Croatian right-wing singer Marko Perkovic and fans perform pro-Nazi salute at massive concert
One of Marko Perkovic's most popular songs, played in the late Saturday concert, starts with the dreaded 'For the homeland — Ready!' salute, used by Croatia's Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime that ran concentration camps at the time.
Perkovic, whose stage name is Thompson after a U.S.-made machine gun, had previously said both the song and the salute focus on the 1991-95 ethnic war in Croatia, in which he fought using the American firearm, after the country declared independence from the former Yugoslavia. He says his controversial song is 'a witness of an era.'
The 1990s conflict erupted when rebel minority Serbs, backed by neighboring Serbia, took up guns, intending to split from Croatia and unite with Serbia.
Perkovic's immense popularity in Croatia reflects prevailing nationalist sentiments in the country 30 years after the war ended.
The WWII Ustasha troops in Croatia brutally killed tens of thousands of Serbs, Jews, Roma and antifascist Croats in a string of concentration camps in the country. Despite documented atrocities, some nationalists still view the Ustasha regime leaders as founders of the independent Croatian state.
Organizers said that half a million people attended Perkovic's concert in the Croatian capital. Video footage aired by Croatian media showed many fans displaying pro-Nazi salutes earlier in the day.
The salute is punishable by law in Croatia, but courts have ruled Perkovic can use it as part of his song, the Croatian state television HRT said.
Perkovic has been banned from performing in some European cities over frequent pro-Nazi references and displays at his gigs.
Croatia's Vecernji List daily wrote that the concert's 'supreme organization' has been overshadowed by the use of the salute of a regime that signed off on 'mass executions of people.'
Regional N1 television noted that whatever the modern interpretations of the salute may be its roots are 'undoubtedly' in the Ustasha regime era.
N1 said that while 'Germans have made a clear cut" from anything Nazi-related 'to prevent crooked interpretations and the return to a dark past ... Croatia is nowhere near that in 2025.'
In neighboring Serbia, populist President Aleksandar Vucic criticized Perkovic's concerts as a display 'of support for pro-Nazi values.' Former Serbian liberal leader Boris Tadic said it was a 'great shame for Croatia" and "the European Union' because the concert 'glorifies the killing of members of one nation, in this case Serbian.'
Croatia joined the EU in 2013.
Croatian police said Perkovic's concert was the biggest ever in the country and an unseen security challenge, deploying thousands of officers.
No major incidents were reported.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
Shaq Thompson lists $10.7 M Charlotte mansion after leaving Panthers
Former Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson is listing his Charlotte mansion for $10.7 million. Why it matters: Thompson became a fan favorite as a rookie on the Panthers ' 2015 Super Bowl team and spent a decade as a face of the franchise. Context: Thompson was selected as a first-round draft pick by the Panthers in 2015. He entered free agency earlier this year and recently signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. Now, he's selling his Charlotte digs. Zoom in: Located in the Olde Providence North neighborhood, the 10,957-square-foot mansion has six bedrooms, six full bathrooms and two half baths. What to expect: Just minutes from SouthPark, the gated 1.6-acre estate features a resort-style pool, cabana, and full-sized outdoor sports court with a basketball hoop. Inside the home: Notable features include dual private offices, a home theater, walk-in closets, a playroom and a billiards lounge with a full bar near the spacious kitchen. Fitness perks: The wellness center includes a gym, sauna and steam shower — befitting its pro athlete owner. The vibe: The home was designed by Christopher Phelps Design Group and custom-built by Arcadia Homes. Take a look around
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
Safety Bodies Urge EU Not To Let US Vehicles Skirt Safety Rules
Independent European road safety bodies are concerned that the U.S. will skirt around the EU's ... More crash-safety regulations as part of any trade deal. Photo: Guido Kirchner/picture alliance via Getty Images. Europe's peak independent transport safety bodies have urged the European Union not to follow Japan's lead and allow U.S.-made vehicles to be sold to European customers without passing European safety regulations. The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has insisted that the EU should not allow American companies to sidestep EU safety regulations in the interests of lowered tariffs with the U.S. The Trump administration this week announced a trade deal with Japan, the centerpiece of which is a 15% reciprocal tariff on goods exported from Japan to the U.S. - which has American automakers concerned. But the fine print of the deal showed that American automakers would now be allowed to sell their vehicles into the Japanese market - without passing Japanese domestic crash or emissions regulations. News stories today hinted that the EU was preparing to sign a similar deal, allowing its automakers to export to the U.S. for a 15% tariff rather than building cars there, with the same circumvention of its crash-safety regulations, which are considered the toughest in the world. Autonomous emergency braking, ntelligent speed assistance and pedestrian protection are some ... More features mandated under EU law that are not mandatory in U.S. cars. Photo: Getty. In a statement released today, the ETSC expressed deep concern that the move could undermine years of crash-safety science and improvement and urged the EU to reject any such deal and insisted vehicle-safety standards were public protections, not trade barriers. 'We are deeply concerned by the trade deal reached this week by the governments of Japan and the United States, which reportedly removes domestic Japanese safety testing requirements for American-made vehicles exported to Japan,' the statement read. "This move sets a dangerous precedent - one that could undermine road safety in countries that have led the world in automotive safety regulation. 'Allowing vehicles to bypass proven national safety standards for the sake of trade expediency risks turning back the clock on decades of progress in reducing road deaths and serious injuries.' Signatories to the statement include the the Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (Antonio Avenoso), the Acting Director General of the FIA's Region 1 (Diogo Pinto), the Executive Director of Transport & Environment (William Todts) and the President of the International Federation of Pedestrians (Geert van Waeg). Others involved included leaders of the European Consumer Voice in Standardization, Cities and Regions for Transport Innovation and the European Cyclists' Federation. Leading the pushback were Michiel van Ratingen, the Secretary General of Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) and the CEO of Global NCAP, Richard Woods. NCAP programs have been responsible for enormous steps forward in consumer awareness of vehicle crash safety and, more lately, in driver-assistance systems. 'Reports indicate that Japan will now allow U.S. vehicles to enter its market without being subject to Japan's specific crash testing or safety compliance requirements. We urge the European Union not to follow suit,' the statement continued. "Trade talks must not become a backdoor to regulatory weakening. Vehicle safety standards are not trade barriers; they are public protections backed by science and evidence. Weakening or bypassing them would lead to real and measurable harm - particularly to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. "The EU has consistently adopted some of the world's most effective vehicle safety regulations, culminating in the General Safety Regulation that is currently in force. These rules mandate technologies such as automated emergency braking, intelligent speed assistance, and pedestrian protection - none of which are currently required for vehicles sold in the U.S. 'We urge EU leaders to maintain this position, and to state clearly that no deal on vehicles will be accepted unless all products placed on the EU market meet existing European regulatory requirements in full.'While the Trump administration has insisted that its tariff war would bring jobs back to America, it was the Toyota Motor Corp whose shares boomed on the Japanese tariff announcement, rising 13% to a seven-month high yesterday. The Big Three U.S. automakers called for caution on the tariffs yesterday, with the head of the American Automotive Policy Council (which represents Ford, GM and Stellantis) insisting they would harm American manufacturers, rather than helping them. 'Any deal that charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no U.S. content than the tariff imposed on North American built vehicles with high U.S. content is a bad deal for U.S. industry and U.S. auto workers,' the council's head, Matt Blunt, said in a statement. Auto Drive America, which represents automakers who sell imported vehicles in the U.S., had a different take, and urged Trump to reach similar deals with the EU, Mexico and South Korea. 'We share President Trump's vision to make the U.S. the worldwide center of automotive production, and our member companies need stability in order to create an environment where we can maintain our competitive edge both in the U.S. and on the global stage,' Auto Drive America said in a statement. The Trade War has been a collection of ups and downs that have driven automakers to despair, given that all U.S.-built cars contain at least 15% foreign-made parts. The irony is that American cars have been sold tariff-free in Japan for decades, but have failed to garner interest due to being too large and inefficient for Japanese tastes. Now, they'll be at least 15% more expensive to Japanese buyers.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cardi B Channels Dolly Parton With Bird's Nest Hairdo at the Balenciaga Fall 2025 Couture Show in Paris
Cardi B took a style cue from Dolly Parton with bombshell bird's nest hair at the Balenciaga fall 2025 couture show in Paris on Wednesday morning. The artist's voluminous hairdo reached new heights with foot-long extensions that were tied and teased on top of Cardi B's head; her ends maintained the shape of the wide-barrel rollers that formed them. The inky tresses stuck out behind her, falling from the BumpIt positioned on the crown of her head. More from WWD Katy Perry Plays With Proportions in Balenciaga's Surreal Space Pump at Paris Couture Week Celebrities Front Row at Balenciaga Fall 2025 Couture: Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Nicole Kidman and More Kim Kardashian Pays Tribute to Demna With Her Signature Pantaboot Flair at Balenciaga's Fall 2025 Couture Runway Show Cardi B isn't the only celebrity to revert to protruding roots and thick extensions recently. TikTok-er-turned-pop star Addison Rae just sported the same dramatic aesthetic in the music video for her new hit, 'Times Like These,' which sees her undergo a major transformation from wet to wind-blown hair. Rae's grandiose style was designed by hair artist Lucas Wilson, whose client list includes models Gabbriette and Emily Ratajkowski. Cardi B's hair was most likely designed by Tokyo Stylez, her go-to hairstylist, with whom she's worked with on cover shoots and concert looks. Her makeup, on the other hand, bore a unique resemblance to trends from a later era. Her finely plucked, angled eyebrows, a burgeoning brow theme these days, harked back to the beauty aesthetics of the late '80s and early '90s, as did her bold red lip and shimmery purple shadow. Nothing about her visage spoke to the 'clean girl,' no-makeup trend that's consumed the online mecca since 2020. In fact, her made-up countenance drew comparisons to Doja Cat's punky makeup at the 2025 Met Gala in May. There, the 'Streets' vocalist wore aquatic shadow up to her skinny brows and matte lipstick in a dark crimson hue. For her fashion at the Balenciaga presentation, Cardi B donned a delicate long-sleeve, floral gown with intricate beading woven into the mesh fabric. She paired the sultry garment with sheer stockings and pointed-toe pumps. Elsewhere at the show, Lisa Rinna sported a relaxed, toned-down ensemble, consisting of a cocooning cobalt tracksuit and a straightened black bowl-cut wig similar to Anderson .Paak's signature 'do. Celebrities Front Row at Balenciaga Couture Fall 2025 Show Photos View Gallery Launch Gallery: Celebrities Front Row at Balenciaga Couture Fall 2025 Show Photos Best of WWD A Look Back at Fourth of July Celebrations at the White House Princess Diana's Birthday Looks Through the Years: Her Sleek Black Jacques Azagury Dress, Vibrant Colors and More Lauren Sánchez's Fashion Evolution Through the Years: From Her Days as TV News Anchor to Today Solve the daily Crossword
