Prime Minister turned blogger. Jadranka Kosor has started a new blog, hilariously called Dan Nakon Jucer (The Day After Yesterday) after her infamous gaffe. Her latest entry, published on January 31, 2016, is published below.
About Honourable and Dishonourable Women
Ruža Tomašić and I have almost never spoken about anything. We do not have the same opinion about anything, do not share the same political views, do not defend the same political values. While I strongly advocated a European path for Croatia, Ruža Tomašić said that it was not the right time for the EU. She spoke about entering the Union on our knees, about foreigners and locals in our homeland, and I responded many times and usually it all ended up with a debate on traitors and who does and who does not like Croatia. However, I have always pointed put the fact that Ruža Tomašić was responsible for the ultimate success of the electoral list on which she run for the European Parliament. If Ruža was not on the list, the list would not have won because Ruža Tomašić attracted a respectable number of votes on the right and brought a victory.
During the presidential elections, Ruža was also an important player because she was the one who went with the female candidate to the Dolac market, had coffee with her and gave an unmistakable signal to women on the right for whom every honest woman, mother and Croat should vote. Ruža was always predictable and despite her euro-scepticism, she went to the European Parliament saying some not so nice things about me.
However, all this has not been enough since Ruža Tomašić deviated from her former political tribe. She has not been spared by her former political partners, party friends and especially enemies. But, this weekend it all culminated in severe intimidation and threats to Ruža Tomašić. Her former associate Pero Ćorić kept sending her messages and Ruža then showed them to reporters: "You can suck me just like you would only if I wanted...", wrote the distinguished MP Ćorić to Member of European Parliament Tomašić, accompanied by other insults and pointing out that he is now in government, while she was going away.
Yes, this is a prominent MP from the ruling majority, who is also a member of the Cooperation Council, a joint body of the Patriotic Coalition and MOST which will prepare decisions for Tim O. so that he does not have to use Google and similar aids in communicating with citizens. Having received messages which only a gentleman can think of and send to a woman, Mrs. Tomašić decided to contact the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Parliament, the First Deputy Prime Minister and the President. All of them, except for Tim O., have benefited from Ruža's political activities in the recent past. Ruža brought them votes, gave recommendations and convinced the right electorate not to waste their votes, so she rightly expected some kind of protection from violence.
However, as she noted yesterday, none of the distinguished officials said anything. Neither in public nor in secret, to comfort or encourage her or to, even more importantly, send a loud message against sexism, vulgarity and primitivism. It is clear why they did not do that. With a public protest against the arrogant man (who until very recently enjoyed Ruža's company, as it is well known), they would upset Ćorić and Tepeš, important links in the ruling coalition. Because Ćorić's boss is now Mr. Tepeš, Vice-Speaker of the Parliament who smiles while people around him yell "Za Dom Spremni" and who has already announced that we will "make Croatian children".
Of course, there is no word from the woman who was followed by Ruža Tomašić during the campaign, convincing voters that the woman was the best candidate, and a wonderful wife and mother as well. And Ms. Tomašić is all this and more, and she was the icon of the right and all these honourable men and women were celebrating her. But now, when she is no longer "one of them", when she does not have a single MP who could bolster the thin government majority, there is no one from that side of the political spectrum who would defend her integrity and human dignity. And yes, among political and donor friends of those whom Ruža Tomašić asked for protection and support there are those who insult female journalists, labelling them as only women can be labelled and humiliated.
But, that is not all. There is one other woman, from the other side of the political spectrum, with was never my political or personal friend. Milanka Opačić used to tell me in the Parliament: "You are not my prime minister." She is a woman I do not even say hello to and we have never spoken about anything important. However, she was a minister and at the handover ceremony they escorted her with signs "the dishonourable one is leaving, the honourable one is coming". The new minister is Bernardica Juretić, a former nun who has not been a nun for quite some time. The new minister, good Bernardica, welcomed the signs with a smile, hugs and prayers. As a former nun, it was normal for her that another woman was labelled as a dishonest one.
I keep thinking, what is it that places a woman among the honourable ones. Milanka Opačić was not a good minister, we will not remember her for reforms, she will not be missed by the needy ones, but she has adopted a girl. If she has made life better and happier for that girl, she did a good and important thing which is not done by many. If for no other reason, that is why Ms. Bernardica, if not Minister Juretić, should have asked those who greeted her enthusiastically as a particularly honourable woman to safeguard the dignity of another woman. She should have asked, loud and clear, who, when and how decides which woman is honourable? And why is honour being discussed only when it comes to women so they can be insulted from both left and right?
Registers and lists of traitors, but also of honourable and dishonourable women, are becoming a daily part of our lives. And most women keep their silence, including Members of the European Parliament, Members of Croatian Parliament, religious women, wives and mothers, politicians and officials, NGOs and the media. Of course, Mr. Prime Minister has not responded to Ruža Tomašić's request because the fight against violence is not one of his "reforms". If not now, when? – saying which he mentioned in the Parliament does not seem to have any meaning when it comes to women.
So, writing about dishonourable women, I came to our first man (first gentleman is, of course, something completely different). I am talking about the Prime Minister. Because our Tim does not have time for human rights, let alone for human rights of women. He and his associates and those who give them their majority in Parliament are not bothered by a Chetnik cap given to a woman, as long as their own wives are not attacked and offended. As long as their wives, mothers and daughters do not receive messages like the one which was received by Ruža Tomašić from her erstwhile colleague, friend, associate, man, distinguished MP and patriot.
So the circle is closed, and our Ruža from the beginning of the story could, because I am giving her support and I accuse those to whom she has written (and who are silent because Ruža is no longer important to them), be classified as a potential new recipient of the hat which was given to a "dishonourable woman", according to the criteria of honourable men together with a dishonourable mention of raped women.
