Josip Dabro on Trnjanski Kresovi: 'Those celebrating around fires? They won't last long.'

The recent Trnjanski Kresovi event in Zagreb has ignited a fierce debate, highlighting the deep divisions within Croatian society regarding historical memory and national identity. Josip Dabro, a prominent figure from the Homeland Movement, has vocally criticized the event, labeling it a "devilish feast" and accusing the "Možemo" (We Can) party, which organized it, of celebrating a "liberation" that he views as a betrayal of Croatian values.

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These who are burning and jumping around the fire? They won't last long.

Dabro's strong condemnation stems from his belief that the state has for decades perpetuated a narrative of "anti-fascism" that, in his view, slanders the Croatian people. He argues that such events, which celebrate partisan victories over Croatian nationalist forces during World War II, are a continuation of a problematic historical narrative that fails to acknowledge the suffering of Croats.

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Why the shouting, outrage, and wails that 'Možemo' celebrates the 'liberation' of Zagreb and organizes a devilish feast around fires!? They do what they can and what the law does not prevent them from doing. And hand on heart, the state has been strongly supporting for decades by playing a crazy game of anti-fascism and insisting on slandering its own people.

What makes this particular controversy significant is the political context. Dabro, while critical of the "Možemo" party's agenda, is part of a coalition government with the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). This internal political dynamic reveals the compromises and ideological tensions within the ruling coalition. Dabro emphasizes that while the Homeland Movement is forced to tolerate these policies due to its junior status in the coalition, their core beliefs and program stand in stark opposition to them.

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Neither I, nor the vast majority of colleagues in the Homeland Movement, I am sure, nor among the Croatian people, have illusions that it is worth calling on "Možemo" or anti-fascists to stop glorifying the persecution and massacres of the Yugoslav communist army against our people.

From a Croatian perspective, the Trnjanski Kresovi event is not merely a historical commemoration; it is a battleground for national identity. The differing interpretations of the past, particularly the legacy of the Yugoslav Wars and the communist era, continue to shape contemporary political discourse. Dabro's statement reflects a segment of Croatian society that feels marginalized by a historical narrative they perceive as imposed and detrimental to national pride. The "Možemo" party, on the other hand, represents a more progressive, often criticized as "leftist," viewpoint that seeks to reconcile with a complex past and promote a more inclusive national identity.

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The state manages national identity. No local authorities. Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, a faithful expression of the character of the Croatian state. It is not an isolated island, nor a comet that has hit Croatia.