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Croatian MEP calls Tito exhibition a 'disgrace,' clashes with positive portrayal
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Culture & Society

Croatian MEP calls Tito exhibition a 'disgrace,' clashes with positive portrayal

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A Croatian Member of the European Parliament, Stjepo Bartulica, criticized an exhibition in the European Parliament honoring Josip Broz Tito.
  • Bartulica called Tito a communist dictator and stated that his positive portrayal is problematic, citing "The Black Book of Communism" which documents over 100 million victims.
  • He argued that Tito and democracy are incompatible and that the exhibition is a "disgrace" for not presenting a balanced view, particularly regarding victims of the communist regime.

Stjepo Bartulica, a Croatian Member of the European Parliament, has voiced strong criticism against an exhibition in the European Parliament that he believes portrays the communist dictator Josip Broz Tito in a positive light. Bartulica, representing the Dom i nacionalno okupljanje (DOMiNO) party, stated that while he generally feels comfortable in the European Parliament, much of the exhibition is "problematic."

I generally feel good in the European Parliament. However, I consider many things in this exhibition to be problematic. Here I am in front of a poster about Josip Broz, a communist dictator who is presented in a positive light.

โ€” Stjepo BartulicaSpeaking at the exhibition in the European Parliament.

Standing before a poster of Tito, Bartulica referred to him as a "communist dictator." He questioned whether the exhibition's organizers had read "The Black Book of Communism," which documents the deaths of over 100 million innocent victims. Bartulica asserted that such a display, glorifying a figure responsible for immense suffering, should not be permitted within the European Union. He emphasized that "Tito and democracy do not go together, nor the fight against totalitarianism."

I don't know if colleague Veลกligaj has read The Black Book of Communism, but it documents over 100 million innocent victims, including those in Croatia and other parts of Yugoslavia.

โ€” Stjepo BartulicaResponding to the exhibition's portrayal of Tito.

Bartulica further pointed out what he considered omissions in the exhibition, such as the persecution of priests who participated in the anti-fascist struggle. He noted that over 500 clergy members were killed by communists during and after the war, a fact he believes is not represented. He also highlighted the ongoing discovery of mass graves in Croatia, suggesting the exhibition offers a biased and incomplete historical narrative. Bartulica described the exhibition as a "disgrace."

Something like this should not be happening today in the European Union. Therefore, Tito and democracy do not go together, or the fight against totalitarianism.

โ€” Stjepo BartulicaExpressing his view on the exhibition's message.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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