Northern Power is a major political party in the Divine Republic of Kresimiria. It is a regionalist and socialist party that advocates for the political autonomy and economic development of the northern districts: Severnivaraje (District IV), Viskogorje (District VI), and Zahodecelska (District VIII).
Originally a fringe labor movement founded in 1929, the party rose to prominence in 1963 following its merger with the Bistrice People’s Party (BPP). For decades, it was the political vehicle of the Iric dynasty, serving as a junior partner in the Assembly focused on cultural preservation.
Under the modern leadership of Syv Iric, Northern Power has transformed into an aggressive, anti-establishment force. By campaigning against the environmental degradation caused by SeverMin and the corporate dominance of Maj Holdings, the party has successfully expanded beyond its traditional base to become the third-largest faction in the Assembly.
The party contains a significant “Labor Traditionalist” wing, best represented by long-serving Senator Branimir Hup. This faction is economically radical but more socially conservative, often holding nationalist views regarding the Bosken minority that contrast sharply with the progressive “Eco-Socialism” of the party’s other representatives.
History
The Marlek Era: Origins in Labor (1929–1963)
Northern Power was founded in 1929 by Igor Marlek, a radical trade unionist from the mines of Bistrica. Unlike the Bistrice People’s Party, which represented the rural gentry and landowners, Northern Power was born out of the industrial struggles in the coal and bauxite mines.
For its first three decades, the party was politically irrelevant on the national stage, failing to win a single seat in the Assembly. However, it built a deep network of community support through “social clubs” and legal aid societies. It played a crucial role in the financing and establishment of the University of Pulma in 1944, viewing education as the path to northern liberation.
The Merger and the Pavel Iric Era (1963–2002)
By the early 1960s, the BPP, led by the aging Imanuel Iric, was losing momentum. His nephew, Pavel Iric, recognized that the BPP’s genteel regionalism could not survive against the rising nationalist tide of Vjetrusa.
In 1963, Pavel Iric orchestrated a historic merger. He dissolved the BPP and folded its resources, donor network, and the Iric family name into Northern Power. This combined the BPP’s electoral legitimacy with Northern Power’s grassroots activist base.
The merger yielded immediate results. In the 1963 special election, Northern Power won two seats: Pavel Iric in District IV and Dalibor Pralinovic in District VIII.
The party’s dominance in District IV was solidified by Ilja Brasic, who served as Senator from 1972 to 1992. Brasic was the organizational genius behind the party, professionalizing its campaign structure and securing the second Senate seat in Severnivaraje, turning the district into a single-party stronghold.
The party’s reach expanded significantly in 1972 with the election of Miljenko Tarin in District VI (Viskogorje). Tarin’s victory proved that the party’s appeal could extend beyond the miners of Bistrica to the forestry workers of the western mountains, breaking the nationalist monopoly in the region.
The Syv Iric Era: “The Northern Consolidation” (2002–Present)
In 2002, Pavel Iric retired and handed leadership to his son, Syv Iric. The younger Iric brought a more combative style, honed by his career as an environmental lawyer suing mining conglomerates.
Syv Iric launched a strategy known as “The Northern Consolidation,” aiming to unite all three northern districts under the party’s banner. He positioned the party as the only viable opposition to the “Sinj-centric” policies of Blue Dawn and the industrial exploitation of Vjetrusa.
A critical component of Northern Power’s rapid expansion in the 21st century was its symbiotic relationship with the regional media group Northfocus (formerly Northwire). As state-controlled outlets like TRK and the Kresimirian Herald often marginalized or censored regionalist viewpoints, the party relied heavily on Northfocus’s digital platforms to disseminate its message. Under Syv Iric’s leadership, the media outlet became the primary vehicle for the “Northern Consolidation” strategy, allowing the party to bypass the Council for Education’s media filters and speak directly to younger, disaffected voters in Viskogorje and Zahodecelska.
Chwa Spas’s victory in 2012 was achieved by specifically targeting the economic record of incumbent Topi Topolski, painting the CRF senator as an agent of Sinj-based corporate interests.
This strategy culminated in the 2022 election, where the party achieved a historic breakthrough by capturing both seats in District VI, defeating the veteran Blue Dawn leader Stoyan Vasilis, and bringing their total to four seats.
The power base relies heavily on the mobilization of the Severnivaraje Forestry Cooperative. During elections, the SFC provides not only funding but also an army of canvassers. Iric’s close relationship with union boss Goran Jukic ensures that the “Green Chest” remains open to the party.
Ideology and Platform
Northern Power’s ideology is defined as “Constructive Regionalism” and Eco-Socialism.
- Decentralization: The party advocates for the devolution of executive power from the Federal Councils in Sinj to local District Chambers, arguing that local populations should manage their own resources.
- Environmental Protection: It is the only major party with a strong environmentalist platform, driven by the degradation of Lake Vokavovic and the Severni forests. It supports strict liability laws for industrial polluters.
- Anti-Oligarchy: The party is fiercely critical of private conglomerates, specifically Maj Holdings and SeverMin, accusing them of treating the north as a colony for resource extraction.
- Social Justice: While socially conservative on some traditional issues compared to the CRF, Northern Power strongly supports labor unions, universal healthcare, and increased funding for the University of Pulma.
The party’s ideological reach broadened significantly with the election of Chwa Spas in 2012. While the Iric family focused on legal and industrial disputes, Spas introduced a strong platform of social progressivism and public health advocacy, attracting younger, socially liberal voters who had previously supported the CRF.
Electoral Performance
Since the 1963 merger, Northern Power has been a permanent fixture in the Assembly.
- 1963–2002: Consistently held 2 seats (usually one in District IV and one in District VIII).
- 2002–2012: Held 2-3 seats, solidifying control over District IV.
- 2022: Won 4 seats (2 in District IV, 2 in District VI), becoming the third-largest party in the Assembly.
Leadership History
| Name | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Igor Marlek | 1929–1946 | Founder; focused on labor organizing in mines. |
| Ivo Zidak | 1946–1958 | Expanded the party into Viskogorje. |
| Sinisa Boric | 1958–1960 | Brief tenure; initiated merger talks with BPP. |
| Dalibor Pralinovic | 1960–1963 | Facilitated the merger with Pavel Iric. |
| Pavel Iric | 1963–2002 | Longest-serving leader; solidified the Iric Dynasty’s control. |
| Syv Iric | 2002–Present | Current leader; oversaw expansion to 4 seats. |
Associated Organizations
- Northfocus: The party’s de facto media arm.
- The Northern Youth League: A student organization based at the University of Pulma that provides the party with activists and canvassers.
- Severnivaraje Forestry Cooperative: A major trade union that provides the bulk of the party’s funding.
See also List of political parties.