SOURCE: Večernji List
PHOTO: Matija Habljak/PIXSELL
In Strasbourg on Wednesday morning, we witnessed a debate in the European Parliament's chamber on the vote of MEPs on the proposal to dismiss the head of the European Commission from the ranks of the SPD within the European Parliament. Tonino Picula also addressed the debate, speaking about current events in Croatia, including the concert of Marko Perković Thompson held last week in Zagreb.
Mr. Picula, on Thursday there will be a vote of no confidence in the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen, whom the European Parliament accuses of harming both the law and the spirit and flirting with the right wing.
As it stands now, the decision will likely be voted on by members of the most progressive parties of the meeting called a special conference. And although the head of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who in the first year of her mandate has backed away from implementing progressive policies such as, for example, the fight against climate change or the introduction of a minimum wage, is now trying to regain the trust of left-wing members. Otherwise, she will not get a second term. I believe it is most important to clearly see now whether Ursula von der Leyen will fulfill the promises she made at the beginning of her mandate when left and liberal members of the EP granted her that mandate. She compromised herself by flirting with the radical right and populist voices in exchange for political support, but she needs the support of the majority of the MEPs for a new mandate. For the European left, this is a red line that cannot be tolerated.
'She appeals to true Christian values such as solidarity, but we must remember that those who call themselves true Christians often do not adhere to evangelical principles. In that sense, let us not forget that she entered this mandate with strong support from the right, including the radical ones.'
In conclusion, what do you think about another current Croatian issue: the cancellation of the controversial Thompson's concert and Prime Minister Plenković who engaged in the fight for human rights to defend Marko Perković Thompson?
I consider this, to put it mildly, a somersault. On one side, there is HDZ, which presents itself as, if not already European conservative, ready for modernization and acceptance of European values, and on the other hand, we see such an outburst from the prime minister, who shames the cancellation of the concert as an act of intolerance and an attack on human rights. Because Plenković appears in the media as a liberal.
You have now openly said: the European Prime Minister and the Prime Minister should not openly appear at the concerts of the Ustasha singer.
Exactly. It is shameful and unacceptable for the Prime Minister of a member country of the European Union to open the concert of the notorious Marko Perković Thompson. In my career, I have not seen such a demonstration of open populism and disrespect for European values. And yes, this concert not only shames the Croatian Government, but also the European Union as a whole.
What do you say to the HDZ's arguments that this is a domestic singer who should be respected because he fights for Croatian values?
'This does not change anything in that assessment. And while it may seem like a symbolic act, it is very significant because Plenković literally opened the door to a man whose concerts regularly bear Ustasha symbols and rhetoric. Although he wanted to gather support in this way, he effectively undermined not only the dignity of Croatian politics, but also its European component.'
