A fresh one-day general boycott of all products and services commenced in Croatia today in response to soaring prices, initiated by the consumer platform “Hello, Inspector”.

From morning, Croatian media have been showcasing images of nearly empty shops and shopping centers nationwide, mirroring the situation on the previous two Fridays during past boycotts.

Beginning tomorrow, a retail chain will face a seven-day boycott, with Konzum—the largest retail chain in Croatia—being the first target, as determined by consumer votes on social media.

“We anticipate that today’s boycott will encompass all retail chains and services. It’s not just about stores and malls; we are also urging consumers to refrain from visiting pharmacies, bakeries, cafes, and restaurants,” declared Josip Kelemen, an advisor to the “Hello, Inspector!” platform, while announcing this new boycott.

He noted that retailers had not grasped the message from earlier boycotts, citing Konzum’s increase of over 60 percent on one product before recently freezing prices on 250 items.

“Merchants are deceiving us, taking every bit they can from us—our hard-earned money,” Kelemen stated.

The previous two Fridays, January 24th and January 31st, saw significant participation in the boycotts against all stores.

These boycotts received backing from trade unions, opposition figures, and even the government.

Three retail chains—Lidl, Eurospin, and DM—were also subjected to a seven-day boycott until Thursday, along with a halt in purchasing three products: bottled water, carbonated beverages, and detergents.

Meanwhile, the government has opted to expand the roster of price-limited products, increasing the count from 30 to 70 items.

Effective today, according to government directives, price-restricted products must be prominently displayed on store shelves.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković remarked that while the state has taken action, it’s time for others to step in, asserting that “no one would face bankruptcy if prices were moderated a bit”.

Reports suggest that many Croatian citizens living near the border are increasingly choosing to shop in Slovenia and Italy, where prices are often considerably lower.

News