HSLS row over state secretary's Pride appearance: 'Golden youth promote failed ideologies'

State Secretary Nevenka Lastrić-Đurić drew attention at Zagreb's Pride parade, wearing a Croatian football jersey and declaring, "Croatia is big enough for all its colors." She added that "Croatia is strongest when the majority protects the minority and when we build a society of mutual respect together." The event, themed "Our Families Are Families," drew thousands to support the LGBTIQ+ community.

However, Lastrić-Đurić's presence quickly ignited political controversy. Mirko Budiša, deputy leader of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), issued a sharp statement distancing himself and the party from her participation. He emphasized that her actions represented personal political engagement, not an official party stance. Budiša clarified that while she presented herself as an HSLS Presidency member, she does not hold that position.

Budiša strongly criticized her attendance, describing the Pride event as featuring "totalitarian symbols like the hammer and sickle" and calls for revolution. He asserted that her public appearances and statements were solely her own private political views. He accused her of using the HSLS name and her position for personal activism, promoting messages he deemed more suitable for the left than for the HSLS. He argued that this approach disregarded party hierarchy and undermined the efforts of members focused on revitalizing the party.

"The HSLS will never become a political copy of left-wing liberal parties, regardless of who encourages or supports such a direction," Budiša stated. He expressed confidence that a significant portion of the HSLS membership does not want the party's political direction dictated externally or for a repositioning that contradicts its tradition. Budiša concluded by noting his impression that the public space for political views was being shaped by external influences.

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Kao zamjenik predsjednika HSLS-a, ali prije svega kao čovjek koji politički pripada vrijednostima većeg dijela našeg članstva i stranačkih tijela, osjećam dužnost jasno i bez uvijanja poručiti kako se oštro i u potpunosti ograđujem od prisustva, istupa i izjava naše državne tajnice na jučerašnjem Prideu