Tomislav Nikolić

Tomislav Nikolić, born on February fifteenth, nineteen fifty-two, in Bajčetina, a village near Kragujevac, is a prominent Serbian politician known for his significant contributions to the country's political landscape. He served as the President of Serbia from two thousand twelve to two thousand seventeen, marking a pivotal period in Serbian politics.

A former member of the far-right Serbian Radical Party (SRS), Nikolić disassociated himself from the party in two thousand eight, driven by a desire to steer Serbia towards European Union accession. This ideological shift led him to establish the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which he led until his presidential victory in two thousand twelve.

Throughout his political career, Nikolić held various influential positions, including Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia from nineteen ninety-eight to nineteen ninety-nine and Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the coalition government from nineteen ninety-nine to two thousand. He was also the deputy leader of SRS from two thousand three and briefly served as the President of the National Assembly of Serbia in two thousand seven.

His political journey included multiple presidential runs, where he placed third in the two thousand elections for President of Yugoslavia and competed in four subsequent elections for President of Serbia. Notably, in two thousand three, he received the most votes, but the election was canceled due to low turnout. He placed second in the two thousand four and two thousand eight elections before ultimately winning the presidency in two thousand twelve against Boris Tadić.