HDZ playing cards survive Omiš fire, sparking symbolic debate

A brief, 14-second video has captured significant attention in Croatia, circulating rapidly on social media. The clip shows the aftermath of a devastating fire in Omiš, where a house was reduced to ashes. Amidst the ruins, a blue box of playing cards, emblazoned with the logo of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), was found remarkably intact. A voice in the video remarks, "Everything burned down, the only thing that survived... look, just like in the country." This seemingly small incident has been widely interpreted as a potent symbol, reflecting the ruling party's perceived ability to endure and remain unscathed amidst broader societal or political destruction. The article suggests this resilience, or perhaps an ability to evade accountability, has manifested repeatedly. It points to a recent marathon parliamentary session concerning hazardous waste in Gospić, which concluded with the ruling majority prevailing. The author characterizes this session as a political farce, where the HDZ successfully sidestepped political responsibility, with only a local official facing minor repercussions. The piece implies that the party, much like the surviving playing card box, consistently emerges from crises without significant damage, a pattern that opposition figures, like Zvonimir Troskot of the Most party, have sought to expose by identifying a 'matrix' of clientelism within the government.

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Everything burned down, the only thing that survived... look, just like in the country.