Malls, shops, and gas stations across Croatia were ghost towns on Friday as thousands took part in a boycott against soaring food prices.
The protest, fueled by the “Hello, Inspector” Facebook group and supported by unions, political parties, and Economy Minister Ante Susnjar, called for a nationwide shopping freeze.
“We’re bored, traffic’s slow, and we’ve got nothing to do,” said a cashier at an Osijek Interspar.
Prices have skyrocketed by up to 34% in three years, with some basics nearly doubling. The NHS union slammed the government, saying wages and prices go hand in hand.
But economist Damir Novotny dismissed the protest, saying boycotts rarely impact inflation in market economies.
Opposition leader Zeljko Kolar backed the protest, calling out the government for Croatia’s sky-high VAT rates on pasta compared to Italy.
With inflation among the EU’s highest, the battle over prices is far from over.
