Mayor Ante Cukrov told Nacional.hr that due to the announced performance of the Serbian singer on the Assumption of Mary, quiet protests by citizens and veterans' associations are being prepared.
The announcement of Serbian singer Jelena Karleuša's concert in Vodice, scheduled for August 15, 2026, has stirred up the entire region. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the performance falls on the Assumption of Mary, a national holiday in Croatia.
Vodice Mayor Ante Cukrov, in an exclusive interview with Nacional.hr, did not hide his displeasure. "It's inappropriate," he said briefly, explaining that the city administration cannot ban an event on private property, but he believes the singer has no place there.
"We are not responsible for private properties, only for public spaces. We have nothing against anyone, and everyone is welcome in the city of Vodice. However, this is about a person who has publicly made negative comments about our country, and for that reason alone, she is not welcome," Cukrov explained.
Karleuša came to the attention of the Croatian public with a scandalous statement: "Why shouldn't we, like the Albanians who are creating a Greater Albania, want a Greater Serbia?" This was followed by a series of other anti-Croatian outbursts, and she is also known as a fervent supporter of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's regime.
Due to the announced concert, organized by the Hacienda club, the mayor's phone hasn't stopped ringing. "I've never received more calls and emails since the concert was announced on Hacienda's official pages. It's inappropriate to host Jelena Karleuša, especially since quiet protests by citizens and veterans' associations have been announced, and associations from outside the county have also joined forces with the existing ones," Cukrov said.
He emphasized that the resistance is not motivated by hatred or nationalism, but solely by her behavior. At the same time, he reminded that musicians from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other former Yugoslav countries perform in Vodice's clubs every summer without any problems, and that many people from neighboring countries work in the city.
The Hacienda club responded on their pages, stating they are aware of the reactions regarding the concert. They ask for mutual respect and polite communication, noting that they will not tolerate hate speech, insults, or threats on social media. "Hacienda is a place of music, entertainment, and mutual respect," their post reads.
As Nacional.hr has learned, a meeting between organizer Ivana and the Mayor of Vodice is scheduled for Monday, August 10, 2026, to find a solution acceptable to all parties.
