So what actually happened in Croatia on January 22nd, 2012?

Yes, there was a referendum and Croats have been asked if they wish to join European union. As widely reported, 66% of those who voted said yes, we want to join EU. That first impression is implying that after almost a century Croatian people decided to leave behind memory of a traumatic 20th century union experiment in the south of Europe, as well as 20 years of independence, just to join the European union. Some will go that far and say, Croats will join the European union they were not part of since 1918, whatever the reasons.

But, once one looks closely at the numbers you will find out that only 44% of Croats voted on this referendum. 15% of all Croats were against and only 29% of all Croats were for joining the European Union.

What does, or does NOT think the majority, 56% of Croats?

Whatever the reason, how did majority of Croats forget what they were fighting for only 17 years after the aggression on Croatia and the War of independence ended, and had brought to them democracy and freedom to vote? How is possible that democratic vote became so unimportant to Croatian people after such a short time span or after they got the right to vote in 1990, after 72 years of one or another kind of a dictatorship, and why?

Roof of St. Marc, Zagreb, depicting the coats of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia, Savonia, and Zagreb

Should we look at the problem in the leadership, people who ran the country in the past 17 years since the War of independence ended?

Who are the people Croats are voting for in the past 17 years? By looking at their names, chances are slim to non when voting to find the name of a politician who hadn’t been in some kind of a political position during the communist era, no matter the party she or he is in now. Is it possible that Croats had enough of this people, their empty promises, failed attempts at job creation and corruption that reminds them of those old days prior to 1990 when those same people predominantly followed orders from Belgrade, communist doctrine and were running socialist economy, from 1945 until its final collapse in 1989.

Most important question that arises is – How did they succeed to get majority of Croats, who were for EU just two decades ago in such a large numbers, to, not only not to care about EU but, it looks like, they no longer care about future of Croatia as well, at least 56% of those old enough to vote but didn’t, and 15% who said NO to EU?

Are the Croatian politicians only ones to blame?

A lot happened since first democratic elections in the Spring of 1990 and 2012 referendum, in some instances of a great importance to the Croatian people. Croats may felt that EU, and in some cases rest of the World, have turned their back on them and have made unjust decisions, some of them very recently.

What external reasons got to 71% of Croats?

What decisions EU, World and International community have made in the past 22 years that majority of Croats may not like?

First and obvious one is arms embargo on Croatia during the War of independence while under aggression by one of the largest armies in Europe at the time.

Second could easily be, most recently, EU member Slovenia’s blockade of EU talks until Croatia puts aside the Law of the Sea Convention so through the arbitrage Slovenia gets a chance to get part of the northern Adriatic sea that otherwise they can’t get or does not belong to them in any way they put it.

Third one may be most important to the Croatian people. ICTY prosecution of defenders of Croatia that ended finally with a jail sentence in 2011 for Croatian top generals, as well statement that military action named Storm’95 (Oluja ’95), that finally ended 5 years of aggression and occupation of 35% of Croatian territory, where from around 400.000 Croatian people were forcefully expelled and 15.000 killed, is a “criminal enterprise“. This is the case, while, one can clearly see that action Storm’95 brought the peace to Croatia but also played an important part that brought the end to a 4 year long war against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Forth?

Let’s be realistic, who else on Earth would except this decision by ICTY as just by looking what enemy has done to Croatian people from 1990-95? Croatian army brought the freedom in 1995 to its land and people full 50 years after most of EU countries gained their freedom. All was done in a few days of a military action that has produced a minimal casualties on enemy side and without a need to attack the aggressor country or to bombarded it into a submission, as the rest of the world does in some cases, even in that region.

Closer look at democracy in action

Important decision is based on a democratic vote on referendum.
Most of those who voted got their way – something 56% of Croats can learn from.

But, question remains, 56% of population that did not vote plus 15% who voted NO are the large majority of eligible voters of population in this case, but, as it looks like, only 29% of population is enough to decide the future of a country, in democracy?

Is there a place in democracy for words like those made by Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vesna Pušić, who publicly said, few days before the referendum, “vote yes or there will be no retirement check next month”?

Let’s hope, lesson learned!

More photos from Croatia…