ZAGREB, December 20, 2019 – The Croatian Journalists Association (HND) on Friday once again condemned Zagreb mayor Milan Bandić’s behaviour towards N1 TV station’s reporter Matea Dominiković.
The latest incident occurred when Dominiković asked Bandić about the sacking of Boro Nogalo as director of Srebrnjak Children’s Hospital. Instead of answering civilly, which is his duty, Bandić again acted shamefully, verbally and physically belittling Dominiković, the HND said in a press release.
It recalled that a few days ago Bandić was also inappropriate towards Dominiković, and that in August, when she asked him about the Zagreb General Urban Development Plan, he said, “If you only knew how you turn me on, how you make me happy, how you entertain me.”
The HND noted that Bandić also attacked reporters from Croatian Radio, Croatian Television, RTL and Nova TV, and that it was especially concerning that his targets were mainly female reporters.
Journalists have the right to ask questions and politicians have the duty to answer them, the HND said, adding that it would not consent to preventing journalists from doing their job.
It recalled that several months ago, because of the increasingly frequent insulting of journalists, the HND and the Croatian Journalists Trade Union launched the “Just answer the question” campaign.
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