Calls for Protest Are Spreading Across Zagreb

October the 28th, 2026 – Calls for a protest are currently spreading across Zagreb, with the organisers insisting that there are no political parties involved.

Posters have begun appearing across Zagreb calling on the public to a protest named “Voice of Change/Glas Promjene”, announced for Saturday the 21st of November, at 10:00 on Ban Josip Jelačić Square. Behind the call stands the civic initiative “Time for Change/Vrijeme za Promjenu”, which, via social media, is inviting people to gather against corruption, abuse of power and institutional irresponsibility.

Index reports that the posters highlight the message “All of Croatia, one voice”, and the organisers say they want to bring together people who are dissatisfied with the standard of living, the political situation and the work of institutions. “Want change? Then don’t be the person who doesn’t come to Ban Josip Jelačić Square at 10:00 on the 21st of November,” one of the posts calling for the protest states.

“no more empty promises”

The organisers point to the rising cost of living, the increasingly difficult independence of young people and the feeling that wages are not keeping up with prices. “Basic life needs are becoming a luxury, young people cannot afford to leave their parents’ home for something of their own, wages are getting lower, while the quality of life and prices demand more and more,” they state in a post.

The organisers answered several questions about the goals of the protest. “The protest is directed against corruption, abuse of power and the lack of institutional accountability. We demand transparent management of public money, equal laws for everyone, accountability of those who hold public office and concrete systemic changes, not just empty promises,” they said. They emphasised that the initiative is not connected to any political party and that its goal is not to replace one set of politicians with another. “The initiative is not tied to any political party, nor is the goal to replace one politicians with others, but to demand a system in which institutions work in the interest of citizens,” they stated.

They added that they want to shape the concrete demands together with citizens so that they are clear, achievable and measurable.

is the protest against hdz or just corruption asa vague term?

One of the questions put to the organisers was whether the protest is directed against HDZ. “The protest is directed against corruption, abuse of power and the lack of institutional accountability, regardless of who is in power. That includes the actions of the HDZ when they are the subject of such criticism,” they replied. In a separate post they further emphasised that the protest is not organised in the name of any political party and that they do not belong to any political option. “This is a civic initiative for all people who have had enough of corruption, lack of transparency, institutional irresponsibility and an uncertain future for us and our children,” they said.

serbian protests were mentioned

The organisers also commented on the protests in Serbia, answering the question of whether the situation there prompted them to organise a gathering in Croatia. “The situation in Serbia has certainly shown how important civic unity and persistence are, but the motivation is much broader than that,” they stated. They added that their goal is to encourage citizens of different political views to act together. “The goal is for all of us, regardless of political views, to become active and together build a better future. Change begins when we stop just watching and decide to participate,” they said.

they want to see protests across croatia

Although a protest in Zagreb has so far been announced, the organisers are also thinking about gatherings in other Croatian cities. When asked whether the protest would have a greater impact if all citizens gathered in one city, they replied that for the start it is more important to enable people to participate in their own communities. “I think that for the start it is important to enable people to gather in their own cities because not everyone has the possibility to travel to another location,” they stated. They added that, depending on the turnout and organisation, one large joint gathering could later be held. “And when we see the turnout and the strength of the organisation in each city, we can make one large joint gathering that will send an even stronger message. Step by step, city by city,” they said.

who is actually behind this initiative?

Calls for the protest are spreading via social media, among other things through the Instagram profile @vrijemezapromjene and the TikTok profile @glas.promjene. One of the posters also lists the TikTok profile @ala_secera as a contact for joining the Zagreb group. The organisers emphasise that all citizens can participate in the protest, regardless of age or occupation, including students, high-school graduates, employed people and pensioners. It is not yet known who the people behind the initiative are, how many of them are involved in the organisation, or whether the protest has been reported to the police. Details of the gathering programme have also not been published. The protest is, once again, announced for the 21st of November at 10:00 on Ban Josip Jelačić Square in central Zagreb.