Ivan Lorković
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ivan Lorković was a Croatian
politician
and one of the co-founders of the National Progressive Party
(1905). He was a prominent member of the Croat-Serb coalition
, a supporter of the Republican organization and member of the United Croatian and Serbian academic youth organization. Between 1926 and 1929 he became the leader of the Croatian Federalist Peasant Party.
opposition newspaper, National Defense (Narodna Obrana). The paper helped to revive national awareness, pride and importance in Croatian politics. Using criticism and information he managed to help the middle class and youth of that region to begin to think politically. In 1905, he became one of the co-founders of the National Progressive Party (NSS).
In 1913, he won a seat during the Croatian parliamentary elections
as a member of Croatian Republican Peasant Party representing the town of Valpovo
. In 1914, Lorković visited Rome to attend a meeting that included politicians from all South Slavic lands within the Monarchy. He arrived with a controversial memorandum on how to break the Austro-Hungarian Empire and preserve the continuation of Croatian statehood.
His proposal received opposition, most notably from Thomas G. Masaryk (founder and first president of the State of Czechoslovakia
) who was skeptical about the plan since he did not believe that England
and France
would accept the idea of the total abrogation of the Empire, and was therefore was in favor of a confederation.
In 1918, due to disagreements over the Yugoslav issue, Lorković left the Croato-Serb coalition and joined the newly-founded community of Croatia (1919). Along with Stjepan Radic
and others he entered the so-called "Hrvatski blok" or "Croatian Bloc" formed on January 14, 1922 when the Croatian Republican Peasant Party, the Croatian Community, and the Croatian Party of Rights went into alliance. It existed until November of that year. In 1926, he became the leader of the Croatian Republican Peasant Party.
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and one of the co-founders of the National Progressive Party
National Progressive Party (Slovenia)
The National Progressive Party was a political party in the Carniola region of Austria-Hungary. It was established in 1894 by Ivan Tavčar as the National Party of Carniola and renamed in 1905 to The National Progressive Party...
(1905). He was a prominent member of the Croat-Serb coalition
Croat-Serb Coalition
The Croat-Serb Coalition was a major political alliance in Austria-Hungary during the beginning of the 20th century that governed the Croatian lands . It represented the political idea of a cooperation of Croats and Serbs in Austria-Hungary for mutual benefit...
, a supporter of the Republican organization and member of the United Croatian and Serbian academic youth organization. Between 1926 and 1929 he became the leader of the Croatian Federalist Peasant Party.
Career
Between 1902 and 1905 Ivan Lorković was the editor of the OsijekOsijek
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county...
opposition newspaper, National Defense (Narodna Obrana). The paper helped to revive national awareness, pride and importance in Croatian politics. Using criticism and information he managed to help the middle class and youth of that region to begin to think politically. In 1905, he became one of the co-founders of the National Progressive Party (NSS).
In 1913, he won a seat during the Croatian parliamentary elections
Croatian parliamentary election, 1913
Croatian parliamentary elections were held on 16th and 17 December 1913. There were 209,618 eligible male voters. According to the census of December 31, 1910, the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia had a population of 2,621,954....
as a member of Croatian Republican Peasant Party representing the town of Valpovo
Valpovo
Valpovo is a town in Slavonia, Croatia. It is close to the Drava river in the region of Slavonia, northwest of Osijek. The population of Valpovo is 7,396, with a total of 11,570 in the municipality.-Demographics:...
. In 1914, Lorković visited Rome to attend a meeting that included politicians from all South Slavic lands within the Monarchy. He arrived with a controversial memorandum on how to break the Austro-Hungarian Empire and preserve the continuation of Croatian statehood.
His proposal received opposition, most notably from Thomas G. Masaryk (founder and first president of the State of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
) who was skeptical about the plan since he did not believe that England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
would accept the idea of the total abrogation of the Empire, and was therefore was in favor of a confederation.
In 1918, due to disagreements over the Yugoslav issue, Lorković left the Croato-Serb coalition and joined the newly-founded community of Croatia (1919). Along with Stjepan Radic
Stjepan Radic
Stjepan Radić was a Croatian politician and the founder of the Croatian Peasant Party in 1905. Radić is credited with galvanizing the peasantry of Croatia into a viable political force...
and others he entered the so-called "Hrvatski blok" or "Croatian Bloc" formed on January 14, 1922 when the Croatian Republican Peasant Party, the Croatian Community, and the Croatian Party of Rights went into alliance. It existed until November of that year. In 1926, he became the leader of the Croatian Republican Peasant Party.