The protest, which initially drew some 200 protesters who demanded that the government resign and an early election be called, started around 6 pm in the central square and continued with a protest walk through the city.

The protesters carried banners reading "Veterans, free Croatia from thieves", "Resignation: Elections Now", "No more lay-offs", "Jaco, I want you to stay - sorry, April Fools' Day", "We want elections, jail for privatisation thieves", and "I love Croatia, No to the EU".

During the protest march, they stopped outside the offices of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), shouting insults against the ruling party, as well as outside the offices of the HDZ's coalition partner the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), shouting "Friscic, you thief", a reference to HSS leader Josip Friscic.

They then gathered outside the offices of the highway operator Hrvatske Autoceste, demanding that Transport Minister Bozidar Kalmeta step down, after which they rallied outside Interior Minister Tomislav Karamarko's apartment building, shouting insults and calling for holding a protest meeting outside the Cvjetni shopping mall built by businessman Tomo Horvatincic, a project opposed by a number of civic associations.

Representatives of several trade unions came to express their support for the protesters.

A new protest rally was announced for Saturday at 6 pm, and the organisers of the protest also called for holding a protest on Thursday, April 7, in the Cvjetni Trg square, at 11 am, when the Cvjetni shopping mall is to be opened.

The police said there were no incidents at the protest.