The Sons of Kresimir (SoK) is a hardline Kresimirian nationalist and religious political party. Founded in 1924 by the Divine Founder Kresimir Basic, it is the oldest continuously active political party in the Divine Republic of Kresimiria.
Positioned on the far-right of the political spectrum, the party adheres to the ideology of Divinism, which asserts that the Kresimirian state is a direct instrument of the Lord Kresimir and that the preservation of the state’s religious purity is the highest political priority. Throughout its century-long history, the SoK has been the primary antagonist to the Bosken independence movement, vehemently opposing the Treaty of Brod Moravice and the existence of the Bosken Liberation Front.
Although its electoral power has diminished from its peak of a fifth of the Assembly seats in the 1930s to a single seat (Senator Malik Kondratiev) in the present day, the party retains significant influence through its close ties to the Diviner clergy and its role as the ideological anchor of Kresimirian nationalism.
History
Foundation and the Basic Era (1924–1952)
The party was formed during the 1924 constitutional crisis. Following the assassination of Senator Ivana Simuna by the Bosken militant group BRC-21, a rift opened within the ruling Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP). While RPP leader Filip Novak pursued a pragmatic solution to hold a special election, Kresimir Basic, a prominent RPP senator and Divine Founder, demanded the imposition of martial law in Moraviskameja.
Accusing Novak of weakness, Basic broke away from the RPP in December 1924, taking a bloc of hardline senators with him to form the Sons of Kresimir. In the subsequent 1924 special election, the party ran its first candidate, Emil Kraljevic, who was murdered by BRC-21 days before the vote.
Under Basic’s leadership, the SoK established itself as a powerful pressure group. It successfully lobbied for the 1937 Constitutional Amendment restricting freedom of movement and provided the necessary votes for the 1942 Amendment granting the Chancellor veto power, arguing that a stronger executive was needed to crush the insurgency.
The Banit Era and the Treaty Crisis (1952–1971)
Following Basic’s retirement in 1952, Davor Banit assumed leadership. The party’s rhetoric hardened significantly after the assassination of Kresimir Basic in 1954. Banit declared the act a declaration of war and successfully pushed Chancellor Kresimir Kresimirovic II toward a policy of total suppression in Moraviskameja.
The party faced its greatest defeat with the signing of the Treaty of Brod Moravice in 1961. The SoK voted unanimously against the treaty’s ratification, with Banit famously labelling it “the death warrant of our Divine Constitution.” Despite their opposition, the treaty passed. In the subsequent decades, the SoK positioned itself as the voice of “unreconstructed” nationalism, constantly challenging the legitimacy of the Bosken Liberation Front senators who entered the Assembly in 1962.
The Bran Era: (1971–2003)
Under Tihomir Bran, who led the party for 32 years, the Sons of Kresimir adapted to the new political reality. Recognizing that they could not overturn the peace treaty, Bran shifted the party’s strategy to one of “vigilance.” The party acted as a parliamentary watchdog, scrutinizing every move of the BLF and resisting the liberal social reforms championed by the Civic Renewal Front. During this period, the party’s support base gradually shrank to a core constituency of rural conservatives and the religious establishment, stabilizing at roughly one to three seats in the Assembly.
The Kondratiev Era (2003–Present)
In 2003, the party elected Malik Kondratiev as leader. Kondratiev, an ideological purist from Basic’s home district of Decelska, sought to return the party to its fundamentalist roots. After a period of rebuilding outside the legislature, Kondratiev won election to the Assembly in 2012, taking over Tihomir Bran’s seat in District III (Pologradska). Since then, the party has held a single seat, serving as a vocal, often disruptive, protest vote against the perceived secularization of the Republic.
Ideology and Platform
The Sons of Kresimir adhere to Divinism, a political theology that asserts the following principles:
- Theocratic Centralism: The state must be subordinate to the moral authority of the Council for Divinity.
- Rejection of Bosken Autonomy: The party maintains that Moraviskameja is an integral, indivisible part of Kresimiria and regards the 1961 Treaty as legally void.
- Strict Adherence to the Faith Restriction: The party vehemently opposes any attempts to repeal or soften the Faith Restriction Clause, viewing it as the primary safeguard of the nation’s soul.
- Militarism: They advocate for the expansion of the Kresimirian Army and a return to aggressive security policies in the southern districts.
Electoral Performance
The Sons of Kresimir enjoyed their peak influence in the pre-treaty era (1924–1961). In the modern era, they have become a minor party, consistently holding a single seat representing the most conservative voters in Pologradska.
Leadership History
- Kresimir Basic (1924–1952): Founder and Divine Founder of the Republic.
- Davor Banit (1952–1971): Hardliner who led the opposition to the 1961 Treaty.
- Tihomir Bran (1971–2003): Longest-serving leader, known for parliamentary tactics.
- Malik Kondratiev (2003–Present): Current leader, representing a return to fundamentalist rhetoric.
See also List of political parties.