Plenkovic Appoints Far-Right Homeland Movement to Croatian Government, Excluding Minority Serbs

Croatian Prime Minister-designate Andrej Plenkovic has formed a coalition with the far-right Homeland Movement party, marking a significant shift to the right in Croatian politics. The new government will exclude a party representing minority Serbs, raising concerns about ethnic tensions.

Croatian conservative leader Andrej Plenkovic has been appointed prime minister-designate for a third consecutive term after forging an alliance with the extreme right-wing Homeland Movement party. The move comes following an inconclusive election in which Plenkovic's ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) failed to secure an outright majority.

The Homeland Movement, or DP, is a relatively new political party in Croatia, composed largely of radical nationalists and social conservatives who broke away from the center-right HDZ. The party is led by the hardline mayor of Vukovar, a town that was devastated during Croatia's 1991 war of independence.

For the first time in years, Croatia's government will not include a party representing minority Serbs. The DP strongly opposed the inclusion of such a party, fueling concerns about ethnic tensions. The last major conflict between Serbs and Croats occurred in the 1990s, during Croatia's war for independence from Yugoslavia.

Plenkovic's new government will have a slim majority of 78 lawmakers in the 151-member assembly, which could herald political uncertainty. The coalition between the HDZ and DP is likely to face challenges in governing effectively.

Croatia's new government is expected to push the country further to the right ahead of next month's European election. The election will take place amid the backdrop of the Ukraine war, climate emergencies, migration, and other pressing issues facing the continent.

HDZ has largely held office since Croatia gained independence. The Balkan nation became an EU member in 2013 and joined Europe's passport-free travel area and the eurozone last year. Plenkovic's government will need to navigate Croatia's ongoing integration into the EU while addressing the challenges posed by the alliance with the DP.

The DP has a strong emphasis on Croatian nationalism and social conservatism. The party's platform includes opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, and gender equality. The DP's inclusion in the government is likely to divide Croatian society and strain relations with EU partners.

Serbia, Croatia's neighbor, has expressed concern over the exclusion of minority Serbs from the Croatian government. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has urged Croatia to guarantee the rights of Serbs living in the country.

The exclusion of minority Serbs from the Croatian government has raised fears of renewed ethnic tensions. The conflict between Serbs and Croats in the 1990s was characterized by atrocities and ethnic cleansing. The DP's hardline stance against Serbs could reignite tensions and destabilize the region.