbia from 2004 to 2008. His political work centered on democratic transition, European integration, and political reform in Serbia.

## FAQs

**What was Vojislav Koštunica's role in Yugoslav politics?**

Vojislav Koštunica was a central figure in Serbian and Yugoslav politics, serving as Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 2000 to 2003 and later as Prime Minister of Serbia from 2004 to 2008. He led the democratic opposition against Slobodan Milošević and played a key role in the 2000 regime change.

**Which political party did Vojislav Koštunica found?**

Vojislav Koštunica founded the New Democratic Party of Serbia (Demokratska stranka Srbije) in 1992, which became one of the major opposition parties in Serbia during the 1990s.

**What is Vojislav Koštunica's educational background?**

Koštunica graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law and was educated at the University of Belgrade, one of Serbia's most prestigious academic institutions established in 1808.

**What was Vojislav Koštunica's connection to the University of Belgrade?**

The University of Belgrade, where Koštunica was educated, is Serbia's largest university with approximately 4,200 employees and serves as the country's primary center for higher education and research.

## Why They Matter

Vojislav Koštunica played a pivotal role in Serbia's political transformation during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. As a founding member and leader of the democratic opposition, he provided an alternative political vision during the authoritarian rule of Slobodan Milošević. His role in the 2000 Bulldozer Revolution marked a turning point in Serbian history, leading to democratic elections and the country's reintegration into the international community. As Prime Minister of both Yugoslavia and Serbia, he navigated the complex political landscape of post-Milošević Serbia, including relations with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, European integration efforts, and economic reforms. His political career reflects the broader transition of Serbia from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia through the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the independent Republic of Serbia.

## Notable For

- Founding the New Democratic Party of Serbia in 1992
- Serving as Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (2000–2003)
- Serving as Prime Minister of Serbia (2004–2008)
- Leading democratic opposition to Slobodan Milošević's regime
- Playing a key role in the 2000 Bulldozer Revolution that overthrew Milošević
- Being a jurist and legal scholar by training

## Body

### Early Life and Education

Vojislav Koštunica was born on March 24, 1944. He pursued higher education at the University of Belgrade, one of Southeast Europe's oldest and most prestigious universities, founded in 1808. He graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law, which has been operating since 1808 and serves as Serbia's primary legal education institution. His academic background in law shaped his political approach, emphasizing legal frameworks and democratic institutions.

### Political Career and Opposition Leadership

Koštunica's political career began in earnest with the founding of the New Democratic Party of Serbia (Demokratska stranka Srbije) on July 26, 1992. The party emerged as a significant opposition force during a period of international sanctions and political isolation under Slobodan Milošević's leadership. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had dissolved in 1992, giving way to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia consisting of Serbia and Montenegro, with Belgrade as the capital.

Throughout the 1990s, Koštunica remained a prominent voice for democratic change in Serbia. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia experienced severe economic difficulties during this period, including hyperinflation reaching unprecedented levels and international sanctions. The Yugoslav Wars in Croatia and Bosnia, along with the Kosovo War in 1999, shaped the political context in which Koštunica operated.

### Rise to Power: The Bulldozer Revolution

The year 2000 marked a turning point in Serbian and Yugoslav politics. Following the controversial presidential elections of September 2000, mass protests erupted across Serbia in what became known as the Bulldozer Revolution. Koštunica was a central figure in the opposition coalition that demanded Milošević's resignation. On October 5, 2000, Milošević was overthrown, and Koštunica became President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on October 6, 2000.

### Prime Ministerial Terms

After the overthrow of Milošević, Koštunica served as Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 2000 to 2003. During this period, Yugoslavia underwent significant political transformation. On February 4, 2003, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was officially dissolved and replaced by Serbia and Montenegro, a looser political union. Koštunica continued his political career in the independent Republic of Serbia, serving as Prime Minister of Serbia from 2004 to 2008.

### Historical Context and Legacy

Koštunica's political career is deeply intertwined with the history of the former Yugoslavia. He lived through the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945–1992), the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1992–2003), and Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006), finally witnessing Serbia's emergence as an independent state in 2006 after Montenegro's independence referendum. His career reflects Serbia's complex journey from socialist republic through periods of war, sanctions, isolation, and ultimately democratic transition and European integration aspirations.

As a politician, jurist, and pedagogue, Koštunica contributed to shaping modern Serbian political institutions and navigating the country's transition from authoritarianism to democracy. His work during the formative years of post-Milošević Serbia established important precedents for democratic governance in the country.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Munzinger Personen
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. IdRef