2026: The year Croatians were forced to ‘discover’ environmentalism

Environmental protection briefly united Croatia’s divided society. In central Zagreb, left-wing and right-wing supporters gathered alongside people who listen to Thompson and those who prefer Mile Kekin, all protesting waste pollution in Lika.

The crowd size quickly became a subject of debate after Saturday’s demonstration. Estimates ranged from 15,000 to 100,000 people. Calculations considered how many people could fit into the square under ideal conditions, including kiosks, streetlights, a fountain and underground waste containers, as well as the number of people occupying each square metre.

Even advanced artificial intelligence tools were consulted. One estimate put the number of people across Ban Jelačić Square at 19,000. The organizers of the “Walk for Lika, Walk for Croatia” protest, from the “Gospić Is Our Home” initiative, gave a figure of 30,000.

Yet the organizers’ broader point is difficult to dispute: the exact number mattered less than the reason for the gathering. They said the protest reflected a desire to prevent Lika and Croatia from being polluted by hazardous and other waste.