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The activities of Croatian Republican Peasant Party (HRSS) in Croatian Littoral started with the failure at the elections for Constituent
Assembly. The resistance of HRSS towards the state establishment under the formula of Belgrade for the people from Sušak denoted the extremism that might terminate with
collapse. HRSS has not adapted the political programme to the local situation in Sušak. The same conesquence occurred again at the assembly elections 1923 in the
town, while the results in the county were considerably better. Gradually, HRSS became supported by rural population of district
communes. At the assembly elections 1925, HRSS turned into the
respectable, third party in the town. The group of the democrats approached Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) and at the elections for town council 1926, HSS increased to 34% votes thus becoming the second rate
party. The voting figures were the same at district elections 1927, while the assembly elections pointed out the
descent on 20% (perhaps certain number of the voters happen to be disappointed when Karlovac became the centre of the
district). Disputes and the split in the city and county organization of HSS occurred in further period of impending
dictatorship. The elections 1935: HSS participates as the segment of the joint opposition
(UO) and the results descend on low 16% because of the organized regime
pressure. The results of the elections 1938, (62 %) determine the party as the only political force in the
town. The establishment of the Autonomous Banovina of Croatia was enthusiastically approved by HSS in Sušak and the secretary of the district organization Mario Šarinić became the district head in 1940. HRSS started to perform the activities in Sušak from the very
"bottom" (1920) and in Ethe course of years managed to acquire the approval of the majority of population due to the concern about town problems particularly referring the threat of
irredentism.
Key words: Croatian Peasant
Party, HSS, Sušak, 1920-1940.
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