Who Is Velimir Ilić

Velimir Ilić (born May 28, 1951, in Čačak), nicknamed Velja, is a Serbian politician, engineer and businessman, and the founder and longtime president of the New Serbia party. He served as mayor of Čačak from 1996 to 2004 and later held ministerial posts in several Serbian governments.

He is remembered above all as one of the leaders of the demonstrations of October 5, 2000. On that day he led a convoy from Čačak to Belgrade and took part in the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević’s regime. The public also knows him for his blunt and often controversial public statements.

Origins and Education

Velimir Ilić was born in Čačak on May 28, 1951, in what was then the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia. Details about his parents and childhood are not publicly available, so very little is known about his early years.

Schooling

He graduated from the Faculty of Technology at the University of Belgrade, in the Department of Construction Materials. He completed his master’s studies in 2005 at the University of Kragujevac and earned the title of Master of Technical Sciences.

Business Career Before Politics

After graduating, he worked for various construction companies. In 1986 he became a private entrepreneur, starting his own business path.

Construction and business remained close to him in politics as well. He later headed ministries responsible for capital investment, infrastructure and construction.

First Steps in Politics and Rise as Mayor of Čačak

He entered politics in 1990 in the ranks of Vuk Drašković’s Serbian Renewal Movement. He rose quickly through the party hierarchy thanks to the strong local branch he built in Čačak, which he also chaired.

In 1996 he was elected mayor of Čačak after defeating the candidate of the Socialist Party of Serbia. He succeeded Rodoljub Petrović and remained in office until 2004, when he was succeeded by Velimir Stanojević.

In those years Čačak was regarded as one of the opposition strongholds in Serbia. Ilić openly criticized Slobodan Milošević, and during the NATO bombing in the spring of 1999 he went into hiding, fearing reprisals. As mayor he attracted investors, and in the early 2000s the foundation stone was laid for a tobacco factory being built by a Cypriot company, with up to 700 jobs announced.

Founding of New Serbia

After the Zajedno coalition collapsed, he left the Serbian Renewal Movement and founded his own party, New Serbia. Sources differ on the year of its founding: some give 1997, others August 10, 1998.

New Serbia is a right-wing party, and Velimir Ilić has led it as president since its founding. Over the years the party has run on its own as well as in coalitions with the Democratic Party of Serbia, the Serbian Progressive Party and others.

October 5, 2000

In 2000, New Serbia joined the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) together with 17 other parties. On the morning of October 5, Ilić organized and led a long convoy of cars, buses and trucks that set out from Čačak for Belgrade, breaking through numerous police roadblocks along the way.

On arriving in front of the Federal Assembly building, he addressed the gathered crowd and, according to available accounts, led the push toward the Assembly. That day remains the most important event of his political career. Ilić has often returned to it since, and in 2025, on the 25th anniversary, he said that in a normal Serbia it should be celebrated as a state holiday.

Marginalization After the Changes

Immediately after October 5 he enjoyed great popularity, but he received relatively little in the division of power among DOS members. Besides his mayoral office, he served as a member of the parliament of Serbia and Montenegro.

According to media reports, he had an understanding with Zoran Đinđić that he would be the DOS candidate for president of Serbia, but this did not materialize. During this period he clashed with part of the coalition, and in 2003 he began voting against the government, while his parliamentary group split.

Minister of Capital Investment

In late 2003 he renewed his cooperation with Vuk Drašković, and their coalition won 22 seats. This made it possible to form a minority government under Vojislav Koštunica, together with the Democratic Party of Serbia and G17 Plus. On March 3, 2004, Velimir Ilić became Minister of Capital Investment, a post he held until July 2008. After the 2007 elections the portfolio was reorganized, and he headed the newly formed Ministry of Infrastructure.

As a minister he repeatedly clashed with coalition partners. His statement addressed to Finance Minister Mlađan Dinkić drew particular attention, after which G17 Plus demanded an apology and threatened to leave the government.

Presidential Elections of 2003 and 2008

Velimir Ilić was the New Serbia candidate in the 2003 presidential election. He won 229,229 votes, or 9.08 percent, but the election was declared invalid because of low turnout. Tomislav Nikolić and Dragoljub Mićunović led the first round.

In the January 2008 election he was nominated by New Serbia, with the support of the Democratic Party of Serbia, United Serbia and the List for Sandžak. He finished third with 305,828 votes, or 7.43 percent, behind Tomislav Nikolić and Boris Tadić. After the 2008 parliamentary elections, the Democratic Party of Serbia and New Serbia moved into opposition, and Ilić did not enter the new government.

From March 2009 to January 2011 he served as a substitute member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in the Serbian delegation.

Return to Government from 2012 to 2016

After the 2012 parliamentary elections he briefly served as an MP, from May to July of that year. He became Minister of Construction and Urbanism on July 27, 2012, in the government of Ivica Dačić, and held that post until April 2014.

In Aleksandar Vučić’s government he was Minister without portfolio in charge of emergency situations, from April 27, 2014, to August 11, 2016. In the 2012, 2014 and 2016 elections, New Serbia ran in coalitions led by the Serbian Progressive Party.

In the 2016 local elections in Čačak, New Serbia won 4,467 votes (7.93 percent) and seven of 75 council seats. After about two decades in power in the city, it announced it would go into opposition.

In Opposition After 2016

After 2016, New Serbia withdrew its support for the Serbian Progressive Party. In the 2017 presidential election it backed Vuk Jeremić’s candidacy. In late 2016, Ilić said an attempt had been made on his life by cutting the fork of his car, linking it to his criticism of the public company Corridors of Serbia. The Ministry of Interior stated in a press release that the expert analysis showed the damage was caused by mechanical force.

In the 2020 parliamentary elections he ran with the list “People’s Bloc – Velimir Ilić – General Momir Stojanović”, in coalition with the People’s Freedom Movement. The list failed to cross the electoral threshold, and New Serbia did not take part in the 2022 elections; it has had no MPs in the National Assembly since.

In the 2024 local elections in Čačak, the “All for Čačak” coalition, which included New Serbia, won four of 75 seats. Ilić then called on citizens to protest against lithium mining. During the student protests of 2024 and 2025 he supported the students, and on the anniversary of October 5, 2025, he called on Aleksandar Vučić to call elections.

Public Appearances and Controversies

Velimir Ilić is known for sharp public rhetoric, especially toward political opponents and journalists. Domestic and international press organizations have documented several of his incidents:

• In March 2001 he denied involvement in the smashing of windows at Radio Ozon in Čačak, using an offensive remark that media and press organizations criticized.
• In August 2001, at a press conference, he directed harsh insults at journalists of Večernje novosti. On the same occasion he denied the claims made by Nedeljni telegraf about his family’s business ties, while making threats against the reporter.
• In June 2003 he left the studio of the television station Apolo in Novi Sad after a journalist’s question, kicking the binder in the journalist’s lap.
• In August 2005 he made threats against a B92 journalist, after which the government issued a statement of regret, without an apology from the minister himself.
• In February 2009 the public prosecutor opened an investigation over suspected hate speech, following his remark in parliament about Rasim Ljajić. Ilić claimed he had been misunderstood.

All of the above is reported according to published accounts and publicly available sources.

Personal Life

Velimir Ilić is the father of five children. He has long lived and worked in Čačak, the city where he was born and which was the center of his political activity for decades. Other details of his family life are not publicly known.

Interesting Facts

• The weekly Vreme named him champion of its “Statement of the Week” column in 2003, with four statements. In 2008 he shared the title with Aleksandar Vučić, Ivica Dačić and Vojislav Koštunica.
• During the NATO bombing in 1999 he went into hiding out of fear of the regime’s reprisals against the opposition.
• He is known by the nickname Velja.
• As mayor of Čačak he attended the laying of the foundation stone for a tobacco factory worth about 30 million pounds.

Legacy and Influence

Velimir Ilić remains one of the most recognizable figures in Čačak and Serbian politics of recent decades. He is associated with October 5 and with a career that stretched from local government to posts in the national government.

His party, New Serbia, was part of ruling coalitions before later losing its parliamentary seats. His public image remains divided between recognition of his role in toppling Milošević’s regime and criticism of his sharp public rhetoric.

Biography – Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Velimir Ilić?

Velimir Ilić is a Serbian politician, founder and president of the New Serbia party, former mayor of Čačak and former minister in Serbian governments.

When and where was Velimir Ilić born?

He was born on May 28, 1951, in Čačak.

What did Velimir Ilić study?

He graduated from the Faculty of Technology at the University of Belgrade, and in 2005 earned a master’s degree at the University of Kragujevac.

What offices has Velimir Ilić held?

He was mayor of Čačak from 1996 to 2004, Minister of Capital Investment from 2004 to 2008, Minister of Construction and Urbanism from 2012 to 2014, and Minister without portfolio in charge of emergency situations from 2014 to 2016.

What did Velimir Ilić do on October 5, 2000?

He led a convoy of cars, buses and trucks from Čačak to Belgrade and took part in the demonstrations that ended Slobodan Milošević’s rule.

Which party did Velimir Ilić found?

He founded New Serbia after leaving the Serbian Renewal Movement. Sources differ on the founding year: 1997 or 1998.

How many votes did Velimir Ilić win in presidential elections?

In 2003 he won 229,229 votes (9.08 percent), and in 2008 he won 305,828 votes (7.43 percent) and finished third.

Does Velimir Ilić currently hold a state office?

According to available sources, he does not. He remains president of New Serbia, but the party has had no MPs in the National Assembly since 2020.

Conclusion

The biography of Velimir Ilić traces a path from entrepreneur and local politician to minister in the national government. He became known as mayor of Čačak, founder of New Serbia, and the leader of the convoy that reached Belgrade on October 5, 2000. His career has been marked by ministerial posts, two presidential bids and numerous controversial public appearances. Today he is active as the president of a party in opposition.