| Croatia should be in its element. It’s the peak season for tourism, an industry that accounts for about a fifth of the economy. Foreign visitors are flocking to its beaches, islands and historic resorts to spend their euros. There was a 9% jump in arrivals in June alone, according to the latest statistics, with Germans driving the growth. The 30-year journey from a war-torn state of former Yugoslavia to one of Europe’s hottest destinations, though, comes with baggage. Croatia is firmly ensconced as a member of the European Union and the euro single currency. Yet scratch beneath the veneer and there’s a lingering malaise. As in other parts of Europe, the far right has gained ground, joining a coalition government as Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic sought to stay in power. But nationalism in Croatia is more prominent in popular culture than at the ballot box, and the debate this summer is around what’s acceptable and, more importantly, what’s not. It all stems from the popularity of Marko Perkovic, a singer known as Thompson after submachine gun he used during Croatia’s war of independence in the early 1990s. When performing his biggest hit, Thompson uses a slogan from the country’s fascist regime in World War II – the Croat equivalent of “Sieg Heil” in Nazi Germany. And it’s not like he represents the fringe of society: At his concert in Zagreb last month, half a million people bought tickets. There were 150,000 fans at his gig in a small town this week.  Croatia's nationalist singer Marko Perkovic Thompson. Photographer: Damir Sencar/AFP/Getty Images As tourists mingle in beach bars and restaurants, politicians are arguing over whether a line has now been crossed in Croatia. Plenkovic says the slogan has a negative meaning for the victims of the fascist regime but a positive one for those who fought during the breakup of Yugoslavia. Others say once things are accepted as mainstream, it’s hard to go back. | 
