Croats in Serbia lose ministerial seat

Croats in Serbia lose ministerial seat

Politics

The President of the Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina (DSHV), Tomislav Žigmanov, stated that his two ministerial terms were the greatest achievement in the political participation of the Croatian community in Serbia and that even after stepping down from the position, he would remain committed to strengthening their institutional presence, CE Report quotes HINA.

“Holding the ministerial post in the Government of the Republic of Serbia for two terms by the political leader of DSHV is probably the greatest achievement in the political participation of the Croatian community since the beginning of democratic changes in 1990,” Žigmanov said.

According to him, this opportunity was used to strongly deconstruct, in the broader Serbian public—not only politically—the image of Croats as disloyal citizens and of DSHV as a non-autonomous political entity that is merely an instrument of Zagreb.

He emphasized that he had carried out his long-standing political engagement and the knowledge and skills he had acquired in the best possible way, and in that context, he thanked Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić for the trust shown, which, he added, had not been betrayed.

“In this way, we have significantly eased the position of the Croatian community on the domestic political scene. The ministerial position led to reduced fear and increased courage and willingness for social activism among Croats,” Žigmanov said.

According to him, even during times when anti-Croatian rhetoric became more frequent in the public sphere, there were no serious anti-Croatian incidents or direct attacks on Croats, their institutions, organizations, or churches.

Žigmanov also stated that the end of his ministerial term would not mark the end of his fight for equality and true justice for Croats in the Republic of Serbia.

“There is still a lot of work to be done in this area, especially concerning the development of minority institutional infrastructure (e.g., Drama in Croatian, Croatian School Center...) and participation in decision-making processes at the local government level,” the DSHV leader said.

He added that these efforts would be more effective if institutions were strengthened and responsible policies developed—“policies that exclude adventurism”—and if a culture of consultation and agreed practices in political action continued to develop.

The candidate for the new Serbian government, Đuro Macut, submitted his cabinet proposal to the Serbian Parliament. Among the 30 proposed members of the future government, there are no longer any representatives of the Croatian community.

Žigmanov served from 2022 as Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue in Serbia’s government, across two terms.

Part of the party leadership criticized him for attending talks with Aleksandar Vučić regarding the new Serbian government—where he ultimately was not nominated—without consulting his closest associates in DSHV.

This prompted a request for an extraordinary session of the party council, and DSHV deputy leader Goran Kaurić earlier stated that the party should elect new leadership during this year’s internal elections.

Tags

Related articles

Musk Threatens New Party Over Spending Bill
Elon Musk has intensified his opposition to President Trump’s proposed omnibus spending bill, vowing to create a new political party if Congress approves the legislation.
Germany Backs Moldova’s EU Path
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited Chisinau today, reaffirming Germany’s strong support for Moldova’s European integration and regional stability.
Merz Backs EU Nuclear Talks
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday he is open to discussing a potential European nuclear umbrella, though only as a long-term option.
Promo-LEX Observers Accredited
The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has accredited 17 national observers from the Promo-LEX Association to monitor Moldova’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for September 28, 2025.
EU Calls for Stricter Migration Returns
At the 29th Economist Roundtable on Tuesday, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and Greece’s new Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris emphasized the need for more effective asylum procedures, stronger return mechanisms, and better coordination among EU member states on migration.
Greece, EU Discuss Migration Control
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner on Tuesday in Athens to discuss the implementation of the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact.
Moldova Parliament Passes Social Reforms
In June, Moldova's Parliament held five plenary sessions, adopting 45 normative acts — including 39 laws and six decisions, according to its public relations department.
Trump Hits Musk Over EV Subsidies
Former U.S. President Donald Trump took aim at Elon Musk on Tuesday, accusing the billionaire of relying heavily on federal subsidies for electric vehicles.
Greece Condemns Damascus Attack
Greece's UN Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of Prophet Elias in Damascus.
Romania Backs Just Peace in Ukraine
Romania’s role in supporting a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine was discussed Monday at a Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT) meeting, held at Cotroceni Palace under the leadership of President Nicușor Dan.
Türkiye to Host 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Monday that Türkiye will host the 2026 NATO leaders summit in Ankara, where key decisions are expected to be made.
Greece Rejects Turkish-Libyan Maritime Deal
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis told Parliament on Monday that the Turkish-Libyan maritime memorandum is "invalid and unsubstantiated" under international law.