NWhen Tomislav Tomashevich was elected mayor of Zagreb on May 30 this year, it was not only a small revolution for Croatia. Because Tomashevich belongs to a political movement that has hitherto been particularly noticeable in Southeast Europe, because it doesn’t matter: the party “Možemo” (“We Can”), as his candidate to win the election, counts himself in the green spectrum superior. So far, the Green Party has played no role in the political process of the countries of the former Yugoslavia.
At least in Croatia, this situation is slowly changing. “Možemo” is represented in the national parliament, and together with the capital mayor’s office, for the first time has a place in the country. This is both an opportunity and a burden. Its goal is to establish itself as the leading force of the left in Croatia. Zagreb may be a springboard for this, but if “Možemo” does not live up to expectations there, then it is also a trapdoor. “We have no illusions about this. These are the rules of the game,” Tomasevic said in an interview with FAZ. “We are no longer the opposition. I must make a decision and take action.”
Inspiration for Serbian progressives
Tomašević was born in 1982 and he sees this as an opportunity for his party to surpass Croatia. “What is happening in Zagreb now is very unusual. So far, green progressive politics has not been particularly successful in Eastern Europe, and certainly not in Southeast Europe. Therefore, we are also working hard to pave the way for similar movements in the region.” In fact, the path of “Možemo” in the area is being closely monitored. In Serbia, at least in Belgrade, there is the potential of the Green Party. Some young politicians hope to build on the success of the Croatian Green Party, although the road is still long.
Every Tuesday
In Croatia, it has never been decided that “Možemo” will be able to establish its status permanently. The party still has a major obstacle to overcome: outside of Zagreb and some other big cities, support for new forces is not far away. “Možemo” has a plan similar to the green mainstream in Western Europe. This is not necessarily beneficial to the surrounding regions of Croatia and Southeast Europe. In the villages of Slavonia or Dalmatia, gender-neutral language, marriage for all, LGBTQ flags, or debates about the rights of minors to redistribute gender will not lure bitches from behind the stove.
Tomashevich admitted that it would also be a “challenge” for his party to persuade voters outside the city. The mayor of the capital said that some of the concerns of “Možemo” caused “certain disharmony” among some people in the country, but he saw a positive development: “When people see how we work for them for social justice, they They will also understand that we are fighting for ethnic minorities. Maybe they won’t agree with us immediately, but they understand our concerns.”
