The Independent Platform of the North (Croatian: Nezavisna Platforma Sjever, NPS) is a regionalist political party in Croatia led by Matija Posavec, the prefect of Međimurje County since 2013. Its headquarters is located in Čakovec. Initially founded as an electoral list in March 2021 prior to that year's local elections, it took on its current name in July 2023.[2]
Independent Platform of the North Nezavisna platforma Sjever | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | NPS |
| President | Matija Posavec |
| Founder | Matija Posavec |
| Founded | March 2021 |
| Split from | Croatian People's Party |
| Headquarters | Park Rudolfa Kropeka 2, Čakovec |
| Ideology | Regionalism |
| Political position | Centre |
| National affiliation | Our Croatia (2024) |
| Colors | Teal (customary) Green, Blue |
| Slogan | "Sjever dolazi"[1] ("The North is coming") |
| Sabor | 2 / 151 |
| European Parliament | 0 / 12 |
| County Prefects | 1 / 21 |
| Mayors | 1 / 128 |
| Website | |
| platformasjever | |
The party is positioned on the political centre and seeks to gather independent lists from the region.[1]
Posavec was previously a member of the social liberal Croatian People's Party (HNS) and its Međimurje branch leader, until he left in 2019. He resigned as county prefect in September 2021 after a bribery affair was revealed and he was arrested. He initially confessed to accepting a 10 thousand kuna bribe, but later retracted the confession and successfully ran for a new mandate as county prefect in a special election. He was re-elected during the 2021 Croatian local elections in the first round.[3]
NPS won two seats in the Croatian Parliament at the 2024 Croatian parliamentary election.[4] The party was a part of the Our Croatia alliance.[5] After the election, the two NPS deputies formed a joint parliamentary club with the Centre.[6]
Election results
editLegislative
edit| Election | Coalition | Votes won | Percentage | Seats won | Change | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Our Croatia [a] |
25,830 | 1.22% | 2 / 151
|
New | Opposition |
- ^ the sole representative of the coalition in the 3rd district, de facto running independently with the coalition support
European Parliament
edit| Election | List leader | Coalition | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coalition | NPS | ||||||
| 2024 | Valter Flego | Fair Play List 9[a] | 41,710 | 5.54 (#5) | 0 / 12
|
New | – |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Nezavisna platforma Sjever predstavila program: 'Očekujemo tri mandata'". vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Večernji list. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ "Stranka Matije Posavca dobila novo ime – Nezavisna Platforma Sjever (NPS)". Nezavisna Platforma Sjever (in Croatian). 26 July 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Tko je Matija Posavec? Bio je najmlađi župan, na izborima za Sabor iznenadio je mnoge, ali ni njegova karijera nije bez mrlja". dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). Nova TV. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ Tesija, Vuk (18 April 2024). "Croatia's HDZ Emerges Front-Runner in Election but Lacks a Majority". Balkan Insight.
- ^ "Stranke potpisale suradnju; Vidović: Nećemo nikoga pljuvati, obraćamo se uljeđenom dijelu". tportal.hr (in Croatian). Tportal. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ "Dubravko Bilić i međimurski poduzetnik Ivica Baksa zastupnici su Nezavisne platforme Sjever". evarazdin.hr (in Croatian). 15 May 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.