Mesic particularly criticised the parliamentary debate on the political talk show 'Latinica', describing the discussion as "an inhumane and ghoulish use of the tragedy of a man who committed suicide only to hush up a journalist and his show". He refered to the Sabor's debate on the 'Latinica' which addressed the heritage of the first Croatian President, the late Franjo Tudjman.
"This dirty business has involved politicians, people from the media, and what is most devastating is the fact that the two-day discussion also involved the Croatian Parliament, where nobody analysed data and facts from the broadcast in question but they, figuratively speaking, asked for massive demotion," Mesic said on Wednesday at a round table discussion on media liberties in Croatia, which the centre for democracy and law named after the late politician Miko Tripalo organised at the Zagreb Law School.
According to the Croatian president, in developed democracies it is impossible for parliaments to hold a discussion on a TV broadcast or for the law-making body to include also those "who follow orders from their parties and their instincts and insist that the media be under the grip of their parties."
"I know that all I'm telling you know will not suit some people as they have never liked the truth and the truth is painful for them. Such people are enemies of democracy and the biggest obstacle for Croatia on its path into Europe," the Croatian president said.
Mesic expressed dissatisfaction with the situation in the Croatian media, saying truthful and objective information was no longer of paramount importance but the product which could be sold on the market.
In addition, political circles frequently use media as a tool for gaining power or remaining in power and are also willing to tolerate superfluous and stultifying media, but they are braced against media which dare to enter "the dangerous area of the truth", Mesic added.
"That is why our democracy is still defective and is not developing the way it should," he said.
Participants in the round table discussion pointed to the problem of defamation being still treated as a criminal offence and to the power of capital ruling in the media.
At the end of the discussion, Bozidar Novak received the Miko Tripalo award for his contribution to the development of democracy and media freedoms.