Topi Topolski (born 1964) is a Kresimirian former politician and lawyer who served as a Senator for District VI (Viskogorje) from 2002 to 2012. A member of the Civic Renewal Front (CRF), he was a key legislative ally of party leader Boj Volansky.
Topolski represented the “Sinj-aligned” wing of the CRF within the northern provinces. While socially progressive, his staunch economic liberalism and support for deregulation eventually alienated the working-class electorate of Viskogorje. He was unseated in the 2012 election by Chwa Spas of Northern Power, a defeat that signaled the beginning of the CRF’s collapse in the rural north.
Early Life and Career
Topolski was born in Lipovljana, the administrative capital of Viskogorje. Unlike the majority of the district’s population, which worked in forestry, hydroelectricity, or mining, Topolski came from a family of hoteliers catering to the ski tourism industry.
He attended Sinj University, graduating with a law degree in 1988. He practiced corporate law in the capital for a decade, specializing in land development contracts for tourism resorts. He returned to Lipovljana in 1999 to establish a branch office, positioning himself as a bridge between foreign investors and the local economy.
Senatorial Career (2002–2012)
The 2002 Victory
In the 2002 election, the political landscape of Viskogorje was in flux. The long-serving nationalist leader Haret Trn (Vjetrusa) was unpopular, and Blue Dawn had fielded the populist Stoyan Vasilis.
Topolski ran a campaign focused on modernizing the district’s economy through tourism and services. He took the second seat at the expense of a growing Northern Power, marking the first time the CRF had won representation in the mountainous district in history.
Topolski’s signature legislative achievement was the 2011 University Autonomy Bill. While it successfully modernized university funding by allowing corporate sponsorship, it reinforced his image as a “friend of the corporations.” This perception was ruthlessly exploited by his opponent Chwa Spas in the 2012 election, who accused Topolski of privatizing education.
The “City Liberal” in the Mountains
In the Assembly, Topolski was a loyal lieutenant to CRF leader Boj Volansky. He consistently voted for social reforms, including expanded protections for digital privacy and secular education.
However, his economic record proved controversial at home.
- Support for Privatization: Topolski advocated for the partial privatization of National Energy assets in the district, arguing it would lower costs. The proposal was fiercely opposed by the energy unions.
- The Viskosever Dispute: When GradnjaMC re-acquired the local firm Viskosever Construction in 2009, Topolski supported the merger as “market efficiency.” The subsequent layoffs damaged his standing with local workers.
Critics, particularly from Northern Power, labeled him a “Sinj lawyer in hiking boots,” accusing him of prioritizing the interests of capital investors over the local population.
The 2012 Defeat
By 2012, Syv Iric’s strategy of “Northern Consolidation” was gaining momentum. Northern Power targeted District VI aggressively, fielding Chwa Spas, a candidate with strong ties to the local community.
In April, CRF Senator Topi Topolski proposed selling off National Energy’s hydroelectric assets to foreign investors to pay down national debt. This proposal was vehemently opposed by the Union of Energy Workers and Northern Power.
The election was a referendum on Topolski’s economic liberalism. While Stoyan Vasilis (Blue Dawn) easily retained the first seat with his rural populist appeal, the battle for the second seat was intense.
- Chwa Spas (NP): 26.2%
- Topi Topolski (CRF): 24.3%
Topolski lost by less than two percentage points. His defeat handed Northern Power a crucial foothold in the district, which they would fully conquer in 2022.
Later Life
Following his defeat, Topolski returned to Sinj. He remained a close advisor to Boj Volansky during the latter’s tumultuous final years as CRF leader. He is currently a senior partner at a lobbying firm in the capital, representing clients in the tourism and tech sectors against regulations proposed by the Council for Development.