A majority of controversial jumbo posters, which the coalition led by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) set up on advertisement structures in Sisak, were replaced by other new posters of that coalition by Sunday afternoon, and only a few of those disputable posters still remained on illuminated advertising structures.
Posters, which the HDZ-led coalition including the Croatian Party of Rights 'Dr. Ante Starcevic', the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) and a few more parties set up in Sisak, show a blood-stained male hand holding a red five-pointed star containing another Communist-era symbols -- traditional style hammer and sickle - and, in parallel, a white, clean female hand with a crucifix on its palm. The posters, which the coalition prepared for its campaigning ahead of the 19 May local elections, also has the slogan: "A simple choice today for a secure tomorrow".
The posters have been described as disturbing and also as an act of hate speech, which was one of members of that local coalition, -- the Green List --, decided to depart from that group of parties. This partner said that it had not been consulted about the posters before their appearance in this city 50 kilometres southeast of Zagreb.
Another partner, the Croatian Social Liberal party (HSLS) has announced an extraordinary news conference for Monday to give its opinion on the matter and unveil its plans about whether it would stay in the coalition or leave it, too.
Critics of the posters, the author of which is Croatian graphic designer Igor Kelcec, do not question the graphic value or provocativeness of the posters, but left parties and opponents of that posters find their messages disputable.
On the other hand, the HDZ leader Tomislav Karamarko said he was dissatisfied with the esthetic aspect of those posters,
"I said that the message (of those posters) is correct. It is the message which should be sent out. The HDZ revives Democratic-Christian values. Let us leave this fake socialism with which we certainly cannot enter Europe. However, I am not satisfied with the esthetic features of those posters. They might have been wittier, more original and more acceptable," the HDZ chief said at a news conference in Zagreb at which he voiced his support to protest rallies announced by trade union federations for Wednesday Labour Day in the Croatian capital.
He added that HDZ branches had free hands to decide on their own on how they would would run campaigns ahead of local elections, set for 19 May..
