Cvjetko Bebic (1930–c. 1979) was a Kresimirian politician who served as a Senator for District II (Kakerovecska) from 1972 until his mysterious disappearance in 1979. A member of the Vjetrusa party, he was known for his extreme nationalist rhetoric and his virulent opposition to the Bosken minority.
Bebic represents one of the darkest unresolved mysteries in Kresimirian political history. A firebrand populist who rallied the industrial workers of Novi Otonik against “southern infiltration,” his sudden vanishing triggered the 1979 Special Election. This event inadvertently paved the way for the rise of Ljubo Sanjakorin, fundamentally altering the course of the nation’s economic history.
Early Life
Born in 1930 in a slum in Novi Otonik, Bebic grew up during the height of the Kresimirovic II era. He worked for years in the state-run foundries, eventually becoming a shift foreman.
During the 1960s, as the economy expanded and the country liberalised following the Treaty of Brod Moravice, an influx of Bosken migrant labor moved north to work in the factories. Bebic became a vocal agitator against this demographic shift, accusing Bosken workers of being “fifth columnists” for AFIM and driving down wages for “loyal Kresimirians.”
Political Career
Election to the Assembly (1972)
In the 1972 election, the Civic Renewal Front (CRF) collapsed. Bebic, running on the Vjetrusa ticket, capitalized on the racial tensions in the industrial zones. He secured the second seat in District II with 17.5% of the vote, serving alongside Sinisa Ivic of Blue Dawn.
The “Iron Voice”
In the Assembly, Bebic was a disruptive presence. He frequently broke parliamentary protocol to shout down BLF Senator Nadja Vrasch, frequently referring to her as a terrorist.
He advocated for the repeal of the Treaty of Brod Moravice and the re-imposition of travel restrictions on District X. While the moderate government of Ante Brov marginalized him, Bebic remained popular with the hardline fringe of the electorate.
The Disappearance
On the evening of May 14, 1979, Bebic left his constituency office in Industrial Zone 2 of Novi Otonik. He told his secretary he was meeting a “confidential source” regarding alleged AFIM smuggling rings in the city.
He was never seen again.
The Investigation
His car, a black KM-4, was found two days later, abandoned near the Republic Rail freight yards. The vehicle was unlocked, and his parliamentary identification papers were on the dashboard. There were no signs of a struggle.
The Council for Internal Affairs (CIA) launched a high-profile investigation, but no body was ever recovered, and no credible ransom demand was made.
Theories
- The AFIM Assassination: The most widely accepted theory is that Bebic was kidnapped and killed by AFIM operatives in retaliation for his hate speech. Several AFIM communiques later alluded to “silencing the wolf of Otonik,” though they never formally claimed credit.
- The State Liquidation: Conspiracy theorists, particularly within the Sons of Kresimir, allege that the CIA liquidated Bebic because his rhetoric was threatening the stability of the peace treaty and Ante Brov’s centrist coalition.
- Organized Crime: Others suggest Bebic ran afoul of the nascent organized crime syndicates in Novi Otonik that controlled the black market, possibly connected to early, unregulated privatization schemes.
Aftermath and Legacy
Bebic’s disappearance left a vacancy in the Senate. A special election was called for November 1979.
The Vjetrusa party, in disarray over the loss of their local strongman, failed to field a compelling replacement. This vacuum was filled by Ljubo Sanjakorin, a rising trade unionist from Blue Dawn. Sanjakorin won the seat, beginning the political career that would lead to the nationalization of the economy.
Cvjetko Bebic was declared legally dead in 1986. To the far-right, he remains a martyr; to the Bosken population, a symbol of the hatred they faced in the north.