Pavel Iric (born 1931) is a retired Kresimirian politician and the patriarch of the modern northern regionalist movement. He served as a Senator for District IV (Severnivaraje) for forty consecutive years, from 1962 to 2002.
A member of the prominent Iric political dynasty, Pavel is credited with transforming regionalism from a niche interest of the rural gentry into a formidable socialist political force. He orchestrated the historic 1963 merger of his family’s Bistrice People’s Party (BPP) with the radical labor movement to refound Northern Power.
As the longest-serving leader of Northern Power, he was the primary advocate for the northern districts during the administrations of Ante Brov and Ljubo Sanjakorin. His legislative legacy includes the funding of the University of Pulma and the legalization of trade unions. He is the father of the current party leader, Syv Iric.
Early Life
Pavel Iric was born in 1931 in Bistrica. He was the nephew of Antonio Iric, the founder of the BPP, and the son of Imanuel Iric, former BPP leader. Growing up in a household that functioned as the headquarters of northern politics, he was exposed to the struggle against centralism from birth.
He attended the University of Pulma (then a private cooperative college), graduating in 1953 with a degree in Law. Unlike his father, who was focused on land rights, Pavel became interested in the industrial labor movement, recognizing that the future of the north lay in the coal mines, not just the farms.
Political Career
The Succession and Merger (1962–1963)
In 1962, Pavel’s father, Imanuel Iric, retired from the Senate. Pavel was elected to succeed him in the 1962 election.
Upon entering the Assembly, Pavel realized that the BPP—representing the “Old North” of landowners—was politically dying. To survive against the nationalist Vjetrusa party, he needed the support of the miners. In 1963, he negotiated a historic merger with the disorganized socialist group Northern Power. He dissolved the BPP, adopted the Northern Power name, and combined his family’s wealth with the unions’ manpower.
The Brov Era (1966–1981)
Pavel proved to be a master pragmatist. Recognizing that he could not defeat the Blue Dawn majority, he chose to trade votes for concessions.
- The 1964 Grant: His first major victory was the Northern Development Grant Act. By trading his support for the federal budget, he secured permanent state funding for the University of Pulma, ensuring the intellectual survival of the regionalist movement.
- District Governance: He was a key supporter of Ante Brov’s 1967 District Governance Act. This legislation allowed Pavel to run District IV as a semi-autonomous fiefdom, implementing local welfare policies that were more advanced than the national standard.
The Sanjakorin Coalition (1981–2002)
In the 1980s, Pavel formed a strategic alliance with Ljubo Sanjakorin on economic issues.
- Labor Rights: In 1983, Pavel delivered the Northern Power votes necessary to pass the Workers Rights Act. He viewed the legalization of unions as essential for protecting his constituents from the abuses of SeverMin.
- Nationalization: He supported the 1988 State Enterprise Act. While wary of centralizing power in Sinj, he believed that state ownership of Republic Rail would lower freight costs for northern timber and coal, breaking the stranglehold of private logistics firms.
Retirement
By the late 1990s, Pavel’s diplomatic style was becoming less effective against the aggressive corporate expansion of Maj Holdings. The party base demanded a more confrontational approach.
In 2002, Pavel announced his retirement. He endorsed his son, Syv Iric, as his successor. Syv’s election marked a shift from Pavel’s “Constructive Regionalism” to a more radical “Eco-Socialist” stance.
Legacy
Pavel Iric is revered in the north as the “Great Unifier.” He successfully bridged the gap between the rural farmers and the industrial miners, creating a cohesive political identity for the region. While his son Syv has taken the party to greater electoral heights (winning 4 seats in 2022), political historians agree that the party would not exist without Pavel’s stabilizing leadership during the 20th century.