Stojana Czyhlarz (1932–2010) was a Kresimirian politician and matriarch of the prominent Czyhlarz banking family. She served as a Senator for District IX (Decelska) for forty years, from 1962 to 2002.
A stalwart of the Blue Dawn establishment, Czyhlarz represented the “Financial Wing” of the party. Her political career was defined by her close relationship with the banking sector in Sinj and her role as a stabilizing force within the party during the transitions between the Brov, Sanjakorin, and Vasilis eras.
She is perhaps best known today as the grandmother of Petar Czyhlarz, the current Chairman of STP Credit, a position solidified by the political influence Stojana wielded during the late 20th century.
Early Life
Stojana was born in 1932 in Karlovac, the theological center of District IX. Unlike many of her neighbors who entered the clergy, she married into the Czyhlarz family, a minor merchant dynasty that had made a fortune supplying the Kresimirian Army during the “Iron Era.”
She attended Karlovac University, studying Law. She was known for her conservative, traditionalist views, which aligned well with the district’s demographics, though she prioritized economic stability over religious zealotry.
Political Career
The 1962 Election
In 1962, the District IX seat was vacated by Josip Novak, the son of the Republic’s founder, who had resigned in protest over the Treaty of Brod Moravice.
Blue Dawn needed a candidate who could appeal to the conservative voters of Decelska without succumbing to the radicalism of the Sons of Kresimir. Czyhlarz was the perfect choice: pious enough for Karlovac, but pragmatic enough for Sinj. She won the seat, beginning a four-decade tenure.
The Financial Powerbroker
Throughout her career, Czyhlarz was the primary liaison between the Assembly and the financial sector.
- 1969 Financial Charter Act: She was a key whip for Ante Brov, ensuring the passage of the act that chartered STP Credit. Critics argue this legislation essentially printed money for her family’s future business interests.
- The Sanjakorin Compromise: During the nationalization drive of the 1980s, Czyhlarz was instrumental in protecting the banking sector. While Ljubo Sanjakorin seized the railways and steel mills, Czyhlarz allegedly brokered the deal that exempted STP Credit from the State Enterprise Act, arguing that the state needed a private lender to manage its debt.
Retirement
By 2002, the political landscape of Decelska was changing. The rise of the tech sector in Kromine required a new kind of representative.
Recognizing the shift, Czyhlarz agreed to step down to make way for Ari Stov, the young tech entrepreneur. Her endorsement of Stov was crucial in transferring the loyalty of the “Old Guard” voters to the new technocratic leadership.
Death and Legacy
Stojana Czyhlarz died in 2010. Her funeral was a major state event. Her legacy is cemented in the continued dominance of her family in the financial sector; under her patronage, STP Credit grew from a mid-sized lender into the de facto central bank of the Republic.