Fans' behaviour at a concert by popular but controversial singer Marko Perkovic Thompson has brought up uncomfortable issues for Croatia and become a source of contention among the main parties ahead of the presidential election due to take place in December. 

The use of Ustasha symbols from the Nazi-aligned fascist regime in Croatia during the Second World War by some of the audience prompted swift condemnation from President Zoran Milanovic, who is seeking re-election. 

Meanwhile, the junior partner in the current government, the right-wing nationalist Homeland Movement, called for no action to be taken against concert goers who displayed the symbols. 

This put the senior ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in a difficult position; its statement condemned the use of Ustasha symbols at the concert but also laid into Milanovic. 

Founded between the wars to fight for an independent Croatia, the Ustasha was installed in government after Yugoslavia was occupied by the Axis powers, to lead the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). During its time at the helm of the puppet state, thousands of Jews, Serbs and Romas were killed. 

Despite this dark history, Croatian paramilitaries adopted Ustasha symbols and the slogan “For the homeland ready” during the wars that broke up Yugoslavia in the 1990s. 

Some of Thompson's fans are known for their ultra-nationalist views, often displaying Ustasha symbols, banners and uniforms. 

After he performed in Imotski alongside Mate Bulic and Drazen Zecic on August 6, there was outrage in Croatia and neighbouring countries when footage appeared on social media showing black clad concert-goers with the insignia of the NDH, raising their right hands in salute.

President Zoran Milanovic responded on August 7 with a statement that there is no place in Croatia for Ustasha greetings, signs and songs that celebrate the regime of the NDH. 

“Ustasha greetings, features and songs that undoubtedly celebrate the so-called regime. NDH, which unfortunately could be seen and heard in Imotska last night, before and during a concert – should not and must not have a place in today's democratic Republic of Croatia!” Milanovic wrote on Facebook. 

“The so-called NDH has nothing to do with the modern and sovereign Republic of Croatia and it is our duty to all who do not understand this to repeat the truth about the past, in the interest of Croatian future.” 

A controversial signer

Throughout his career, Thompson has been a controversial figure, often drawing media criticism for his performances and songs, which some claim glorify or endorse the Ustasha regime. 

In 1991, when Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia, sparking the Croatian War of Independence, he joined the Croatian military. He used an American Thompson submachine gun during the conflict, a weapon that earned him the nickname “Thompson", which later became his stage name.

While defending his home village, Perkovic was inspired to write Bojna Cavoglave (Cavoglave Battalion), one of the war's most popular songs, marking the beginning of his music career.

After the war, Thompson's popularity waned. However, in the early 2000s he made a comeback by aligning with right-wing critics of then Croatia's centre-left coalition government, who opposed the government's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in extraditing accused war criminals.

Responding to Milanovic’s criticism, Thompson said he would not stop singing songs from the Homeland War, as the War of Independence is known in Croatia. 

"Of course we will sing our songs from the Homeland War, the same as before, they do not cast a shadow on our heroes from the Homeland War, but remind us of the courage of our veterans and their strength in creating the Croatian state of which, unfortunately, you are the current president," he said in an official statement published on his Facebook page. 

Fans doubled down after the public exchange between Thompson and Milanovic. At the singer’s first solo concert in two years on August 8, it was reported by Slobodna Dalmacija that Ustasha chants and Ustasha-themed songs were "echoing in the city”. It was also reported that fans launched into chants against Milanovic, calling him a pederast.

Homeland movement backs concert-goers

The right-wing Homeland Movement, which is part of the ruling coalition, condemned Milanovic's reaction to the events in Imotski. 

"Media and political slander of the most popular Croatian musician is completely unacceptable and under any condemnation and absolutely against Croatian national interests,” wrote Igor Peternel, president of the parliamentary group of the Homeland Movement, on Facebook on August 8.

Peternel indicated the party expects the interior ministry to follow its line given it appointed the current state secretary of the ministry. We “expect him to politically advocate against possible sanctions of any of the visitors to the concerts of our respected musicians in Imotski,” he wrote.

After the statement from the Homeland Movement, the ministry said in response to a question from Croatian news agency Hina that police officers do “not have the right to judge an act as moral or immoral, right or wrong, but must determine whether an illegal act was committed, i.e. whether someone broke the law or acted within the law”. 

HDZ reacts 

The senior ruling HDZ commented on the situation on August 8, saying that modern Croatia was not created on the foundations of the NDH and that it condemns the use of Ustasha symbols and flags.

"HDZ strongly condemns the use of illegal Ustasha symbols and flags in Imotski, and it is up to the police and courts to react appropriately and sanction the individuals responsible,” said a statement published on the party’s website. 

“Modern Croatia is based on the Homeland War, the universal values of freedom, rule of law and democracy, and thus on a clear departure from all totalitarianisms – both Nazism, fascism and communism. Modern Croatia, the state of the Croatian people and all its citizens, cannot be based on failed ideologies and undemocratic regimes.” 

However, the statement went on to lambast the “new outburst of [Social Democratic Party] SDP candidate Zoran Milanovic, who once again demonstrated the luxury of hypocrisy and ideological exclusivity.” 

"Milanovic used the inappropriate, illegal actions of some people in Imotski to criminalise the entire rally and more than 20,000 fellow citizens who came to the concert to celebrate Victory Day and homeland gratitude,” the HDZ said. 

“The presidential elections are approaching, so Milanovic … clearly has nothing to offer except the leftists' favourite topic of partisans and Ustasha and his own political roots, so he once again divides Croatia into 'ours and yours’.” 

Election ahead 

2024 is an important election year for Croatia. First came the April general election, which returned the HDZ to power, albeit with a somewhat weaker showing than in the previous election, forcing it into an alliance with the Homeland Movement. 

This was a somewhat awkward move for Prime Minister Andrej Plankovic’s party, as since coming to power he had sought to bring the party towards the centre and slough off its nationalist past to make it acceptable to a broader electoral base.

The domestic election result was broadly repeated in the European Parliament election in June, with the HDZ coming out ahead and the Homeland Movement taking its first MEP seat. 

Homeland Movement was founded by Miroslav Skoro, a popular former singer and failed presidential candidate. In the past, Skoro courted controversy by speaking out against the decision to outlaw the "For the homeland ready" salute that was used by the Ustasha and later by the Croatian Defence Forces (HOS) in the 1990s. 

As Plenkovic overhauled the HDZ, taking it closer to the centre, Homeland Movement gathered many disaffected nationalists. 

Meanwhile, Milanovic’s SDP trailed the HDZ in both elections, and the president had an embarrassing debacle when he announced his candidacy for prime minister in April, only to be told by the Constitutional Court ruled that he could not run while serving as president.

Milanovic’s popularity has been dented by his position on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. A vocal critic of EU support for Ukraine, Milanovic has argued that Croatia should remain neutral and has opposed training Ukrainian soldiers in Croatia. That has earned him accusations of being pro-Russian, while Plenkovic has taken a strong pro-Ukrainian stance. 

The display of Ustasha symbols and gestures at the Thompson concert was no doubt an opportunity for Milanovic to claw back some of the moral high ground, given the HDZ’s alliance with the Homeland Movement. 

As the election approaches, the HDZ opted to back an independent candidate, conservative former education minister Dragan Primorac, who also has the backing of smaller parties. However, it is as yet unclear how Primorac will perform against Milanovic. The HDZ’s partnership in government with the Homeland Movement may also be an issue for more moderate voices as the election approaches.