October the 7th, 2026 – Another Croatian protest has been announced against rising taxes, levies and costs on the 10th of October in Zagreb.
The association Glas poduzetnika (Voice of Entrepreneurs) and the association Spasimo male obiteljske iznajmljivače (Save Small Family Renters) are organising the protest “Enough of the levies” on Saturday, the 10th of October, at 12:00 on Zagreb’s Zrinjevac. As Index, they want to protest to warn about the rising costs of living and doing business and to demand a lower tax burden, more responsible spending of public money and safer working conditions.
taxes and the real cost of wages
Dario Kožul, member of the Management Board of UGP, pointed out that the amount a worker receives in their account represents only part of the total cost of their wage. A significant portion goes to taxes and contributions, and the worker additionally pays VAT when spending their net wage on products and services. “The worker sees how much has been deposited into their account, but that is not everything the employer paid for their work. When they spend that money, they pay tax again. That is why we must talk about how much people have left for living, how much the state takes and what we get for that money,” Kožul said.
relief proposals
UGP Management Board member Kristina Bakula presented a series of concrete demands. She called for the abolition of the so-called anchor prices and the mandatory daily publication of price lists on the internet, as well as amendments to the Consumer Protection Act in the part that regulates base prices. She stressed that a serious discussion about prices must include taxes, VAT, labour costs and energy. “The price will not fall because it is published in one more place. Costs and VAT need to be reduced. If the Government is increasing the minimum wage, at the same time it should increase the non-taxable part of income and relieve the burden on labour. The simplest test of every measure is: how much more did the worker get, and how much did the state? The answer must be — more for the worker,” Bakula said.
Among the demands is also a reduction of contributions for lower income brackets and the abandonment of additional taxation of higher ones. Bakula supported the introduction of voluntary membership in chambers and tourist boards, as well as the application of the principle of warning and correction before punishment for minor omissions that can be corrected immediately. “If an organisation is worth something, people will want to stay in it. If the law has to keep them, maybe the problem is not with the members but with the organisation. And for a minor omission the state’s first reaction should be to correct the error, because a mistake is not fraud,” she said. She also emphasised the state’s obligation to respect its own decisions and protect existing permits and categorisations, which is particularly important for family renters. She believes that citizens who have invested according to the permits obtained must have clear and predictable conditions and protection of acquired rights.
attitudes towards business owners
She also commented on the way representatives of the authorities communicate with citizens and entrepreneurs. “The minister is there to talk to people, listen to them and offer solutions. He is the minister of all citizens who fill the budget from which his function is paid. The ministry is not a private lodge, and citizens are not extras in the minister’s film. We expect him to solve problems and to discuss people’s existence seriously, responsibly and with arguments,” Bakula emphasised.
UGP President Bruno Samardžić added that the discussion about price increases must also deal with the state’s decisions. He explained that taxes, levies and administrative obligations affect business costs, and their burden can spill over onto citizens through higher prices and less room for wage growth.“If you’re asking all of us to tighten our belts, show where you have tightened yours. Before new burdens, review your own costs, political employment and the accumulation of administration. I call on everyone to deal with the real problems: productivity and competitiveness, and not to keep going round in circles chasing our own tail. For entrepreneurs this Saturday is not just a struggle, but also an opportunity for their voice to finally be heard,” Samardžić said.
The organisers demand that for every new administrative obligation at least two existing ones be abolished. They also demand that tax changes and new levies must go through public consultation instead of being adopted under urgent procedure, and that regulations be drafted in cooperation with those to whom they apply. They rejected claims that political parties are behind the protest and emphasised that the gathering is organised independently, motivated by the problems of their members. “We have nothing against political support from all sides. Anyone who supports our demands is welcome. But no one stands behind us except ourselves. We determine our own demands, make decisions and organise the protest,” Samardžić stressed. Entrepreneurs, craftsmen, renters, workers, pensioners, students and all citizens who, as they state, want more money for living and more responsible management of public money have been invited to the protest.
