Croatia Archives - Page 6 of 7

3Oct

By SHOAHNo Comments

Croatia, Serbia

Is Nationalism Growing in Croatia?

NOVANEWS Adelina Marini A Strong pro-European Party Has Won Elections in Croatia While doing the review of the press in the countries of the former Yugoslavia in the beginning of September, I stumbled into an article in the Serbian newspaperBlic, which quoted the distinguished Balkans expert from the London School of Economics (LSE) James Ker-Lindsay, who believes that Croatia is to blame for the current deteriorated state of relations between Zagreb and Belgrade, depicted by many in the region itself as being worse than in the early 1990s, when the bloody disintegration of the former Yugoslavia began. I shared the text on Twitter, expressing my doubt that Mr Ker-Lindsay said exactly that, knowing that Serbian media should be handled with care. I guessed it was a question of words out...

30Sep

By SHOAHNo Comments

Croatia, Serbia

Croatian-Serbian Relations Cannot Stand Even a Movie

NOVANEWS Adelina Marini The big movie-event of the year in the region is the Croatian film “The Constitution” (original title “Ustav Republike Hrvatske”), the screenplay of which is written by the well-known Croatian writer Ante Tomić and Rajko Grlić. The movie is advertised as “A love story about hatred”. Of course, it deals with the Serbian-Croatian relations, told in the typical for the region comedy movie style. The plot is based on a true story. It reveals Croatian intolerance, prejudice, and hatred for the different, according to the movie’s promo. Before even being shown in the region, the movie has already won the Grand Prix of the Americas for best film at the Montreal World Film Festival. The film’s premiere will be a regional one – Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Belgrade – in the beg...

24Sep

By SHOAHNo Comments

Croatia

Will There Be a War in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

NOVANEWS Adelina Marini It is no longer funny, nor exotic, but very real – there will be a referendum in Republika Srpska (RS) of Bosnia and Herzegovina and this, alas, already brings sabre rattling. Concern is growing in Croatia, but also disappointment with the inactivity of politicians, media hysteria is developing in Serbia with feeble attempts to harness them, and Bosnian media are already crying in terror and bringing out photos from the time of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, begging politicians to stop talking about war. In Croatian media, the subject of the upcoming referendum is not on the front pages, but there are numerous commentaries and news articles dedicated to it. “Republika Srpska would like to copy Crimea, but does not have Serbia’s support”, is the headline of a c...

18Sep

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Croatia

A Strong pro-European Party Has Won Elections in Croatia

NOVANEWS Adelina Marini Croatia made an unbelievable U-turn in less than a year. In the beginning of 2016, when the coalition government of Tihomir Orešković was formed three months after the elections, it looked like another member state is being Orbán-ised. Almost nine months later the situation looks completely different – Croatia has Europeanised. And all this due to one and the same party – the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which under the leadership of Tomislav Karamarko made a sharp turn to the extreme right-wing, raised the tension in the country and the region, endangered Croatia’s fragile democracy, and threatened media. As a result of intra-coalition pressure and intra-party rebellion, the HDZ has a new leader since the summer – MEP Andrej Plenković. Under his leadership t...

15Sep

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Croatia

Milanović Stepping Down Is a Major Topic in Regional Press

NOVANEWS Adelina Marini Results of the snap elections in Croatia of September 11 are the leading subject for media in the region of former Yugoslavia. For most media the main piece of news is the announced stepping down of former Prime Minister Zoran Milanović from the leader’s seat in the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In a commentary for Jutarnji list, Nino Đula writes that the SDP lost the elections the moment it gave Milanović another term. The Vecernji list correspondent to Brussels, Tomislav Krasnec, writes in an analysis that Zoran Milanović lost due to Serbian votes. The journalist quotes his own sources from the party, who made telephone polls with voters from regions with predominantly Serbian population and many of them stated they would not vote for Zoran Milanović this tim...

13Sep

By SHOAHNo Comments

Croatia

A Strong pro-European Party Has Won Elections in Croatia

NOVANEWS Adelina Marini Croatia made an unbelievable U-turn in less than a year. In the beginning of 2016, when the coalition government of Tihomir Orešković was formed three months after the elections, it looked like another member state is being Orbán-ised. Almost nine months later the situation looks completely different – Croatia has Europeanised. And all this due to one and the same party – the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which under the leadership of Tomislav Karamarko made a sharp turn to the extreme right-wing, raised the tension in the country and the region, endangered Croatia’s fragile democracy, and threatened media. As a result of intra-coalition pressure and intra-party rebellion, the HDZ has a new leader since the summer – MEP Andrej Plenković. Under his leadershi...

11Sep

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Croatia

Spanish or Irish Scenario for Croatia

NOVANEWS Adelina Marini On September 11th, Croats are once again coming out to vote after last year’s elections produced a strange coalition between a party, turned to the past, and a newly-hatched formation with great ambition for reforms, but with zero experience. Up until a week ago, or even a bit longer, it seemed like the situation from November of last year could be repeated – the two large parties will finish with equal results and will need an accommodating partner for the formation of a coalition. Polls showed that there will be almost the same result as last year, which made many in Croatia forecast a Spanish scenario for the country – a prolonged period of time with no government and elections in a few months. What about an Irish scenario? Ireland also produced a draw, b...

8Sep

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Croatia

The “Balkan spy” Affair Pours Fuel to Fire between Serbia and Croatia

NOVANEWS Adelina Marini A new episode, which could further worsen Serbian – Croatian relations, which have already hit an all-time low since the 1990’s, is the leading subject of Croatian and Serbian media today. Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn joined in the reactions. Today’s press review of media from ex-Yugoslavia continues with the subject of the referendum in Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina, elections in Croatia, an interview with the Russian ambassador to Zagreb, and the visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán to Belgrade. Could it be worse? A new drama exploded between Belgrade and Zagreb on Friday afternoon – the “Balkan spy” affair, as the media on both sides of the border are calling it, based on the title of the Yugoslav film from the 1980...

8Sep

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Croatia

Restorers of Milošević Are Waiting for EPP Membership

NOVANEWS Adelina Marini There are various exciting issues in media in the countries of former Yugoslavia – from the upcoming elections in Croatia and Montenegro, through Islam, to relations with Russia. Leading topic for Croatian media yesterday and today is the postponement of the vote on the application of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić for joining the European People’s Party (EPP). The topic is somehow more prevailing in Croatian media than in Serbian ones and it even became part of the election campaign during the first (and so far only) debate between the leaders of the two largest political parties – Zoran Milanović (SDP, and also leader of the People’s Coalition) and Andrej Plenković (HDZ, which is a member of EPP). The Vecernji list corresp...

7Sep

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Croatia

Croaia: Vučić’s Orbánisation

NOVANEWS Adelina Marini, Zagreb Croatian and Serbian press are paying a lot of attention to the visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to Belgrade on Monday. Croatian media quote Mr Orbán in saying that Hungary will not accept anyone and for whatever reason blocking the accession of Serbia to the EU. The focus of Serbian national television RTS, however, is a different one and reveals the Orbánisation of the Serbian PM with regards to the refugee crisis. “I was not as capable as some others. Orbán is more experienced and I am convinced, and I say this without any cynicism, that he has more decisive positions than me. I wished that we, as a government, would demonstrate solidarity and humanity, which we will do in the future as well, but we cannot accept illegal migrants”, said Mr...