Croatian MP admits calling ruling party politicians 'cattle' amid political frustration

Croatian lawmaker Sandra Benčić has admitted to calling politicians from the ruling HDZ party "cattle" in a moment of intense frustration. Benčić, a representative of the Možemo! party, stated on Facebook that the insult was directed at HDZ members after they submitted 17 nominations for Constitutional Court judges and scheduled a discussion for the following morning.

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Yes. I said it. And it referred to HDZ.

She explained that her outburst stemmed from a perceived pattern of political manipulation and disrespect for citizens. Benčić drew parallels between the political actions and statements by ministers about inflation or healthcare wait times, which she believes disregard public concerns. She felt her frustration mirrored that of many citizens who feel manipulated and underestimated by those in power.

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I said it after they sent us 17 nominations for Constitutional Court judges last night, and scheduled the discussion for 9 a.m. today.

Benčić asserted that the ensuing media attention on her use of the word "cattle" serves the HDZ's purpose of diverting public discussion away from critical issues. She believes the real problems lie in how decisions are made, how institutions function, and the declining public trust in them. Benčić refused to accept a political environment where polite appearances mask the "capture" of institutions and the "insult" to citizens' intelligence, insisting that a word spoken in frustration is less problematic than the systemic issues that generate such frustration.

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I felt the way many citizens feel every day when they are manipulated, underestimated, and when political force is demonstrated against them.