Stjepo Bartulica, the Homeland Movement’s first MEP, arrived at his party’s headquarters in a red Ferrari before vowing to “represent the little man” in the European Parliament, bne IntelliNews reported.
The move sparked a public reaction. Croatian media published the politician’s red sports car parked outside the Homeland Movement headquarters at the International Hotel on 9 June.
At a meeting of party members, Bartulica declared that he would represent “the little man,” not European bureaucrats, in the European Parliament. He also declared “Croatia first” as his motto. The politician plans to focus on the migration issue.
My big topic will be borders. Every country is sovereign and must be able to decide who to let in. We know that the asylum system is abused, that must change.
Bartulica mentioned the victories of national-oriented parties in the weekend elections. On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party suffered a defeat by the National Rally.
Sovereignist movements are growing all over Europe, we see, and the Homeland Movement is growing on that wave.
Photos of a red Ferrari Stjepo Bartulica went viral on social media. Croatian 24Sata reported that the car under consideration cost 348,000 euros. Agriculture Minister Josip Dabro of the Homeland Movement stated:
I don’t understand that gesture, at first I thought it was a joke, a mockery, but I don’t know what the message is … you should ask him.
A few days before the election, Bartulica was reportedly embroiled in a scandal involving the purchase of a €300,000 villa on the island of Prvić. According to the Croatian media, which published his declaration, he and his wife earn 3,600 euros a month. Considering loan repayments of 3,562 euros, they live on 38 euros a month.
However, Bartulica revealed that he paid for his daily living expenses with money his mother gave him. He also stated that he fell victim to a “dirty campaign.”
Everything I have acquired, I have acquired in an honest way, I have nothing to apologise for.
According to the final election results, the Homeland Movement came third with 8.82 per cent of the vote. The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) took the top two places.
