Ready for another shock from Croatia? Marko Perković Tompson, the controversial singer whose songs and performances have stirred storms for decades, is back in the spotlight. His concert in Zagreb was not just a musical event – it was a massive gathering where Ustasha salutes and songs glorifying a dark past echoed loud and clear. Renowned Croatian historian Hrvoje Klasić leaves no doubt: Tompson still holds the same views as in the 1990s, when he openly praised Ante Pavelić and the NDH regime. Although he wisely fell silent after bans on his performances in Europe, his silence is actually a space for manipulation and dangerous messages sent to society.
Zagreb’s mayor Tomislav Tomašević couldn’t stay quiet – he condemned the singing of Ustasha songs and called on institutions to react and sanction such acts. The Croatian Youth Initiative for Human Rights called the concert “the largest pro-fascist gathering since World War II.” Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who was at a rehearsal with children, found himself in an awkward position as Ustasha symbols were graffitied at the concert and heirs received autographs from Tompson.
Klasić warns that Croatia lives in an anti-anti-fascist society where Ustasha crimes are relativized, and the salute “Za dom spremni” remains the only exclusively Ustasha greeting without dispute. He points out that the problem is deeper, with the HDZ party flirting with the extreme right since its founding under Franjo Tuđman, opening a “Pandora’s box” of paramilitary formations that glorify Ustasha ideology.
Antifascism, which should be the foundation of Croatian society, is today reduced to a historical term, while hatred and revisionism become normalized. Klasić ends with sharp criticism of the behavior of many Croatian Catholic believers who, he says, often send messages of hate, directly contradicting Gospel values.
If you think this is just another political quarrel, think again. This is a fight for the soul of a nation, whether Croatia will accept its past or continue to hide it behind false silences and dangerous symbols. What do you think? Is it time to finally put an end to this madness, or will we keep watching hatred take center stage on our streets and stages? Drop a comment, share your thoughts, or just have a laugh – but don’t stay silent.