Bulgarian Fires Back at Bulj: 'Less Theater, More Results, Sinj Won't Develop Through Facebook Statuses!'
HDZ MP and Mayor of Trilj accuses the Mayor of Sinj of political impotence and inappropriate rhetoric, urging him to deliver concrete results.
HDZ MP and Mayor of Trilj accuses the Mayor of Sinj of political impotence and inappropriate rhetoric, urging him to deliver concrete results.
After the Mayor of Sinj and MP Miro Bulj sharply criticized the Government of the Republic of Croatia, comparing its treatment of the state to the actions of Chetniks and occupiers, a fierce response came his way. HDZ MP and Mayor of Trilj Ivan Bugarin issued a statement on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, accusing Bulj of using noise to mask a lack of arguments and concrete achievements.
Bugarin believes that criticism is legitimate, but that Bulj's statements cross the line of serious politics. "Criticizing the Croatian Government is legitimate. Criticizing any politician if there are arguments for it is also legitimate. But claiming that the Croatian Government treats Croatia 'worse than Chetniks and all occupiers' is neither courage nor serious politics! It's political impotence wrapped in a lot of noise, for which Bulj is well known," Bugarin said.
"The pattern clearly repeats: when arguments run out, Chetniks, occupiers, traitors, and the mafia are pulled out of the drawer!"
He also reminded of the suffering and destruction during the Homeland War, emphasizing that such statements devalue the meaning of words. "Chetniks and occupiers attacked Croatia, killed our people, expelled families, and destroyed Croatian cities and villages. If today we cannot distinguish a political opponent from an occupier, then we have seriously devalued the meaning of those words," he wrote.
Bugarin particularly criticized Bulj's invocation of Croatian veterans and generals in the context of daily political squabbles. "It's even more tasteless to drag Croatian veterans and generals into such a daily political spectacle, as if patriotism is measured by who sat with whom in the honorary box or posed for a photo at the table," Bugarin stated.
He emphasized that veterans built the state so that all its citizens could enjoy democracy and freedom, "not so that politicians could pull them out of their pockets decades later when they need a stronger Facebook status."
In addition to criticizing his rhetoric, Bugarin shifted focus to Bulj's performance as Mayor of Sinj, a position he has held for five years. "Colleague Bulj, you've been an MP for years, and you've led the City of Sinj for five years. It's time to leave the rebelliousness behind; you are the authority, responsible for Sinj and the Cetina region," he said.
Instead of searching for "the mafia, traitors, Chetniks, and occupiers across Croatia," Bugarin calls on Bulj to show concrete results. "We mayors have a very simple test: What have we done? What have we built? What investments have we brought? What have we left behind?" he asked.
Concluding his statement, Bugarin emphasized that he will personally answer to the citizens of Trilj for his work, just as Bulj will answer to the citizens of Sinj. "There are only mandates, responsibility, and results. With such theatrical performances, you've best shown how many concrete arguments you have left," he wrote.
Bugarin summarized his message with a direct appeal: "Less theater, colleague, more results! Croatia is not defended by Facebook statuses, nor will Sinj develop with such politics!"
On the same day, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković held a meeting of the inner cabinet and the parliamentary majority dedicated to the situation with illegal waste in Gospić. "The main messages are: the criminal process is ongoing, remediation is accelerating, and the coalition is stable, with the desire of all to most severely sanction the perpetrators of these criminal acts," Plenković wrote.
Minister of Croatian Veterans Tomo Medved announced that the network of the Public Institution Veterans Center, after establishing the first four branches in Šibenik, Sinj, Petrinja, and Daruvar, is expanding to five more locations across Croatia. Planned centers include Virovitica, Krapina, Biograd na Moru, Osijek, and Senj, with more than half of the funding for expansion secured from European Union funds.
