Milanović Meets Jergović Amidst Tensions

The news in Croatian

1. prijetnja  (f.)
   izražavanje namjere da će netko nanijeti zlo ili štetu ↩︎
2. grafit  (m.)
   crteži ili natpisi na javnim površinama ↩︎
3. dijalog  (m.)
   razgovor između dvije ili više osoba ↩︎
4. tolerancija  (f.)
   prihvaćanje i poštivanje različitih mišljenja i ponašanja ↩︎
5. jedinstvo  (n.)
   stanje biti jedinstven, zajedno se držati ↩︎
6. društvo  (n.)
   grupa ljudi koja ima zajednički cilj ili interes ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Why did President Zoran Milanović meet with Miljenko Jergović?

Question 2: What is important for the unity of Croatia according to the summary?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
prijetnja  (f.)	threat
grafit  (m.)	graffiti
dijalog  (m.)	dialogue
tolerancija  (f.)	tolerance
jedinstvo  (n.)	unity
društvo  (n.)	society

Read the full story

Prominent Croatian writer and columnist, Miljenko Jergović, recently found himself at the centre of a public controversy following a series of threats directed at him. The situation took a significant turn when he was welcomed by President Zoran Milanović at the presidential office, a move highlighting the importance of dialogue in overcoming societal divisions.

The controversy began when unsettling graffiti appeared on the wall of Jergović’s residence in Zagreb. The message was interpreted as a direct threat against him, reading, “Miljenko neće dobro proći. Naša država. Naša pravila.” Translated, this suggested that Jergović “would not fare well,” asserting a sense of nationalism that implied exclusivity. Jergović took this incident seriously, asserting that he knows the origins and instigators of such threats, although he chose not to report it to the police due to a lack of confidence in their handling of the matter.

Through his public statements, Jergović tied these threats to the broader political climate, identifying the government led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the Minister of the Interior, Davor Božinović, as enablers of such hostilities. In response, the government humorously denied such accusations, sarcastically suggesting that top officials personally defaced the property.

The situation escalated with the appearance of another graffiti in a different part of Zagreb, this time involving Dalija Orešković, a parliamentary deputy who had expressed support for Jergović. The repeated vandalism underscored ongoing tensions and fueled further public debate.

President Milanović’s meeting with Jergović marked a call for dialogue and tolerance as key principles for Croatian society. On social media, Milanović emphasised the need to listen to diverse opinions as a fundamental step toward unity. He shared that his discussion with Jergović was constructive and expressed hope that such engagements would inspire genuine understanding of differences within the country.

The meeting was widely perceived as an endorsement of Jergović’s right to express his critical views, supporting the wider journalistic and artistic freedoms amid rising intolerance. The Croatian Association of Journalists also condemned the threats against Jergović, advocating for freedom of expression and a safe environment for cultural discourse.

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