News

Shameful and dangerous attack of the ruling party on the media

14.01.2021.

Following the announcement by N1 Television that the Presidency of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), at an online session held on Monday (January 11th), accused the media of conspiring with the opposition against the Government, and the HDZ leadership did not explicitly deny these allegations, the Croatian Journalists' Association (CJA) warns of yet another in a series of attacks by the government on journalists and the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of reporting.

The ruling party basically stated, that part of the media joined forces with the left opposition and part with the radical right in claiming that the state reacted badly in the crisis situation after the devastating earthquake in Sisak-Moslavina County, all to harm the government and HDZ.

A prominent member of the HDZ party, Vladimir šeks, also made incredible accusations in the manner of "the state, that's me" with the thesis that the media united with the left are trying to "change the outcome of the parliamentary elections" and thus criminalized Croatian statehood, HDZ and the first Croatian president Franjo Tuđman. The culmination of these accusations, as reported by the media, came from the Vice President of the European Commission Dubravka šuica, who stated at the same session that the media were trying to overthrow the HDZ - evidenced by the fact - that the region affected by the earthquake, Banovina, is being called Banija.

These accusations were preceded by attacks by HDZ President and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on journalists and the media, arguing that criticism of the government's organization of aid to earthquake-affected areas was an attempt to dismantle the state. Once previously, the same prime minister accused journalists of waging a hybrid war.

The CJA (HND) will not deny anyone the right to criticize, but this amount of unsubstantiated claims is not only shameful, but also dangerous and speaks of the deep disruption of the society in which we live.

We also declare that we are no "one's treasure", as Minister Tomislav Ćorić referred to media. By reporting on the devastating earthquake and its consequences, the media showed exceptional professionalism and in many situations reacted faster than the institutions, sensitizing the public with their work for an even greater response in helping the residents of the affected areas. Therefore, our message to Prime Minister Plenković and the ruling party is to start doing their job, and let the journalists do their own.

 

For the CJA Executive Committee:

Hrvoje Zovko, President of the Croatian Journalists' Association

Following the announcement by N1 Television that the Presidency of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), at an online session held on Monday (January 11th), accused the media of conspiring with the opposition against the Government, and the HDZ leadership did not explicitly deny these allegations, the Croatian Journalists' Association (CJA) warns of yet another in a series of attacks by the government on journalists and the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of reporting.

The ruling party basically stated, that part of the media joined forces with the left opposition and part with the radical right in claiming that the state reacted badly in the crisis situation after the devastating earthquake in Sisak-Moslavina County, all to harm the government and HDZ.

A prominent member of the HDZ party, Vladimir šeks, also made incredible accusations in the manner of "the state, that's me" with the thesis that the media united with the left are trying to "change the outcome of the parliamentary elections" and thus criminalized Croatian statehood, HDZ and the first Croatian president Franjo Tuđman. The culmination of these accusations, as reported by the media, came from the Vice President of the European Commission Dubravka šuica, who stated at the same session that the media were trying to overthrow the HDZ - evidenced by the fact - that the region affected by the earthquake, Banovina, is being called Banija.

These accusations were preceded by attacks by HDZ President and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on journalists and the media, arguing that criticism of the government's organization of aid to earthquake-affected areas was an attempt to dismantle the state. Once previously, the same prime minister accused journalists of waging a hybrid war.

The CJA (HND) will not deny anyone the right to criticize, but this amount of unsubstantiated claims is not only shameful, but also dangerous and speaks of the deep disruption of the society in which we live.

We also declare that we are no "one's treasure", as Minister Tomislav Ćorić referred to media. By reporting on the devastating earthquake and its consequences, the media showed exceptional professionalism and in many situations reacted faster than the institutions, sensitizing the public with their work for an even greater response in helping the residents of the affected areas. Therefore, our message to Prime Minister Plenković and the ruling party is to start doing their job, and let the journalists do their own.

 

For the CJA Executive Committee:

Hrvoje Zovko, President of the Croatian Journalists' Association
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