HDZ Fires Back at Bulj
The Sinj mayor refused to sit with government representatives in the Alkars' ceremonial box, and the ruling party says he has always put himself above Sinj, the Alka, and the Homeland War.
The Sinj mayor refused to sit with government representatives in the Alkars' ceremonial box, and the ruling party says he has always put himself above Sinj, the Alka, and the Homeland War.
The HDZ responded sharply on Saturday, August 9, 2026, to the decision of Sinj Mayor Miro Bulj not to sit in the ceremonial box with representatives of the Croatian Government during the 311th Sinjska Alka. The reaction came via social media, accusing Bulj of making the move solely for his own political promotion.
"We are sorry that Bulj is putting on a show again, but this is not unexpected. He has always been most important to himself. More important than the Alka and Sinj. More important than the VAD and the duke. More important than the Storm celebration and the Homeland War," the HDZ said. They further sharpened their criticism: "That's what happens when, as mayor, you have a lack of achievements and an excess of malice and vanity."
Bulj had earlier explained his decision on Facebook in a post titled 'Alka for the People'. As the main reasons for boycotting the ceremonial box, he cited the Government's attitude towards Sinj and the Cetina region, particularly highlighting the closure of the Sinj maternity ward and unfulfilled promises regarding the construction of a general hospital.
"The people of Sinj have pride, the people of Sinj have backbone, and we will not allow anyone to humiliate us! The Croatian Government closed the Sinj maternity ward, directly striking at the Alka and our tradition, and today they are taking photos with the Alkars," Bulj said.
He also criticized the Government for the lack of progress in healthcare and transport connections, claiming they ignore him as the elected mayor. As an additional reason for his decision, he cited the case of illegal hazardous waste disposal in Lika, which he called "pure high treason."
Bulj's absence was visible during the Alka itself. His seat in the ceremonial box, between the president of the Knightly Alkars' Society, Stipe Jukić, and the Split-Dalmatia County Prefect, Blaženko Boban, remained empty. At the start of the competition, the Alka duke, Marijo Šušnjara, also commented on this, saying: "Greetings to Mayor Miro Bulj, wherever he is!"
This year's Alka was also attended by President Zoran Milanović, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, and Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković, as well as the president of HDZ BiH, Dragan Čović. Milanović and Plenković did not sit next to each other in the ceremonial box; between them were Čović and Jandroković with his wife.
Despite the political tensions, the Croatian Government extended congratulations to the winner of the 311th Sinjska Alka, Tin Radanović, who celebrated with 12 punata. "The Sinjska Alka is the pride of Sinj, the Cetina region, and all of Croatia, and the Croatian Government will continue to strongly support its promotion and the activities of the VAD Sinj," the statement said.
On the same day, an announcement came from Sinj about a reduction in fuel prices. From Tuesday, gasoline will be cheaper by 6 cents per liter, diesel by 4 cents, blue diesel by 3 cents, and liquefied petroleum gas by as much as 8 cents per liter, both in tanks and bottles. Additionally, a novelty was introduced: fuel prices will no longer be capped on a biweekly basis, but on a weekly basis.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković also commented on the waste affair in Lika, which Bulj had highlighted as one of the reasons for his protest. "All those responsible for the waste disposal in Gospić and Lika must be held accountable, and the competent authorities are dealing with this. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition and the Environmental Protection Fund have the task of remediating this waste, but it must be done through a lawful and transparent procedure," Plenković said, adding that the problem will be resolved in the same way as the baled waste in Varaždin was resolved.
