How the population of Varaždin and the Varaždin county voted at the assembly, regional, and local elections between 1920 and 1928

Šire varaždinsko područje i grad Varaždin bili aktivno su uključeni u politička događanja u Kraljevini SHS, sudjelujući na izborima za Ustavotvornu skupštinu 1920. godine, na izborima za Narodnu skupštinu 1923., 1925. i 1927., te na oblasnim izborima, također 1927. Na svim se izborima vodila borba između centralističkog i unitarističkog poimanja vlasti, za koji su se zalagale prorežimske političke grupacije, te federalističkog, za koji se borila oporba. U oporbi vodeću je ulogu imala Radićeva HPSS – HRSS – HSS, dok druge stranke s hrvatskim predznakom bile manje uspješne. Pristaše centralističke opcije varaždinskog područja bili su pribičevićevci, koje je predvodio Hinko Krizman. Oni su podržavali Demokratsku stranku na izborima 1920. i 1923. godine, odnosno Samostalnu demokratsku stranku (SDS) 1925.i 1927. godine. Na području Varaždinske županije s Međimurjem na svim je izborima najviše glasova dobila Hrvatska Republikanska seljačka stranka – HRSS , osobito 1925.godine. kad je Radić bio u zatvoru, a stranka izložena sudskim progonima i pred zabranom. Očito je da je, s obzirom na strukturu stanovništva, seljaštvo šireg varaždinskog područja povjerenje redovito ukazivalo HRSS, te je podržalo na svim izborima od 1920. do 1927. godine., čak i onda kad su zbog Radićevog političkog zaokreta mnogi bili zbunjeni i ogorčeni. U gradu Varaždinu su se za izbornu pobjedu isto tako nadmetale dvije političke opcije: centralistička (s Krizmanom na čelu) i federalistička koju čine Hrvatska zajednica, pravaši, Hrvatska pučka stranka (HPS), te HRSS-a. Na izborima 1920. najviše glasova dobila je Hrvatska zajednica, a 1923. pravaši. HRSS je najviše glasova dobila 1925., ali u koaliciji sa zajedničarima, dok je Krizmanova stranka pobijedila 1927. godine. Što se tiče lokalne vlasti, Varaždinci su se na svim izborima za gradsko poglavarstvo opredjeljivali za oporbenu – federalističku političku opciju (Nezavisno građanstvo, Hrvatski blok), osim 1928. godine, kad su većinu glasova dali Pribičević – Krizmanovoj Samostalnoj demokratskoj stranci.The city of Varaždin and its wider area were actively involved in the political life of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. The city took part in the 1920 Constitutional Assembly elections, at the 1923, 1925, and 1927 People’s assembly elections, as well as at the 1927 regional elections. At all those elections, there was a struggle between the centralistic and unitarian ideas of the government, advocated by the pro-regime political groups, and, on the other hand, the federalistic ideas advocated by the opposition. Within the opposition, the leading role was played by Radić’s HPSS - HRSS – HSS, whereas the other Croatian parties were less successful. The Varaždin supporters of the centralistic option were Pribičević’s adherents led by Hinko Krizman. They supported the Democratic Party at the 1920 and 1923 elections, and the Autonomous Democratic party (SDS) at the 1925 and 1927 elections. In the Varaždin County and Međimurje, the majority of votes went to the Croatian Republican Peasant Party (HRSS) at all the elections, especially in 1925, when Radić was imprisoned, and the party was legally persecuted and almost banned. Having the population structure in mind, it is evident that the peasants of the wider Varaždin area regularly supported the HRSS at all the elections between 1920 and 1927, even when many of them were angry and confused by the political turn Radić had taken. In the city of Varaždin, two political options struggled for the electoral win: the centralistic one, led by Krizman, and the federalistic one, which consisted of the Croatian Union, the Croatian Party of Rights, the Croatian People’s Party, and the HRSS. At the 1920 elections, the majority of votes went to the Croatian Union, and in 1923 to the Party of Rights. The HRSS won in 1925, but in the coalition with the Union, while Krizman’s party won in 1927. As for the local government, the people of Varaždin regularly chose the opposition-federalistic option (the Independent Citizenship, the Croatian Block) at all the City government elections. The only exception was 1928, when most votes went to the Pribičević – Krizman Autonomous Democratic Party