Ivana Kekin criticizes the Croatian government's militarization of society and the introduction of elementary school students to the Croatian Army, while simultaneously her party organizes a commemoration for partisans accused of war crimes.
Ivana Kekin, a representative of the leftist party Možemo, has voiced her concern in a Parliament session about the "militarization of society" in Croatia, particularly criticizing the practice of taking elementary school children to visit the Croatian Army. She expressed her disapproval after a television report highlighted the military engagement with students, questioning whether it is appropriate for children to learn about the military that 'protects us all.' In an interesting contrast, her party, which includes Kekin, is funding and organizing the Trnjanske bonfires using taxpayer money in honor of the partisan army that occupied Zagreb on May 8, 1945, a group often associated with mass crimes and theft of private property. This raises questions about the values the leftist group holds; is it genuinely a problem for children to know their country's military, or is it more about the military symbols and representation on soldiers? Dr. Vukušić has also weighed in on this debate, criticizing both Kekin and Grubić for their visits to schools and discussions on transgender issues, claiming these efforts seem to prepare the youth for conflict without considering the harsh realities of war. He suggests that war leaves a legacy of suffering, poverty, and hatred, questioning the messages being conveyed to the youth of Croatia regarding military engagement and the commemoration of contentious historical events.
