Velimir Bujanec (Varaždin, 18 November 1974) is a Croatian far right[1][2] journalist and talk-show host. He is the editor and host of Croatian political talk show Bujica.[3][4]
Velimir Bujanec | |
|---|---|
 Velimir Bujanec at a young age, wearing a Nazi uniform and attempting to burn an item of religious clothing | |
| Born | 18 November 1974 |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, talk show host and editor |
| Spouse | Karolina Bujanec |
Biography
editVelimir Bujanec was born in Varaždin, on 18 November 1974. He spent his early years in Varaždinske Toplice and attended the First gymnasium of Varaždin. Subsequently, he studied political science in Zagreb.[5] In 1990, with the support of Ivić Pašalić,[6] he became the president of Croatian Democratic Union's youth branch. In 1991, he became the president of Croatian Party of Rights youth branch.[6] During the Croatian War of Independence, he joined the Croatian Army and participated in Operation Flash and Operation Storm.[6] In 1996, he gave an interview to Croatian magazine Nacional, in which he complained how 'difficult it was to find a girlfriend willing to attend masses for poglavnik and Independent State of Croatia.'[7] He had previously caused controversy by posting multiple photos from his youth in which he is seen wearing a Nazi uniform with a swastika armband. He later tried to distance himself from Nazi ideology, claiming he was not an Ustaša and describing his views merely as right-wing and conservative.[5] He also attempted to downplay his wearing of Nazi uniforms, claiming he was only wearing them as 'carnival costumes'.
Professional career
editDuring the 1990's, he started working as a journalism and published work in ST, Hrvatsko pravo and Panorama. He was also the main editor of tabloid Imperijal.[6]
In 2009, he launched his eponymous talk-show 'Bujica' on Open TV which later became Jabuka TV (Apple TV).[6] He subsequently started broadcasting his talk-show on other local television networks across Croatia such as: Mreža TV, Osječka televizija and Z1 television.[6] According to Croatian daily Jutarnji list, initially, in his talk-show he only interviewed marginal people of the Croatian right-wing political scene who were mostly unknown to the public. However, with his support, some of these people later became high-ranking political officials at all levels of government.[6] In 2015, then presidential candidate Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović gave her first interview on Bujica.[6] After Grabar-Kitarović's win in the presidential election, Bujanec was invited to her inauguration and he used this opportunity to establish himself further as an important factor on the Croatian right-wing political scene.[6] Bujanec also played a major role in the 2014–2016 Croatian war veterans protest.[6] According to Jutarnji, after Tomislav Karamarko won a majority in the 2015 Croatian parliamentary election, quite a few of former guests on 'Bujica' were appointed to distinguished positions.[6]
Personal life
editIn 2017, Bujanec married Karolina Šego.[8]
Legal issues
editIn 2014, he was arrested for providing a prostitute with cocaine and spent a month in Remetinec prison.[9] He was sentenced to a total of ten months in prison, suspended for three years.[10] In 2023, he and two other men were recorded singing Jasenovac i Gradiška Stara, a song notorious for glorifying massacres perpetrated by the Ustaše during World War II.[11]
References
edit- ^ "HRVATSKI EKSTREMNI DESNIČAR VELIMIR BUJANEC NEKADA JE VELIČAO PUTINA, A SADA GA NAPADA: 'Od čuvara kršćanskih vrijednosti do diktatora'". slobodna-bosna.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ euroart (26 January 2016). "Završen prosvjed protiv zabrane emitiranja Z1". Novi list. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
Prije početka mimohoda ekstremni desničar Velimir Bujanec obratio se okupljenima
- ^ "Šibenski – Kontroverzni voditelj u velikim problemima: tvrtka mu je u stečaju, a vjerovnici potražuju ogroman novac. Evo kome je sve dužan". slobodnadalmacija.hr (in Croatian). 12 July 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ Mihaljević, Jerko (25 May 2016). "Nitko ne zna zašto se radikalno desna 'Bujica' prikazuje na riječkoj sveučilišnoj televiziji". Srednja.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ a b Varazdinski.hr (27 November 2017). "Bujanec nakon Thompsona: 'Varaždinom grmjelo ZDS! Hvala mome rodnome gradu'". Varazdinski.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Jutarnji list – TOTALNI IZVJEŠTAJ S POLITIČKE SVADBE DESETLJEĆA Još prije par godina Bujanec je bio marginalac, danas njegova svadba nudi dijagnozu našeg društva". www.jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). 10 September 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ "HRVATSKI NOVINAR VELIMIR BUJANEC PJEVAO O KLANJU SRBA: Objavljen i užasavajući video". slobodna-bosna.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ "Bujanec se oženio, Hasanbegović mu poklonio ploču 'Trg maršala Tita'". www.vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ "Kokainom je plaćao usluge prostitutki, policija ga je snimala i tajno pratila". Net.hr (in Croatian). 30 December 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ "Jutarnji list – TV VODITELJ VELIMIR BUJANEC PRIZNAO 'Istina je, kokainom sam joj plaćao seks'". www.jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). 31 May 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ "Jutarnji list – Pogledajte koju pjesmu pjeva Velimir Bujanec! Poznati odvjetnik: Nisam siguran da ga se može kazniti..." www.jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). 25 July 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2024.