MP Marin Miletić from MOST proposed to the Croatian Parliament the adoption of a declaration on the Croatian historical coat of arms, identical to the declaration of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU). The aim of the declaration is to reject attempts of ideological manipulation of the coat of arms, especially regarding the disputed issue of the initial field of the coat of arms, which can be white or red. HAZU emphasizes that both variants have been historically used almost equally since the 16th century and that the debate is a false dilemma and politically motivated. The declaration aims to end the stigmatization of different variants of the Croatian historical coat of arms and prevent contemporary ideological manipulation of historical symbols.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets emphasize the importance of respecting historical accuracy and scientific consensus as presented by HAZU, criticizing political attempts to manipulate national symbols for ideological purposes. They highlight the declaration as a step towards depoliticizing national symbols and promoting unity.
Center: Center-leaning sources report the proposal factually, focusing on the parliamentary process and the broad support from various political factions, including HDZ and other sovereignist options. They present the declaration as a consensus-driven effort to clarify the historical use of the Croatian coat of arms and to strengthen national identity.
Right: Right-leaning media emphasize the defense of national symbols against what they see as ideological attacks or revisionism. They support the declaration as a necessary measure to protect Croatian heritage and identity from political manipulation, often framing the issue as a matter of patriotism and national pride.
