Croatia’s former president, that politically communist leprosy, Stjepan Mesic is finally it seems getting some just deserts. Slowly but surely his public presence of political authority seems finally destined to die a death of starvation. Disappear. His communist colleagues in power had some years ago secured that he has and maintaines the office of former president for life!
So, for this year’s budget Mesic’s office was to be provided 777,000 kuna/similar amount every year. That is almost 12 years average salaries in the country where most ordinary worker earn much less and pensioners even less. After the release of the draft budget last week, Bridge coalition headed by Bozo Petrov (deputy-rime Minister) announced an amendment to the effect that it would reduce the amount provided to Mesic’s office by 600,000 and redirect that money to the needs of civilian invalids of the Homeland War.
And, indeed, on Monday 21 March new Croatian government budget containing the above amendment for cutting the funds to the former president’s office was passed in parliament with a majority of votes. Most Social Democrat/communist opposition voted against without a hope of succeeding. Mesic is on his way out of public life as propped by taxpayer money.
What a great gesture! Hoorah!
One more communist vein funded by the government – down!
Such a hefty cut to government finance practically means that the running of Mesic’s office as former President is severely disabled and incapacitated.
Celebrating this denial or withdrawal of funds for Stjepan Mesic’s office of Former President has roots in many underhanded, rotten and treasonous activities pinned to him. His arrival in 2000 as president of Croatia after Franjo Tudjman’s death marked the end of unity among the Homeland War veterans, unity with diaspora, end of free expressions of patriotism and national identity… Mesic had resumed with moves to criminalise Croatia’s Homeland War and throw mud and lies against Franjo Tudjman and other leaders who fought for secession from communism. Mesic continued to be an embarrassment. He sent dozens upon dozens of Homeland War generals into forced retirement – the process of destruction of the Croatian military-defense structure had commenced. He opened classified presidential archives after Tudjman’s death to British journalists and secret services, on purpose omitted parts of archives that would indicate any proper procedures undertaken in war by the Croatian defense forces and leaders, went to the Hague International Crimes Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia to give secret testimony against Croatia (which thus sadly went unchallenged by the Croatian professionals, officials or people in many parts); he sowed fear with his lies and innuendoes of crimes among the veteran population to the point when veterans were no longer certain of their freedom or existence. He, Mesic, knew how to divide and conquer – hence ten years at the helm as president.
His evil aim was to detudjmanise Croatia, kill every idea of the defensive Homeland War and proceed with the destruction of independent and democratic Croatia envisioned by Franjo Tudjman and supported by majority.
” It’s a futile attempt to fight against my beliefs, primarily against the firm commitment to anti-fascism, by practically abolishing my office,” Mesic said last week when the amendment to cut the government funding for his Office of Former President was announced. “For neither the parliament nor the government can abolish me. While I live, I will consider it our duty to work for the benefit of the country, which I had the honor of serving as president for ten years,” Mesic stressed that his office will not close! Why would taxpayer money go on funding him and his office when its work is against Croatian independence and democracy for which thousands lost their lives and glorifies communist (which he calls antifascist but has nothing to do with antifascism)!
Mesic’s reaction to the passing of the budget in parliament on Monday 21 March was: “It should be clear to everyone that the office of former president is not in question here … I am in question. That is a reckoning with me. I have never spent any big millions nor will taking away my right to use the Office save millions. My office costs around 800,000 kuna per year. Whatever these people do, whether it is the HDZ leadership, which undoubtedly stands behind this, or ‘protruding players’ like Bridge coalition and Party of Rights, they will not shut me up.”
The whole point of lustration, getting rid of highly positioned people in communist Yugoslavia from high positions in democratic Croatia, is a key element in succeeding with democracy and economic progress. Stepan Mesic may be adamant to keep on doing what he is doing outside of the state funded office but that is an entirely different kettle of fish. The international players or leaders will know he is not supported by the government and will hopefully cease wanting to deal with him on political and business issues important to state.

Croatia’s Prime Minister
Tihomir Oreskovic
2016 Budget-ready in his cabinet
Photo: Patrik Macek/PIXSELL
So, this is one of the best news I have heard for months coming out of Croatia. Finally Croatia’s leadership has stepped up to the mark and publicly declared, where it counts – in the public purse of taxpayer money – that it will no longer pay for Mesic’s work as it serves no positive value for Croatia’s democracy and economic progress etc. This step has the hallmarks of lustration even though the Office of Former President is not in the strict sense an office of public service. Those hallmarks are in the shedding of communist damaging effects from where it counts in Croatia as Stjepan Mesic together with a well state-funded office did leave domestic and international impressions of power closely tied to governmental power.
Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic thanked members of Parliament and his team of ministers for passing the budget on Monday. He expressed trust in the new budget and hopes it will be a solid foundation upon which to build a solid future for Croatia.
Good for you – Croatia! Get rid from public influence of that political rot and communist current like the former president Stjepan Mesic. Ina Vukic, Prof. (Zgb); B.A., M.A.Ps. (Syd)
The first of many positive steps I hope.By casting off it’s political ties to the former Yugoslavia Croatia is showing that Communism doesn’t have a place in the new constitution and that Government now is for the benefit of the people and not the state and it;s favoured few.
xxx Massive Hugs Ina xxx
Such a good positive step indeed, David – need to push on for more 🙂
Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say!
Indeed, lemons ca be sweet 🙂
The man is an embarrassment for Croatia and beyond. Former President Stjepan Mesic reacted sharply to the news and also said that this was a “perfidious attempt” to abolish the Office of the Former President by those who, he claimed, are bringing democracy into question and who are disturbed by his firm anti-fascist stance.
Hahaha if anyone is perfidious it is Mesic and he has always been so in public office – his antifascist stance has no connection to democracy, decency, loyalty or anything positive really
A huge embarrassment, Wilkinson.
A true sign that Croatia’s current government is a “grown up” – up to the task of even greater things: a fuller lustration of communists and communism from Croatian public office and public representation
And to think that victims of war will receive the monetary benefit of this move is simply fantastic, Jessamy
Very overdue
But it came 🙂
Process him further for treason and damage, the old yugocommunist apologist – If we never see his face on TV we will be the most fortunate people in the world.
Wouldn’t that be just so great, Blago 🙂 Perhaps we will see such days
This traitor should not be receiving ONE kuna from the State. When will that happen? When will they finally get rid of this drek and charge him with high treason? My understanding is that the constitution needs to be amended Ina, is this true?
Well said Veronika, but I do not think the Constitution needs changing to get rid of the bugger but rather the 2013 amendment to the Act re rights of former presidents in which he alone has the right to an office of former president. So I reckon a clever lawyer may be found to suggest a way of repealing such an abomination for Croatia. Will study the law some more – cheers
I find it incredible to think there are still people who even associate themselves with communism…. Even Raul Castro is distancing himself for the old ideology…
Clever man Raul – it seems – but we shall observe whether he is genuine at heart – Croatia’s Stipe Mesic was on frontlines, pushing into cushy positions in Croatia’s fight for independence but at all times was a communist snake in the grass, Juan Cheers
Converted to US dollars, it’s approximately $115 grand and change!
When our US presidents leave office, they become more or less private citizens with a Secret Service detail and retirement. (We’ve got four currently living) They can continued to be addressed as president as an honorific.
In Croatian terms that’s a lot of dough, Elisa and the US ex-presidents mostly hold themselves in dignity and respectful, this on in Croatia has no dignity and no respect. Irritating really.
Ina, maybe they should also pursue the money that he denied getting from the donations he received in Australia back in 92.
Hopefully they will, Zezevica, they’ve got plenty of evidence
Thanks Ina. Sretan i Blagoslovljen Uskrs vama i vasima.
http://www.sdlsn.hr/upload/Image/sretan_uskrs2010.jpg
Thank you Veronika – to you and yours also. Beautiful Easter eggs a-la-Croatian-style 🙂
I think that what remains of his salary should be paid in the currency of his beloved Yugoserbia – dinars!
Hehehe, good thinking Sunman
Step by step a journey of one thousand kilometers is done. Step by step Croatia is moving forward. Unscrupulous politicians always profess the opposite of what they actually do. They serve their interest but tell everybody they are working for the common good; and the irony is some people, and in some cases,many people believe. Well done Croatia. The truth shall prevail.
Going the right direction, Ngobesing – cheers
Cheers Ina!
The bearded Yugoslav Communist maniac unfortunately still receives some funds. Hopefully that too will be cut.
As well as cutting it all, therealamericro, his accounts etc should be looked at too – will pray for that. Cheers!