While around half a million people attended the biggest concert in Croatian history in Zagreb on Saturday, with pride and respect for Croatian history and homeland, the ranks of the extremist Left party (Levica) were sounding the “Čebine” alarms. And the reason for it? The presence of the President of the Slovenian Democratic Party (Slovenska demokratska stranka – SDS), Janez Janša, at the event. The latter responded to the Left’s criticism, noting that Thompson is a civilised Croatian patriot, while they are idolaters of criminals.
In response to the Left’s ideological attacks, Janša wrote: “Well, now that you, the Čebine worshippers, have shot yourselves in the foot with the referendum fraud, is M. P. Thompson your main problem? While he is a civilised Croatian patriot, you in the Left party are bringing together people who cannot even define their own gender, and you want to teach others about history, ethics and morality?”
He added: “Not to mention your idolatry of criminals, your denial of genocide and your glorification of dictatorships and human rights violations. You are a disgrace not only to Slovenia, but to the entire normal world…”
Thompson’s concert – a celebration of Croatian patriotism and Christianity
The concert of Croatian musician Marko Perković Thompson, known for his distinctly patriotic and Christian songs, took place at Zagreb’s Hippodrome and brought together hundreds of thousands of people. According to the organisers’ estimates, more than 500,000 people attended, making it one of the biggest paying concerts in the world.
The atmosphere was prayerful, yet proud and fearless. Thompson opened the event by welcoming those gathered at the Hippodrome with the words, “Blessed Jesus and Mary – Croatia is returning to its Christian roots!”
Janša attended the event with his wife
Janez Janša was joined by his wife, Urška Bačovnik Janša, and the event was also attended by MEP Branko Grims.
The Left’s reaction to someone from Slovenia attending a concert of a neighbouring nation celebrating its freedom and religion shows the Left’s detachment from reality: “You do not deserve the country for which our countrymen sacrificed their lives in 1991,” Janša wrote, pointing out that the Left party is trying to re-normalise restrictions on freedom of expression.
The Left seeks solace in ideological themes
The Left party has been under an avalanche of criticism in recent weeks for the failure of Robert Golob’s government, but now it is trying to divert attention and appeal to its electorate with ideological themes – such as a concert in another country.
Janša’s final appeal is therefore more than clear: “We also fought for everyone to be able to express their opinions in a democratic Slovenia, even if they are as reprehensible as yours. But do not think that you will ever be able to use democracy again to abolish freedom of speech, religion and thought. Try it – and you will end up just like your criminal role models with the red star on their Yugoslav People’s Army tanks.”
Sara Kovač
