Protesters carried banners reading “Fascism Is Hate,” “Against Darkness,” and “The Planet Is Burning — Fascists Are Killing It.”
Speakers condemned the normalization of fascist slogans linked to the WWII-era Nazi-aligned puppet state, where tens of thousands of Serbs, Jews, Roma, and anti-fascist Croats were murdered.
Student activist Lucija Marković, reading the main statement at Zagreb’s central station, delivered a fierce warning:
“We see fascism in every attack on a worker or courier because of their skin color, in every shout of ‘Za dom spremni’ in parliament that goes unpunished, and in every group of men dressed in black threatening minorities.”
Organizers criticized what they described as an increasingly militarized political culture, where wartime rhetoric has become routine and defense budgets overshadow investment in education.
Minorities and Journalists Face Growing Hostility
Journalists have also become frequent targets of threats and violence.
Maja Sever, president of the Croatian Journalists’ Association and the European Federation of Journalists, spoke forcefully at the rally:
“Journalists are not afraid. We remain a pillar of democratic society. It is unacceptable to label people as threats because they come from a different school, city, country, or culture.”
In Rijeka and Zadar, counter-demonstrations by groups of black-clad young men led to scuffles with police and the detention of at least one individual, according to the news portal Index.hr.
A Cultural Battle Over Fascist Symbols
Chants of “Za dom spremni” (“For the Homeland — Ready!”) — a slogan used by the WWII-era Ustaše regime — have recently disrupted cultural events attended by ethnic Serbs in Zagreb and Split. Fascist slogans also appear in popular music: Croatian singer Marko Perković “Thompson” frequently uses them and remains wildly popular domestically, despite being banned from performing in several European cities.
Analysts say these trends have sharpened since Prime Minister Andrej Plenković’s ruling HDZ party entered a coalition with a far-right party after last year’s parliamentary elections — leaving Serbs, for the first time in years, outside of government.
Government Pushback: “The Opposition Is Exaggerating”
Plenković has rejected accusations that his government is tolerating far-right radicalism.
Instead, he accuses left-wing critics of “exaggerating the problem and deepening divisions.”
But Sunday’s nationwide turnout — spanning young activists, minority communities, and veteran journalists — suggests a growing public concern that Croatia is drifting toward a dangerous ideological edge.
A Society at a Crossroads
As thousands marched through Croatia’s major cities demanding dignity, equality, and accountability, one message echoed above all: Croatia must confront its past to protect its future.
Whether the government acts — or dismisses the warnings — may determine the country’s democratic trajectory in the years ahead.