Mayor Refuses to Sit with Government at Traditional Croatian Tournament

Sinj, Croatia – Mayor Miro Bulj of Sinj has publicly declared his refusal to share the VIP box with Croatian government officials at the 311th Sinjska Alka, a prestigious traditional knight's tournament. Bulj announced his decision on Facebook, framing it as a stand against perceived disrespect and neglect of the Sinj region by the national government.

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Sinj people have pride, Sinj people have backbone, and we will not allow anyone to humiliate us! The Government of the Republic of Croatia closed the Sinj maternity ward, thus directly striking at the Alka and our tradition, and today they are posing for photos with the Alkar knights.

In a message titled "Alka for the People," Bulj articulated his grievances, stating, "Sinj people have pride, Sinj people have backbone, and we will not allow anyone to humiliate us!" He specifically condemned the government's decision to close the local maternity ward, which he believes directly harms the Alka tradition and the community's heritage. "The Government of the Republic of Croatia closed the Sinj maternity ward, thus directly striking at the Alka and our tradition, and today they are posing for photos with the Alkar knights," he asserted.

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And I, as an elected mayor, am completely ignored, which is not important to me, but they show by that that they only respect those who bow to them.

Bulj also criticized the government for a lack of concrete action regarding the local hospital, healthcare services, and improving Sinj's transportation links. He expressed frustration at being ignored as an elected mayor, suggesting that the government only respects those who bow to them. The mayor further cited the controversial issue of toxic waste disposal in Lika as another reason for his protest, labeling it "pure treason."

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That is why I made the decision that because of all this, and also because of the poisoning of Lika with hazardous waste, which is pure treason, I will not sit with government representatives in the ceremonial box for the first time.

His absence from the ceremonial box, where his seat remained conspicuously empty between the president of the Knights' Association and the regional governor, served as a visible protest. Even the Alka Duke, Marijo Šušnjara, acknowledged Bulj's absence during his traditional speech, offering a greeting "wherever Mayor Miro Bulj may be!" The incident underscores the deep-seated tensions and differing priorities between local leadership in Sinj and the central government in Zagreb.

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Sinj is not a stage for your political appearances but a city that defended our faith, tradition, nation, and culture, but also a city that has a stance. Proud Gospin Sinj.