inavukic

Croatia: A Race Between Natural and Unnatural Political Bedfellows to Form New Government

April 27, 2024 by inavukic 2 Comments

Generally, one would think that forming a new government would be an easy task for a political party that won a relative majority of seats at parliamentary elections. This time in Croatia things are not so and it seems as if there is a race in progress as to who will get first past the post to form government in Croatia between HDZ/Croatian Democratic Union or SDP/ Social Democratic Party; the former having won 61 out of possible 151 and the latter 42 at general elections that ended 17 April 2024. While HDZ is holding talks with possible coalition partners to form a government – Homeland Movement/DP with its 14 (now reduced to 13 since Mislav Kolakusic left and turned against them a couple of days ago) seats being a major player. SDP is doing the same. SDP has stated that they feel confident they will get first past the post to form a government. While incredulous, this scenario also would appear to have some credibility in the environment of the election results’ platter that is spotted rather heavily with left-oriented and green-left political moods or movements, besides the SDP, such as Možemo/ We Can (10 seats won), MOST (11 seats won, evidently now reduced to 9 since Nino Raspudic and Marija Selak Raspudic left them during past couple of days), IDS (Istrian Democratic Assembly) 3 seats, Ethnic Minorities group (8 seats), Independent PLatform North 2 seats and Fokus 1 seat.

The plot thickens for the race to form a government. There appears to be a third runner or option desirous of forming the new government: apparently, the Homeland Movement/DP is calling for cooperation from MOST (whom it rejected as pre-elections coalition partner!) and others in attempts to form an anti-HDZ government!

2024 Parliamentary Election’s results thus paint o picture of parties ranging from the patriotic right, which some in mean spirits call nationalist, to the green left have gained a significant number of seats in parliament. Significant enough to throw spanners into the works of forming government. Neither the prime minister’s governing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) nor the president’s favoured Social Democratic Party (SDP) have claimed enough seats to form a government. The third tallest player, the Homeland Movement/DP, is in the middle of the political horse-trading, and it will be seen if a governing coalition can be formed. Or, failing that, a viable minority government. Or, failing that – repeated elections!

This race to form a new government could take some time yet – this is a short summary of what has been happening on the Croatian political scene since the parliamentary elections ended, after which the negotiations for the formation of the ruling majority began. The elections, as is well known, revealed that the HDZ is the relative winner, however, they also revealed that both the HDZ and the SDP without the Homeland Movement will have a hard time getting a majority in the Parliament. That is why the Homeland Movement/DP led by Ivan Penava has emerged as the main and most desirable negotiator, and even the most desirable partner in interesting post-election combinations for both left and right side of politics. It is no secret that the Homeland Movement decided to be open to all options in the negotiations, with a clear position that they do not intend to cooperate with the SDSS/Independent Serbian Democratic Party and the Možemo/We Can party. Furthermore, whether HDZ will abandon its long-time loyal partner in government, SDSS, to enter into a coalition with the Homeland Movement/DP is a point that is most interesting to keep tracking.

The election results certainly appear to point to a certain runaway disharmony and concerning lack of political clarity among the population. One could say that votes landed “all over the shop” and thus created an environment not conducive to easy government formation. Ever since 2000 elections when the left won government for the first time since independence there has been an increase in the number of political parties in Croatia siding with the left, even pro-communist Yugoslavia political skies. Whether the good result achieved by right-leaning DP is a sign of turning tides towards conservative politics is yet to be seen. Whether this is also a sign of consolidating patriotic mindset in Croatia is also to be seen. Certainly, leftist and green politics that have been given mandates in the parliament during elections since 2000 have eroded significantly the historical fact that almost 94% of Croats voted for independence from communist Yugoslavia in 1991.

The ruling party, HDZ, has this time around won 5 seats less that in 2020 elections and this fact in itself means that, given the mixed elections results, it will not be a tricky task forming a third government. Even if a government is formed, based on shaky and patchy foundations of policy compromises and deals. it would have all the parameters of a short-lived government, doomed for failure. Hence, snap or repeated elections could occur rather soon as significant rifts within the newly formed government seem likely.

Citizen anxieties about policy compromises and horse-trading during talks behind closed doors to form a government have gripped the Croatian public space during the past week and some are holding their breath until Monday 29 April when it is believed more details will become evident as to whether Croatia will have a new government or new parliamentary elections.

To recap: HDZ clearly – and unsurprisingly, given its unmatched resources and organisation – remains the largest party. But its numbers are significantly down on the last election in 2020 – and well short of the 76 required for a majority. A surprising move by the Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to place himself as first candidate on the HDZ list for the June 2024 elections for Members of European Parliament has only thrown into the arena more speculation about his abandoning a „sinking ship“ and more unease. He claims, however, that he has placed his name on that list of candidates to make the list appear stronger! So, which is it one wonders (?) – flight or strength-building? Answer to that too shall surface rather soon.

Meanwhile, the SDP is disappointed that its controversial backing from President Zoran Milanovic – who was banned by the Constitutional Court from standing as a candidate for prime minister – has not brought more seats. Its total of seats won is little changed from 2020.

But both the right-wing patriotic Homeland Movement – whose leader Ivan Penava has said that they will talk to everyone regarding forming a government, and the socially and fiscally conservative MOST – who says HDZ must be sent into opposition, are playing hard to get. With HDZ talking to DP regarding possible coalition the Ethnic Minorites block led by Serb minority appear to be floating at this stage between HDZ and SDP, ready to join either!

The green-left Možemo/We Can party insists that it is not interested in supporting any government which includes the Homeland Movement.

If one tends to become confused about what is occurring behind the scenes to form a new government in Croatia one thing is clear and that there are natural and unnatural political bedfellows talking to each other about forming a government at this time. And some partnerships, if they emerge, might alienate other potential allies, indeed. Ina Vukic

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 2024 parliamentary elections, Croata struggling to form government, Croatia, Croatian Democratic Union, DP, Fokus, HDZ, Homeland Movement, Independent Serb Democratic Party, Istrian DEmocratic Assembly, minority government, Most, Možemo, natural olitical bedellows, race to gorm a government, SDP, Social Democratic Party, unnatural political bedfellows

Parliamentary Elections In Croatia Bring Political Uncertainty – Grueling Negotiations Imminent In Forming Minority Government

April 19, 2024 by inavukic 4 Comments

The results from 17 April 2024 elections for members of the Croatian Parliament yield a picture where the Croatian Democratic Union/HDZ has won a relative majority of seats and this suggests that it has won its third consecutive term in government. But, HDZ still needs to form a government (requires 76 seats), which may prove tricky, if not impossible! According to political analysts, if the latter eventuates, the elections would need to be repeated.

HDZ has won 61 out of 151 seats in the Assembly while the opposition leftist SDP/Social Democratic Party and its coalition “Rivers of Justice” won 42. The third strongest political force in terms of number of seats won belongs to the Homeland Movement/DP which won 14 seats followed by MOST/BRIDGE with 11 seats won. The ultra-leftist Možemo/We Can, that currently holds local government in the capital Zagreb, won 10 seats, NPS (Independent Platform North) won 2 seats, Istrian SD/IDS won 2 seats, Focus 1 and Ethnic Minorities special electoral congregate won 8 seats although these 8 seats are not won on number of votes received from general electorate but via something akin to the concept of an appointment, with relatively negligible number of votes required to enter parliament.

The makeup of the next Parliament has a rather astringent taste of left-leaning inclinations even though HDZ describes itself as centre-right. During its previous two mandates in government HDZ has been in coalition with the Ethnic Minorities congregation whose voice and influence was reaped via the Serb minority represented by those associated with the 1990’s rebel Serb aggressor rather than the Serbs who fought with Croats to defend Croatia from Serb aggression. This coalition had been the biggest thorn in in the eye of Croatian patriotic echelons that fought against such government coalition’s pursuits of equating the victims of the Homeland War with the aggressors. DP or Homeland Movement had been on the side of the former. Fighting against the ill treatment of war veterans by the HDZ government and the privileges the Serb aggressors were receiving in Croatia.

And so, I come to the thought of what may happen in the imminent process of forming a government given that DP still waves battle axes against much of the Ethnic Minority parliamentary congregation and vice-versa. HDZ had retained the Ethnic Minority seats as partner in government to the point of loyalty that irritates multitudes and, if it decides this time around to go with DP, it is certain that not all members of the Ethnic Minority congregation will agree to enter into such a coalition and, as expected, DP would reject it as well. Mooting this idea would in essence mean that HDZ is sacrificing its “loyal partner in government” in favour of DP whose President Ivan Penava had been a loyal HDZ member until 2020. Forming a coalition with SDP and or We Can/Možemo also seems unlikely due to political animosities and distance on the political spectrum between them, the former pro-Ukraine and the latter pro-Russia regarding the current war in Ukraine for example, even though they all share similar progressive leftist pursuits such as upholding the Istanbul Convention, maintaining communist Yugoslavia symbols and mindset, pro-migration. A coalition with MOST, with which HDZ used to be in government coalition for a short spell, which ended on sour and antagonistic notes, also appears unlikely. Forming this new HDZ minority government appears a task that will take quite some time with the possibility that negotiations will crumble. Unless HDZ can pull a hat trick and form a government in that political environment the elections have created we may be looking at new parliamentary elections.

“More than 62 percent of the total number of registered voters voted. Four years ago, the turnout was lower, but we should not take the comparisons as relevant to the end, because then there was the Corona pandemic. The countries of the European Union have an even higher turnout, and we should strive for that,” declared Radovan Dobronic, the president of the Croatian Electoral Commission/DIP.

The fact that Dobronic does not even mention the blockades and harsh obstacles placed upon the access to polling booths in the 11^th Constituency, i.e. to Croatian citizens living outside of Croatia of whom there are about one million, suggests that nothing much will change in Croatia despite the overwhelming sentiment among the Croatian public prior to elections that both HDZ and SDP must be removed or voted out of government if functional democracy and rule of law were to make a leap forward and thrive. The result of blockades and obstacles, denial of the human right of suffrage, imposed upon Croatians eligible to vote and living outside of Croatia meant that about 800,000 of eligible voters did not even bother registering for voting. Some 3.7 million registered altogether (within and outside Croatia). If one were to search for a corrupt approach to electoral practices one will find it right there as well as in the fact that both the HDZ nor SDP when they held government fought against and resisted the introduction of electronic and postal voting! The rolling out of information by the Croatian authorities within that Constituency can be described as mean-spirited sabotage of voting rights. For example, the official direction was that voters living abroad must register to vote by 6 April and then, down the page insert a paragraph saying that if voters do not register to vote by the 6^th of April they could do so on the day of voting! If one wanted to confuse voters so that they do not vote one just needs to ask Croatian authorities’ for “how to”advice!

Karolina Vidovic Kristo. Photo: Screenshot

The question of electoral corruption and theft has swiftly been raised by Karolina Vidovic Kristo, President of Determination and Justice/OiP party.

“In these elections, half a million more people went to the polls than in 2020. At that time, the elections were marked by an atmosphere of fear due to the Corona pandemic, and that half a million allegedly voted to keep everything as is – in fact, even worse! Therefore, Croatian citizens are forced to accept the status of second-class citizens within the European Union. They must watch how Pavao Vujnovac, a tycoon sponsored by the HDZ, SDP and DP, wears a necklace worth half a million euros, while an employee at Konzum, which Vujnovac took over, struggles to provide basic necessities such as buying bread and milk. Therefore, Croatian citizens are rewarding this injustice based on these results. Such election results are contrary to political and sociological principles. Only the criminal system called Apis and the media, who have fully accepted the role of promoters of corruption and have become reckless mercenaries, believe in them.

Determination and Justice party was in complete isolation, but we dominated social networks. This is why our election result we received is absolutely an impossibility and the result of bare-faced theft. The OIP will request a recount because this result has nothing to do with logic, common sense, and real facts. The ruling powers have created their own political idyll and divided roles among themselves. In this scenario, truth and basic democratic and European values have no place.

According to this scenario, alleged anti-corruption fighters such as Kolakusic, who is part of the corrupt judicial system, were elected. It is ironic that he is fighting corruption by entering into a coalition with the openly corrupt structure of Pavlo Vujnovac. MOST criticizes corruption, but it does so in order to satisfy the form and be a decoration for the existing corrupt system, without calling into question the corrupt system itself. Every political actor who agreed to be part of the existing corrupt media-political system is a participant in it. The OIP did not accept that, which is why we were put in media isolation, and today we are victims of theft by that same system.

OIP was not invited to any debates, nor did we have the opportunity to appear in any mainstream media. For a month, Croatian citizens were exposed to daily polls, which was a preparation for the theft of votes that happened today. Unfortunately, today’s results were too similar to those polls, even though the turnout estimate was at odds with the actual turnout that occurred today.

Every lie is eventually exposed, so all those who participated in today’s shameless theft of the votes of Croatian citizens and unprecedented media manipulation will be exposed and brought to justice.

Personally, like thousands of OIP supporters, I will not give up the fight for an orderly, just and successful Croatia. In the historical context, today is like the day of the fall of Vukovar. But I guarantee you that both Lightning and Storm will follow and that we will establish a Croatia where everyone will be equal before the law and where no one will be above the law,” said Karolina Vidovic Kristo in her Press Release of 18 April 2024.

Ina Vukic

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Croatia, Croatian 2024 Parliamentary Elections 2024. Karolina Vidovic Kristo, Croatian diaspora blocked from voting in Croatian elections, Determination and Justice Padty, Domovinski pokret, DP Homeland MOvement, Ethnic Minorities in government, HDZ, minority government, Most, OiP, SDP, Serb aggression against Croatia

We did not win Croatia in a lottery to gamble with it, says Karolina Vidović Krišto, leader of Determination and Justice Party Ahead of Parliamentary Elections in Croatia Next Week

April 13, 2024 by inavukic 4 Comments

Few days ahead of Parliamentary elections in Croatia due on 16^th and 17^th April 2024 the Croatian Veterans’ Portal has published an interview with the leader of OiP Party (Determination and Justice) for which many say represents the determination and knowledge to reel in essential changes for Croatia, in rooting out corruption and overhauling the corrupt judiciary, which hold Croatian democracy and rule of law captive. While the powers that be in Croatia have severely, for citizens living in the diaspora undercut voters’ right to suffrage to the point of brutality, one does hope there will be many turning up at the polling booths despite the discrimination. Polling booths only held in diplomatic and consular centres and on a working day (not weekend as during past 25 years) pose and enormous barrier in exercising ones constitutional and human right of suffrage. Be that as it may, we continue fighting the discrimination and for now the best way of doing it is by making an effort to place a vote.

Here is the interview with Karolina Vidovic Kristo, Member of Croatian Parliament, translated by Ina Vukic into English:

During the past four years in Parliament, Karolina Vidović Krišto has built a reputation of a determined and courageous politician. Born in Vukovar, but raised in Munich, Karolina returned to Croatia in 1996 independently and without her family, where she studied journalism and began her career as a journalist. Karolina is also the mother of four children. Despite numerous challenges, especially in the relationship with her former employer HRT (Croatian Television), with whom she had several conflicts, she always remained steadfast. Due to her fearlessness and commitment to her beliefs and exposing corruption, Karolina stands out as an example of a true leader and politician who certainly has the potential to become a leader and an authentic representative of the people. Her speeches in Parliament are some of the most viewed on social media networks. This is particularly significant because Karolina, despite her being banned or ignored by the traditional media, managed to attract the attention and support of the general public. She firmly believes that Croatia can achieve exceptional success only if it organises itself as a country where all citizens must obey the laws. She believes that this is the key to success in building a stable society in which every citizen will have an equal opportunity.

Respected MP, the HDZ Government led by Andrej Plenkovic and his deputy, minister Tom Medved, claims that they have full understanding for the Croatian war veterans and that they have restored their dignity. How do you view this statement?

The only thing that Andrej Plenkovic does effectively is manipulating the public. Such obvious manipulation would be a punishable offense in other EU member states, since using taxpayers’ money to pay the media to cover up facts and publish lies is actually a form of stealing taxpayers’ money. For example, the Austrian chancellor Kurz had to resign due to practices similar to those carried out by Plenkovic, and he was already convicted of lying, and he is currently being tried for even more serious crimes.

The attitude towards Croatian veterans, from Prime Ministers [since year 2000] Ivica Racan, Ivo Sanader, Jadranka Kosor, Zoran Milanovic to Andrej Plenkovic, is characterised by systematic humiliation and social isolation of the most honourable part of the nation, namely our veterans. Croatian veterans are often exposed to vilification and stigmatisation and are often declared a burden on society.

In Israel, no one holds a major position in the economy or politics if he has not served in the Israeli army, while in Croatia the opposite is the case. Neither Plenkovic, nor Milanovic, nor Gordan Jandrokovic responded to [defend] the Homeland when it was most difficult and when they were most needed.

The best representation of the situation in Croatia is the fact that the commander of the defence of the city of Osijek, Branimir Glavas, has been dragged through the courts for 20 years, while at the same time Mile Horvat, known as “the gunner” because of his participation in the bombing of Osijek as a member of Serbian terrorist units, holds the position of State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy in Plenkovic’s government. Such a situation, of course, does not exist in any other organised European country. It is anti-natural, anti-civilisational, anti-European and, of course, anti-Croatian.

Karolina Vidovic Kristo (L), Photo: family album

But Plenkovic will tell you in response to your statements: “In my government there is Tomo Medved, who is a war hero, or, for example, Ivan Anusic, who was a minor participant in the Homeland War, or, for example, Josip Đakic, who was on the battlefields all over Croatia.”

Everyone who participated in the defence of Croatia deserves our deep respect, which must never be forgotten. However, no merit can be a justification for acting against the interests of one’s own people and the country for which he fought. Namely, anyone who participates in blocking state institutions, in corruption or protects corruption, must be aware that they are working against Croatia.

And then the media, financed by Plenkovic, because they are so unprofessional that they cannot survive on their work, such as Jutarnji list, publish slanderous articles claiming that Croatian taxpayers should assume financial obligations from convicted war criminals. In particular, Indeks and Jutarnji list mention Mihajlo Hrastov [1991 Croatian Special police officer], who defended Karlovac [from Serb-led Yugoslav Army attacks], but was convicted by a corrupt judiciary, and the conviction delivered by controversial judges served as the basis for awarding compensation of 11 million kuna to the families of the fallen aggressor soldiers. It is important to note that these funds are paid to people living in Serbia, which means that the money of Croatian citizens goes outside the country. How much compensation did Poland, France or England pay to the German aggressors? Not a single euro, on the contrary, Germany paid compensation to the mentioned countries. I ask the question, would Mihajlo Hrastov be tried in Israel, America, or Ukraine, or would society there declare him a national hero?

General Josip Lucic is also on the HDZ list, how do you comment on that?

General Lucic will be able to speak with pride about his contribution to the liberation of Croatia, but I believe he will be deeply ashamed that he gave his name to HDZ Party, the party that created Croatia under the leadership of Franja Tudjman, while today, under the leadership of Andrej Plenkovic, that same party is destroying Croatia, which was created with blood. Croatian veterans approach me with tears in their eyes and say: “Give me [bring] back my children from Ireland and Germany”, because it was corruption and injustice that drove the children of Croatian veterans from Croatia, which they created with blood, sweat and tears.

General Lucic lent his name to a policy that pays pensions, such as those paid to Mile Martic, a [Serbian] convicted war criminal. The question arises why Croatia did not file a property claim against Mile Martic because of the damage he caused by bombing Croatian cities? On the contrary, Plenkovic’s government enabled Mile Martic’s son, Dusko, to manage television stations in Croatia, including N1 television and Nova TV. While the children of [Croatian] war veterans have to go to a foreign country to earn a living, Mile Martic’s son, therefore the legal heir [to his father], manages the media in Croatia! This is therefore the policy that General Lucic serves.

Why do you keep pointing out the problems in the judiciary?

The question of a functional judiciary is a question of success or failure of a state and its people. When the judiciary does not function properly, as is currently the case in Croatia, everything is allowed to the powerful, while nothing is possible for the common man or woman.

If Andrej Plenkovic, Zoran Milanovic or Gordan Jandrokovic were politicians in Austria, they would be in prison, because I remind you that the Austrian chancellor had to resign precisely because of actions similar to what Plenkovic is doing, corrupting the media and blocking the judiciary. But in Austria, where the laws are respected and the judiciary does its job, salaries are three times higher than in Croatia, where the laws are not respected. Let’s take the example of the case of Milorad Pupovac [leader of Independent Serbian Democratic Party/SDSS in Croatia by close bloodline and political platform associated with rebel Serbs in Croatia who were part of the aggressors in the Croatian Homeland War]. I personally reported him to the DORH [State Attorney Office of Croatia] for the criminal offense of genocide denial. Pupovac participated in a meeting in Banja Luka where the genocide in Srebrenica was denied. Pupovac did not mind at all that he stood by General Pandurevic, who was convicted of genocide in Srebrenica, despite the condemnation of that rally by the European Commission. According to Croatian laws, as well as according to the decision of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, that denial of genocide is a criminal offense. So, if Croatia functioned like the Czech Republic, Poland or Slovenia, Pupovac would be in prison.

Why did you refuse to form a coalition with related parties?

A coalition with those you refer to as related parties would be a betrayal of Croatia’s future and all disenfranchised people in Croatia. Determination and Justice party (OIP), which we founded, is completely different from existing political options. Just look at the current campaign – we are bombarded every day with some polls that are clearly fake.

Political parties behave like today’s so-called influencers, talking about everything except the real problems faced by Croatian citizens. All, but absolutely all, political parties have access to the mainstream media for confrontations and debates, either organised by big media, or in the organisation of NGOs and political initiatives or parties such as GONG. MOST, DP, Mislav Kolakusic and Fokus, and even the minority SDSS are invited, only we from OIP are not invited. The concept is completely clear: in Croatian politics, one must not talk about the real problems people face, but only in the way determined by the powerful. According to these same powerful people, Croatian citizens have no right to live in an orderly state where laws are respected.

So, despite the fact that our health care is falling apart, that half a million Croats have left their homeland [in the past decade], that our salaries are African and prices above the European average, we must not talk about this. Because of the truth we witness and the solutions we offer, OIP is finding itself banned from the public. Everyone must ask themselves why the Homeland Movement/DP or MOST have access to Croatian television, and why I and the people from the OIP party do not. Ivan Penava, president of the Homeland Movement, declares that the attack on the PPD and its head and owner Pavle Vujnovac [private company engaged in trade, import, sale and supply of natural gas] is an attack on Croatia. According to this logic, an ordinary Croat must be happy that individuals break the law and wear necklaces worth half a million euros, while at the same time families are thrown out onto the street due to non-payment of two mortgage instalments, even though the latter is unconstitutional. Protecting a thief is not patriotism!

Do you have a special message that is not directly related to the answers you gave to our previous questions in this interview?

I have and thank you. We did not win Croatia in a lottery, and the Croatian veterans did not give their lives and body parts just so that rigorous laws could be applied for the common people, while there are no rules or laws for the chosen powerful. For centuries, Croats dreamed of their own state and sacrificed for it, so that in their free state they could exercise those rights that are offered exclusively by the national state. Croats are respected all over the world, they are good neighbours, workers, and leading employees, only in their homeland Croatia they cannot realise their interests. That’s why we must arrange a Croatia where everyone is equal before the law, and everyone must respect the laws. Croatia has all the potential to be a rich and an advanced country, and that is why we have to fix Croatia, because only an organised Croatia can be a successful Croatia.