The Imperial Heritage Party, often abbreviated as the IHP or SCB, is a minor, fringe political party in the Divine Republic of Kresimiria.
Positioned outside the traditional Kresimirian political spectrum, the IHP advocates for the dissolution of the Republic and the restoration of the Vosti Empire as a constitutional federal monarchy. They argue that the separation of Kresimiria, Boskenmark, and Kaskiv in 1918 was a “historical error” that led to a century of unnecessary war and economic stagnation.
While the party has never come close to winning a seat in the Assembly, it maintains a persistent, eccentric presence in the city of Polograd, where it shocked the nation by winning the mayoral election in 2002.
History and Ideology
Foundation (1994)
The party was founded in 1994 during the economic inflation crisis of the Sanjakorin era. Its founder, Count Ivan Vostovic (a descendant of the minor imperial nobility whose titles are not recognized by the Republic), argued that the Republican experiment had failed to provide stability.
The party appeals to a specific demographic: the “Old Families” of Polograd and Dubica who lost status after the Unification War, and intellectuals who view the Imperial era with nostalgia as a time of open borders and high culture.
Platform
- Restoration: The reinstatement of the Vosti Dynasty (currently living in exile in Kruhlstutt) as ceremonial heads of state.
- Reunification: The peaceful diplomatic union of Kresimiria and Boskenmark. Paradoxically, this makes the IHP the only Kresimirian nationalist party that supports open borders with the Boskens, albeit under an imperial banner.
- Aesthetics: The party advocates for the restoration of pre-1921 street names and the return of imperial uniforms for the military.
The Polograd Anomaly (2002–2008)
The party’s only significant electoral success occurred in Polograd, a city known for its historical conservatism.
In the 2002 local elections, the right-wing vote in Polograd was split between the Sons of Kresimir (SoK) and Vjetrusa (backed by Bran Maj). Capitalizing on this division and a low turnout, the IHP candidate Viktor von Kres won the Mayorship with just 22% of the vote.
The “Imperial” Administration
Von Kres’s six-year term is remembered as a period of eccentric pageantry.
- Symbolism: He mandated that municipal guards wear Vosti-era plumed helmets and attempted to rename “Republic Square” to “Emperor’s Plaza” (a move blocked by the federal CIA).
- Cultural Revival: Despite the mockery from Sinj, his administration poured money into restoring the Grand Library and reviving traditional imperial waltz festivals, which proved popular with tourists.
Defeat
By 2008, the novelty had worn off. The Sons of Kresimir and Vjetrusa formed a local coalition to ensure the IHP’s defeat. The SoK attacked Von Kres as “anti-Kresimirian” for prioritizing an Emperor over the Prophet. The IHP lost in a landslide and has not held executive power since.
Relations with Other Parties
- Sons of Kresimir: The IHP’s fiercest enemies. The SoK views the Republic as a divinely ordained state; they consider the IHP’s monarchism to be borderline heresy.
- Blue Dawn: Generally dismisses the IHP as a “club for cosplayers.”
- Bosken Liberation Front: While they share a desire for open borders, the BLF views the IHP’s nostalgia for the Empire (which historically oppressed Bosken nationalism) as deluded.