SDP and Možemo: Government is endorsing Thompson’s “extremist messaging”

The Thompson concert may have passed without incident but it has drawn criticism from political parties on the left, with the SDP and Možemo both issuing statements Sunday condemning the appearance of Ustasha symbols at the event.

The SDP reacted to the concert with a statement this morning. They said that with this event Thompson's extremist messaging had received organizational and political support from the government.

"Instead of using the public's attention and the concert as a unique opportunity to strongly and clearly distance ourselves from all forms of historical revisionism and Ustashism, we witnessed a global disgrace in which extremist messages were given national logistics direct support from the top levels of government," the SDP said in the statement.

Možemo, the governing party in the capital, on Sunday strongly condemned the use of the Ustasha salute at the concert.

"We strongly condemn and consider it of great harm to Croatian society that the Ustasha salute 'For the Homeland, ready' was used at yesterday's concert by Marko Perković Thompson," Možemo said in a statement.

The party added that they believe many who attended the concert are not supporters of the Ustasha ideology. They also are demanding that Speaker Gordan Jandroković, who attended the concert, and the Prime Minister, clearly condemn the use of the salute at the event and that the entire governing majority stop "covertly or overtly" endorsing Ustasha symbols.

Marko Perković Thompson always been a controversial performer. His style of hyper-patriotic hard rock is seen by some as just that – amped up anthems seeped in patriotic themes - while others accuse him of flirting with fascism, especially because of the symbols that can be seen and heard at his events that are historically associated with Croatia's extreme right. 

One of his most popular songs from the 1990s begins with the Ustasha salute “For the Homeland, ready!” and he did perform it that way on Saturday night. 

Thompson defenders argue that his early work must be taken within the context of the time when they were written, during the Homeland War, and that the slogan had taken on a different meaning that in WWII. Critics claim his refusal to drop these controversial elements from his act is harmful to Croatia’s reputation.

Speaking on Croatian Television on Sunday evening, Interior Minister Davor Božinović addressed concerns about the singing of inappropriate and illegal songs, as well as the display of Ustasha symbols at the concert.

"I really cannot understand those who wish to portray this event — and half a million people — as something they are not, suggesting they are extremists or radicals," he said. "Such individual cases have always been, and will continue to be," handled by the Croatian police.

He also criticized the statements from the SDP and Možemo parties, accusing them of unfairly labeling half a million Croatian citizens.