At the 311th Sinjska Alka, PM Plenković and Mayor Bulj Clash Over Health Policy, While Opposition Leaders Grmoja and Hajdaš Dončić Warn of an Autumn Showdown with the Ruling Party.
This year's 311th Sinjska Alka, held on Sunday, August 9, 2026, turned into a stage for sharp political messages. While Prime Minister Andrej Plenković emphasized the government's support for this tradition, Sinj Mayor Miro Bulj seized the opportunity to publicly criticize the government before the state's top officials for, as he put it, the devastated healthcare services in the Cetina region.
Prime Minister Plenković expressed his delight at being in Sinj and the Cetina region, wishing all alkari (knights) success. He praised the organization of the Viteško alkarsko društvo (Chivalric Alka Society) and emphasized the importance of this tradition, which is over 300 years old.
"We spent the whole day with the leadership of the Chivalric Alka Society, with the many people who came to enjoy another Alka here in Sinj, and to once again collectively experience this beautiful tradition of the Cetina region, which is over 300 years old," said Plenković. He stressed that the government pursues a policy of balanced regional development and will continue investing in the area, adding that the unity in supporting Alka is "felt in all parts of Croatia." He also reminded that even as a member of the European Parliament, he organized a reception for the alkari at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Mayor Bulj did not hold back. Although he called Alka a part of the identity of the people of Sinj and the Cetina region, he sharply criticized the state leadership over the state of healthcare. "Today, those who abolished the maternity ward and literally destroyed healthcare services will be 'posing for photos' with the alkari in the ceremonial box," Bulj said.
He also drew a historical parallel: "Many occupiers have passed through Sinj, from the Turks to today, but the maternity ward was never abolished. Childbirth and Alka are significant not only for Sinj and Dalmatia but for Croatia, for our identity." His main demand was clear: "If they love Alka so much, let them open a general hospital." Bulj added that Sinj also needs a fast road and other promised investments, and he called his "testament" the fight to ensure that children from the Cetina region are born in Sinj, not in Split.
Most President Nikola Grmoja came to Sinj to support Mayor Bulj. He pointed out that Sinj, according to him, has the lowest taxes in Croatia, the highest salaries, free kindergartens, and a positive demographic trend. He said he does not view politics as a "stage and theater," but as serving the citizens.
"Being a populist means being close to the people, listening to the people, not poisoning the people," Grmoja said. In his characteristic style, he also offered a proposed election slogan for HDZ: "What we haven't sold, we've poisoned."
SDP President Siniša Hajdaš Dončić called for calm during the festive days, emphasizing that Mayor Bulj should be respected. "We still live in a parliamentary democracy," he said. He announced that the SDP would be active on the ground and offer concrete solutions.
"The SDP is a party that criticizes but also offers solutions," Hajdaš Dončić said. Referring to the upcoming parliamentary elections, he sent his key message: "Ultimately, in the parliamentary elections, there will probably be only one story: either us or the mafia."
