The local HDZ branch has expressed strong dissatisfaction that the central square in the capital remains without any Croatian flags. The party, in a statement released on Tuesday, stated that the situation on Ban Jelačić Square is shameful, particularly given that the country is marking key dates from the Homeland War.
Today, 4 August, marks the anniversary of the Operation Storm, which, exactly 31 years ago, at 5am, marked the beginning of the liberation of occupied territories. Despite the significance of this historical event, there are currently no Croatian flags flying on the main square, a development the HDZ has described as a failure to properly honour the state.
In its critique, the HDZ directly attributes the absence of symbols to the Zagreb city administration led by Mayor Tomislav Tomašević, the Možemo! party, and their coalition partners in the SDP. The party believes that the city administration has deliberately neglected the duty to mark state holidays, while simultaneously being willing to use public spaces to promote its own ideological and political messages.
The HDZ further emphasises that this stance by the city administration reflects a deep alienation from the feelings of the citizens. Tomorrow, Croatia will officially mark Victory and Independence Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders, and the party considers the lack of public recognition of these values in the central square to be unacceptable.
