Marko Perkovic, a Croatian singer known as Thompson, has reignited controversy by leading crowds in a salute associated with Croatia's fascist government during World War II. His concerts, which attract hundreds of thousands of fans, feature nationalist rhetoric and imagery linked to the Ustashe regime, notorious for its brutality. While supporters see Perkovic as a symbol of Croatian pride and identity, critics warn that his popularity sanitizes fascist iconography and signals a rightward shift in Croatian society. The singer defends his actions as expressions of free speech and national heritage, even as international and regional leaders condemn the events for evoking a dark chapter in European history.