President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia

Member of	Presidency of Yugoslavia
Term length	1 year
Precursor	President of Yugoslavia
Formation	4 May 1980
First holder	Lazar Koliševski
Final holder	Stjepan Mesić
Abolished	15 June 1992
Deputy	Vice President of the Presidency

The President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia was an important leader in the country of Yugoslavia. This role started after the death of President Josip Broz Tito on May 4, 1980. It continued until Yugoslavia began to break apart around 1992.

This position was part of a "collective leadership" called the Presidency. This meant that several leaders shared power instead of just one person. This system was put in place to help govern the country after Tito, who had been a very strong leader for a long time.

How the Presidency Worked

Yugoslavia had a collective presidency since 1971. This was due to changes in its Constitution. In 1974, a new Constitution made this collective leadership official. It included representatives from the six republics and two special regions within Serbia. Until 1988, the leader of the League of Communists also joined them.

The 1974 Constitution created the role of President of the Presidency. However, it was designed to start only after the office of President of the Republic ended. This was because Josip Broz Tito was named "President for life." This meant the new President of the Presidency would not take power until after he passed away.

At the same time, there was also a Vice President of the Presidency. This role had been active since 1971. The Vice President changed every year, rotating among the representatives from the different republics and regions.

When Tito died on May 4, 1980, the person who was then Vice President, Lazar Koliševski, became the first President of the Presidency. After him, the role of President of the Presidency rotated every year. Each new President had served as Vice President the year before.

Leaders of Yugoslavia's Presidency

Here is a list of the people who served as President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia. This role was important in the country's final years.

League of Communists of Yugoslavia Liberal Democracy of Slovenia Socialist Party of Serbia Croatian Democratic Union Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro Denotes an acting head of state

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Representing	Term of office			Political party	Note
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Representing	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Note
1		Lazar Koliševski (1914–2000)	Macedonia	4 May 1980	15 May 1980	11 days	SKJ
2		Cvijetin Mijatović (1913–1993)	Bosnia and Herzegovina	15 May 1980	15 May 1981	1 year, 0 days	SKJ
3		Sergej Kraigher (1914–2001)	Slovenia	15 May 1981	15 May 1982	1 year, 0 days	SKJ
4		Petar Stambolić (1912–2007)	Serbia	15 May 1982	15 May 1983	1 year, 0 days	SKJ
5		Mika Špiljak (1916–2007)	Croatia	15 May 1983	15 May 1984	1 year, 0 days	SKJ
6		Veselin Đuranović (1925–1997)	Montenegro	15 May 1984	15 May 1985	1 year, 0 days	SKJ
7		Radovan Vlajković (1922–2001)	SAP Vojvodina	15 May 1985	15 May 1986	1 year, 0 days	SKJ
8		Sinan Hasani (1922–2010)	SAP Kosovo	15 May 1986	15 May 1987	1 year, 0 days	SKJ
9		Lazar Mojsov (1920–2011)	Macedonia	15 May 1987	15 May 1988	1 year, 0 days	SKJ
10		Raif Dizdarević (born 1926)	Bosnia and Herzegovina	15 May 1988	15 May 1989	1 year, 0 days	SKJ
11		Janez Drnovšek (1950–2008)	Slovenia	15 May 1989	15 May 1990	1 year, 0 days	SKJ LDS	Joined Liberal Democracy of Slovenia in February 1990.
12		Borisav Jović (1928–2021)	Serbia	15 May 1990	15 May 1991	1 year, 0 days	SKJ SPS	SKJ dissolved in 1990. In Serbia the party was succeeded by the SPS.
–		Sejdo Bajramović (1927–1993) Acting	AP Kosovo	16 May 1991	30 June 1991	45 days	SPS	Acting president.
13		Stjepan Mesić (born 1934)	Croatia	30 June 1991	5 December 1991	158 days	HDZ	Last President of Yugoslavia.
–		Branko Kostić (1939–2020) Acting	Montenegro	5 December 1991	15 June 1992	193 days	DPS	Acting president. Installed by Serbia and Montenegro.

President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia facts for kids

How the Presidency Worked

Leaders of Yugoslavia's Presidency

See also