Militant nationalist party turned center-left in 2018 founded by KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) commander Fatmir Limaj (nom de guerre "Çeliku") during the separatist war, who also co-founded the Democratic Party of Kosovo in 1999 (departing in 2014). Limaj was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal and arrested for war crimes multiple times, ultimately found not guilty and released in 2018. Limaj held on as NISMA's chairman while still on trial. Upon Limaj's release, the party changed its name from Initiative for Kosovo (Nisma për Kosovën) to Social Democratic Initiative (Nisma Socialdemokrate) and assumed 'social democratic' doctrines, including seeking a 'social' market economy and the full integration of 'Euro-Atlantic structures' in Kosovo.
