What happens when former Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša decides to show up at a concert by Marko Perković Thompson, a musician notorious for glorifying the Ustasha movement? You get a scandal shaking not just Slovenia, but all of Europe! Janša was caught standing shoulder to shoulder with Velimir Bujanec, a man who publicly sang about the massacre of Serbs and celebrated the Ustashas. Yes, you read that right — the Ustashas, the same group who ran concentration camps during World War II and brutally tortured innocent people.
The Slovenian left immediately condemned this move, calling it a disgrace for Slovenia and a dangerous relativization of the horrors of World War II. How can someone who once led a country support or at least not condemn such ideologies? Even more shocking is that some of our so-called “patriots” chose to attend such concerts, even though Slovenians themselves were victims of the Ustasha regime. The Ustashas did not recognize the Slovenian people, occupied parts of Slovenia, and killed priests.
But that’s not all! In Croatia, Zagreb’s mayor Tomislav Tomašević and his party condemned the concert as “the largest pro-fascist gathering since World War II.” They called on institutions to react and sanction the use of Ustasha symbols and greetings like “Za dom spremni,” which were chanted at the concert. A well-known Croatian singer even left Zagreb after receiving death threats for condemning the concert.
To make matters worse, the handball club Vojvodina from Novi Sad terminated its contract with Filip Ivić, a Croatian goalkeeper, just two weeks after signing him because he attended the same concert and publicly showed it on Instagram. The club made it clear there is no place for those who support or attend events glorifying Ustashas, as it insults the memory of thousands of innocent victims.
This scandal is not just a regional problem. Milorad Dodik, leader of Republika Srpska, called the concert a political platform for an ideology defeated in World War II but still threatening to divide and destabilize the region. While all of Europe remains silent, we watch history being rewritten and forgotten, and hatred rising again.
If you think this is just another incident, think again. This is a wake-up call for the entire continent! How can a former prime minister of a country appear at a concert openly glorifying fascist symbols? How can institutions allow such things to happen without sanctions? And where are all those who swear by antifascism and human rights?
This case is a perfect example of how history can be abused and how hatred can be disguised as patriotism. If you’re in the mood for a laugh, just imagine how tragic this is for those who lost their loved ones in these crimes. And if you want to argue, drop a comment — is this just freedom of expression or a dangerous game with fire?
Because while we argue, history repeats itself. And not in some distant past, but right before our eyes.
