The Homeland Movement (commonly known as DP) aims to provide a more patriotic, far-right alternative to HDZ, perhaps Croatia's most powerful party, which underwent a major restructuring under Plenković. , was formed in 2020 by nationalist singer Miroslav Školo.
“Plenković made great efforts to expel and neutralize far-right figures from the HDZ, and now many people who were associated with the HDZ are part of the Homeland Movement,” he said. says historian and expert Hrvoje Krasic. he told Politico.
Although Mr. Školo has since been expelled from the party and Democratic Progressive Party members say he has softened his approach on certain topics, the party remains synonymous with hard-line, socially conservative ideas.
“Many voters who previously supported HDZ are now voting for the Fatherland Movement. If, for example, Mr. Plenković is removed and a more right-wing figure returns to HDZ, the Fatherland Movement will be fully supported. “We will lose,” he continued.
Plenković, like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has been on the HZD's list of candidates for June's EU elections since the April election, ostensibly to drum up support for the party.
Some fear that Plenković will accept a mandate in Brussels after the June vote and that Croatian politics will lose his moderate influence.