Split in City Council: Sinj Without Public Awards
HDZ and Dr. Jadrijević's Independent List councilors leave session; Mayor Bulj accuses opposition of 'performance' and inability to agree on awards.
HDZ and Dr. Jadrijević's Independent List councilors leave session; Mayor Bulj accuses opposition of 'performance' and inability to agree on awards.
Sinj's City Council experienced a complete breakdown on Monday. The ninth session, which included a proposal for awarding public recognitions for 2025, was interrupted after HDZ councilors and those from Dr. Jadrijević's Independent List walked out, along with Council President Marija Gaurina. Thus, on the eve of the city's biggest celebrations, the city was left without an agreement on awards, and the planned ceremonial session for City Day on August 13, 2026, is now in question.
The reason for leaving the session was the conduct of Mayor Miro Bulj, who, according to the opposition, contrary to the City Council's decision, paid out nearly 200,000 euros in one-time social benefits, known as 'alkarica', in cash. HDZ councilor Stipe Perić emphasized that the Council had decided that these aids should be paid to current and giro accounts, or via FINA for citizens with blocked accounts.
"Although the City Council decided that financial aid should be paid via current and giro accounts, or via FINA for citizens with blocked accounts or those without a bank account, the mayor distributed 200,000 euros in cash, 'under the table', thus trampling the City Council's decision," Perić stated, adding that he expects institutions to do their job.
Council President Marija Gaurina briefly stated that she must protect the dignity of the Council and left the session, followed by the other councilors from her list and those from HDZ.
Despite the lack of quorum and the departure of the president, Mayor Miro Bulj insisted on continuing the session. He called the whole situation a "performance" by the opposition, claiming that the real reason for leaving was the ruling coalition's inability to agree on the recipients of public awards, especially the Lifetime Achievement Award.
"As for this performance, it's because the coalition has failed, as it couldn't agree on the City of Sinj awards, and now it has a big problem making that decision. It's pathetic!" Bulj said, adding: "Believe me, there has never been a worse City Council in history. They can't solve one small problem, and they've already fallen apart over the Lifetime Achievement Award."
In his address, the mayor defended the payment of 'alkarica', increased to 50 euros per person, emphasizing that he did not want to leave citizens in the lurch, especially those with blocked accounts. He stated that the city's money belongs to the citizens and that no political bargaining will stop him from helping pensioners and the unemployed.
A different perspective was offered by SDP councilor Nataša Delonga Poparić, who expressed doubt that HDZ and Dr. Jadrijević's Independent List parted ways precisely because each side has its own candidate for the Lifetime Achievement Award. "For the first time, they couldn't agree on something, obviously something that matters a lot to Dr. Jadrijević's Independent List, and that was the only reason they left the City Council session today," Delonga Poparić said, adding that even during the war, Sinj never failed to award public recognitions.
Councilor Filip Klarić-Kukuz from Dr. Jadrijević's Independent List, in addition to criticizing the cash distribution of 'alkarica', listed a series of the mayor's failures: from not implementing conclusions about kindergarten capacities and protecting the rights of employees in city institutions, to patching financial holes from 2025 with 2026 budget funds without an adopted rebalancing.
The conflict continued through press releases. The HDZ and Dr. Jadrijević's Independent List councilor clubs jointly stated that the fundamental principle of local democracy had been trampled and that they expect a reaction from the competent institutions. "It is especially sad that all this is happening at a time when Sinj is living its most festive days. Instead of talking about the 311th Sinjska Alka and the Assumption of Mary, the mayor is daily creating new conflicts and insults," their statement read.
Mayor Bulj responded in his own statement that they are incapable of even making a decision on awards and that it is "a disgrace for the city" that this is happening on the eve of the most important days. "I have been and will remain with my people, and you, Rudokop coalition, #NE_ĆE_TE," Bulj concluded.
