Kliman accuses Stazić of calling for Istrians to secede

HDZ representative Anton Kliman stated on Thursday that SDP representative Nenad Stazić “has no good intentions towards Croatia”, claiming that he called for a referendum and the secession of Istria from Croatia in the Parliament yesterday, to which SDP’s Gordan Maras reacted by stating that, given the results HDZ achieved in Istria, Kliman would be the last person Istrians would choose to represent their opinion.

– Istrians do not despise Croatia, as our ceremonial song says, ‘Beautiful land, dear Istria, home of the Croatian people’. This is what you cannot understand, that by loving Istria, you also love our Beautiful Homeland. And your problem is that you have no good intentions towards this state, and when you call for various referendums about Istria, then you have no good intentions towards Istria either, but fortunately, we in Istria do not perceive you, Kliman said after a break he requested on this topic in the Parliament.

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He also recalled how, as a delegate of the President of the Parliament, he attended the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreements and the Day of Istria County, and while mentioning in his speech the merits of the Istrian Catholic clergy in the annexation of Istria to the motherland Croatia, he was met with boos.

– Booing from a small number of guests, members of an association that calls themselves anti-fascists. The same scenario was experienced by the President of the Republic. All this time I have been wondering who these people are that maliciously boo at the mention of Istrian giants who helped Istria join the homeland on the wings of the anti-fascist struggle. Yesterday I got the answer: they are people similar to you, Mr. Stazić. People who do not love this Croatia, who do not love Istria…, he stated, and called on Stazić not to give Istrians advice on what to do.

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– This way you will spare us reactions, as well as your party, from having to blush further, this time from the discomfort of your statements. As the Istrians would say, ‘This will not suit you’, or I will translate it into a language you understand better, ‘No pasaran’, Kliman said.

To this, SDP member Gordan Maras sharply reacted, claiming that the Rules of Procedure were violated.

– Mr. Kliman has inappropriately accused the representative of not loving Croatia! For me, this is one of the most serious accusations anyone could make against me. Regardless of your insinuations and discontent, this is an insult you had to react to, Maras protested to the President of the Parliament Gordan Jandroković.

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The President of the Parliament also reacted, telling Maras that he expected him to distance himself from his party colleague.

– Now you have violated the Rules of Procedure because you did not speak about the violation of the Rules of Procedure, but used it for a reply, so I am issuing you a warning, Jandroković stated.

Stazić said yesterday in the discussion at one point that “Istrians should consider acting like Catalans.”