Thompson concert in Stuttgart sparks controversy over symbols

Croatian singer Marko Perković Thompson performed at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart before 6,500 attendees. The event drew significant attention from German media, which reported the presence of flags and scarves featuring the “Za dom spremni” greeting, a slogan associated with the Ustaše movement during World War II.

German authorities and the venue management stated there was no legal basis to ban the concert, despite calls from some political parties. While some reports suggested an agreement was made to avoid controversial songs, Thompson’s management has denied this, calling such claims “pure fabrication” and asserting that the performance of “Bojna Čavoglave” occurred without incident.

The event has triggered political reactions in Croatia. Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman stated that German authorities did not yield to political pressure and emphasized the importance of protecting Croatian citizens. Meanwhile, Croatian politician Dalija Orešković criticized the event, describing the promotion of such ideologies as the “export of ideological trash.”