Not to be confused with vjetrusa (bird).
Vjetrusa is a minor Kresimirian nationalist and conservative political party led by Misko Maretic. It is named after the Vjetrusa, a divine bird from Kresimirian mythology. The text on its logo, Zjazem, means ‘Together’ in Kresi.
Founding and Early Years
Vjetrusa was founded in 1949 by General Dominik Loncar, Councillor for War of the Republic, a Unification War hero and prominent nationalist figure, in the wake of the Kresimirian Unification War. The party quickly established itself as the main voice for Kresimirian nationalism and traditional values, drawing support from rural and religious communities.
The party’s legitimacy was significantly boosted by the initial 1952 defection of Zoran Banit, a sitting RPP senator. Banit’s decision to join General Loncar rather than Luka Matar’s Blue Dawn proved that Vjetrusa was a viable home for the “Security Wing” of the old establishment.
Ideology and Platform
Vjetrusa advocates for Kresimirian nationalism, conservatism, and the preservation of cultural heritage. The party is known for its opposition to rapid modernization and its support for strong national defense and religious education.
From 2002 to 2022, the party suffered from significant internal factionalism. A deep divide existed between the “Corporate Wing,” led by industrialist Bran Maj, who favored deregulation and free enterprise, and the “Worker Nationalist” wing, led by Viktor Durak. This populist faction favored economic protectionism and a strong security state, often putting them at odds with the party’s business donors. This conflict reduced when Bran Maj left the party to sit as an independent in 2015, and ended when Durak lost his re-election bid to the Assembly in 2022.
The party’s fracture over the Digital Vigilance Act in 2015 also led to a talent drain in the eastern districts. Notably, the Vjetrusa Mayor of Polograd, Kiel Turundzhov, left the party after concluding it could not survive without the financial backing of Bran Maj, eventually joining Blue Dawn.
The party maintains a deep intellectual connection with the University of Dubica-Viskogorje. The university’s alumni association serves as a key recruitment pool for the party’s leadership, producing figures like Haret Trn and Misko Maretic.
Electoral Performance and Seat Balance
Vjetrusa has maintained a steady presence in the Assembly since its founding, typically holding 2-3 seats. The party’s strongholds are in Pologradska and Zahodecelska districts. In the 2022 election, Vjetrusa won 1 seat, with leader Misko Maretic continuing its tradition of representing rural interests.
The party suffered a significant blow in 1979 when its rising star in the industrial central districts, Senator Cvjetko Bebic, vanished without a trace. The loss of the seat to Blue Dawn locked Vjetrusa out of the industrial heartland for decades, forcing it to retreat to its traditional base in the west.
Leaders
- 1949-1962: Dominik Loncar
- 1962-1963: Dragan Senar
- 1963-1992: Haret Trn
- 1992-2001 : Bozidarka Borsa
- 2001-Present: Misko Maretic
See also List of political parties.