Overview about the Croatian Far-Right

Centre for Peace Studies - CPS, Zagreb

The far-right political landscape in Croatia has seen significant activity in recent years, reflecting a broader European trend of nationalist and right-wing ideologies gaining ground. These parties exploit themes of national identity, Euroscepticism, and anti-immigration sentiment to rally support, particularly during current economic uncertainty.

The Homeland Movement

One of the most prominent far-right political actors in Croatia is the Homeland Movement (Domovinski pokret - DP). Founded in 2020 by Miroslav Škoro, a former musician and presidential candidate, the party initially positioned itself as a conservative alternative to the ruling Christian democrats, Croatian Democratic Union (Hrvatska demokratska zajednica - HDZ). DP advocates for traditional values, national sovereignty, and a strong stance against perceived threats to Croatian identity. Although it has moderated its rhetoric since its inception, the party’s early platform included cultural nationalism and scepticism toward minority rights. In the last parliamentary elections held in April 2024, DP gained 9,56% or 14 mandates. After the split of DP in May (see below), they currently have 11 out of 151 seats in the Parliament. They have three ministers (out of 18) in the Government: the economy, demography and immigration, and agriculture, forestry and fishery, whose minister is a deputy Prime Minister as well.

The Croatian Sovereigntists

Another player is the Croatian Sovereigntists (Hrvatski suverenisti - HS), a coalition of smaller right-wing groups united by their Eurosceptic and nationalist agenda. This coalition emphasises the protection of Croatian sovereignty, opposing what it perceives as an overreach by the EU. The Sovereigntists have also been vocal critics of LGBTIQ+ rights and gender equality policies, framing these issues as threats to traditional Croatian values. Their platform often incorporates religious conservatism, appealing to the country’s Catholic majority. At the last elections in 2024, the Sovereigntists were in coalition with another party, the Bridge (Most), gaining 8,02% or 11 mandates, which translates to only one seat for HS in the Parliament.

The Domino Party

A lesser-known but noteworthy actor on the far-right spectrum is the Domino Party (Dom i nacionalno okupljanje - DOMINO – Homeland and National Gathering). Emerging as a split-off from the DP, the Domino Party was founded by former members dissatisfied with the Homeland Movement’s leadership and direction of the party after the parliamentary elections in 2024. The party is characterised by its staunch nationalist stance and anti-globalist rhetoric, often emphasising preserving traditional Croatian culture and identity. It opposes policies perceived as eroding national sovereignty, with rhetoric critiquing immigration and EU policies. Aligning ideologically with other far-right movements in Europe, the Domino Party has not yet competed in the political arena, which makes its future influence uncertain. However, its limited resources and organisational challenges suggest it may face difficulties in establishing a significant presence. They have three seats in the Parliament. After Stephen Bartulica defected the DP, the Domino Party have one Member of European Parliament. Domino is part of the ECR Group.

Far-Right Religious NGOs

Contributing to the far-right ecosystem in Croatia are NGOs and networks established through funding and influence from foreign and international actors. In the 2010s, one of the most prominent and influential Civil Society Organisations was In the Name of the Family (U ime obitelji), led by Željka Markić. This organisation successfully mobilised the public to amend the Constitution to recognise marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman. This campaign capitalised on the momentum created by the amendment of the Referendum Act, which had lowered the threshold required for Croatia's EU accession referendum in 2012 to pass. 

Working closely with Markić is John Vice Batarelo, founder and president of Vigilare, another conservative Civil Society Organisation in Croatia. Both NGOs were mentioned in WikiLeaks documents exposing financial connections with Spanish far-right groups such as CitizenGO and HazteOir. Batarelo is also connected to the Polish ultra-conservative organisation Ordo Iuris, serving as a founding member of the supervisory board of Ordo Iuris Croatia, established in late 2018. More on the far-right religious connections can be found in this research from VSquare from 2021.

Another prominent figure is Stephen (Stjepo) Bartulica, a member of the Domino Party and a Croatian member of the European Parliament. Bartulica was recently appointed president of the Political Network for Values (PNfV) through his NGO, the Centre for the Renewal of Culture. From 2010 to 2015, he served as an adviser for religious communities to Croatian President Ivo Josipović. This appointment was somewhat surprising given Josipović’s political alignment as a social democrat, contrasting with Bartulica’s strong conservative and Catholic stance. Since 2015, Bartulica has worked to position himself as a key figure in intellectual circles, frequently speaking at forums and events emphasising nationalism, sovereignty, and traditional values. His leadership in the PNfV signals his intent to extend Croatia’s ultra-conservative influence onto the global stage.

Media outlets and platforms

Equally important in shaping Croatia's far-right discourse are media outlets and platforms. The television talk show Bujica is known for its far-right, nationalist, and populist perspectives and is often criticised for hosting discussions that promote hate speech and historical revisionism. Additionally, podcasts such as Velebit and Mrežnica provide a platform for far-right and nationalist rhetoric, further amplifying these ideologies in the public sphere.

                                               

Centre for Peace Studies (Croatian abbreviation: CMS; English abbreviation: CPS) is a civil society organisation that protects human rights and pursues social change based on the values of democracy, anti-fascism, nonviolence, peacebuilding, solidarity and equality using activism, education, research, advocacy and direct support. We work with communities, initiatives, organisations, media, institutions and individuals in Croatia and internationally.

Redacción: Ulli Jentsch