Zagreb Mayoral Candidates Clash Over City Planning and Legacy

The news in Croatian

1. održavati
   provesti nešto prema planu ili rasporedu ↩︎
2. natjecati
   sudjelovati u natjecanju ili pokušati postići cilj u konkurenciji s drugima ↩︎
3. urban
   povezan s gradom ili životom u gradu ↩︎
4. infrastruktura  (f.)
   osnovni fizički i organizacijski objekti i strukture potrebne za rad društva ↩︎
5. kandidat  (m.)
   osoba koja se natječe za određenu poziciju ili nagradu ↩︎
6. vođenje  (n.)
   čin ili proces upravljanja ili nadgledanja nečega ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who are the mayoral candidates in Zagreb?

Question 2: What does Tomašević want for the city?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
održavati	conduct
natjecati	compete
urban	urban
infrastruktura  (f.)	infrastructure
kandidat  (m.)	candidate
vođenje  (n.)	management

Read the full story

As Zagreb approaches its critical mayoral elections, the two leading candidates, incumbent Tomislav Tomašević and challenger Marija Selak Raspudić, continue to present clashing views on the future of the Croatian capital. With the second voting round scheduled for 1st June, the race has intensified, particularly on issues such as urban planning, city finances, and the legacy of the former mayor Milan Bandić.

During a recent TV debate, both candidates were questioned on whether a street should be named after Milan Bandić, the long-serving and controversial former mayor of Zagreb. Tomašević firmly opposed the idea, attributing his stance to the previous administration’s alleged corruption, while Selak Raspudić refrained from providing a definitive answer, suggesting a decision should align with local governance criteria.

One of the central debates revolves around the General Urban Plan (GUP). Tomašević emphasised his administration’s corrections to the GUP, claiming the amendments facilitate green spaces and public amenities. In contrast, Selak Raspudić argued that more could be accomplished using existing frameworks, accusing the current mayor of stagnation.

The financial management of the city also sparked disagreement. Tomašević takes pride in reducing Zagreb’s inherited debt and maintaining low tax burdens, arguing these actions lay the foundation for capital investments. Selak Raspudić countered this, arguing the city had not bordered on bankruptcy but benefited from European funds and inflation, urging for a reduction in personal taxes to empower citizens financially.

In terms of waste management, Tomašević pledged to close the Jakuševec landfill by 2028, while Selak Raspudić criticised the feasibility of this timeline, asserting that competent planning requires more time than what is proposed. She further accused Tomašević of misleading the public regarding potential costs and park management strategies.

The candidates also debated the development of public parking spaces. Selak Raspudić accused Tomašević’s administration of planning additional parking charges without building new facilities, pledging to expand parking and transportation infrastructure, especially in the city’s outskirts.

Beyond these issues, both figures disagree on the broader implications of city planning on public life. Tomašević defended his administration’s transparency and accountability measures, including urban development and public sector hiring, while Selak Raspudić accused him of political opportunism and criticized what she perceives as a lack of effective corporate governance.

As the election looms, the clear division between Tomašević, with his focus on progressive urban planning and fiscal consolidation, and Selak Raspudić, advocating for a pragmatic and infrastructure-focused approach, presents voters with a pivotal choice that could shape the future of Zagreb.

Info: ‘Croatian Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Croatian’, a platform dedicated to teaching the beautiful Croatian language. As a Croatian language school, we offer various types of online Croatian courses tailored to different learning needs.