Dual Rallies Held in Ljubljana on Culture Day

Ljubljana, 8 February - An estimated 30,000 people poured onto the squares and streets in the centre of Ljubljana on Friday, a Culture Day bank holiday, for two rallies with distinct messages: one endorsing the efforts of the government and the other challenging political elites on both sides.

Ljubljana Police estimates 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
Police estimates 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana Sociologist Franc Trček, one of the driving forces of the protest movement in Maribor, addresses the crowd gathered for the third "All-Slovenian Uprising" in the capital. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
Sociologist Franc Trček, one of the driving forces of the protest movement in Maribor, addresses the crowd gathered for the third "All-Slovenian Uprising" in the capital.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana Police estimates 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
Police estimates 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana Police estimates 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
Police estimates 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana A police helicopter circles over Ljubljana Castle as it monitors the anti-establishment protests from the air. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
A police helicopter circles over Ljubljana Castle as it monitors the anti-establishment protests from the air.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana Second World War veterans join rally as an estimated 20,000 protest against political elites. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana
Second World War veterans join rally as an estimated 20,000 protest against political elites.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana Second World War veterans join rally as an estimated 20,000 protest against political elites. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana
Second World War veterans join rally as an estimated 20,000 protest against political elites.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana Protesters with zombie masks scale the entrance to the central bank building after taping walls with "Our property" slogans. Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA

Ljubljana
Protesters with zombie masks scale the entrance to the central bank building after taping walls with "Our property" slogans.
Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA

Ljubljana Police estimate 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
Police estimate 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana Police estimates 10,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
Police estimates 10,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana Police estimate 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
Police estimate 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana Police estimate 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
Police estimate 20,000 joined anti-establishment protests in the centre of Ljubljana.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana A banner borrows imagery of the landmark "Death Dance" fresco from the Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje, with heads of all leaders of parliamentary parties superimposed on bodies led to their death. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
A banner borrows imagery of the landmark "Death Dance" fresco from the Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje, with heads of all leaders of parliamentary parties superimposed on bodies led to their death.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana People start gathering at Kongresni Trg aquare for the third in a series of protests against political elites, dubbed the "All-Slovenian Uprising". Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana
People start gathering at Kongresni Trg aquare for the third in a series of protests against political elites, dubbed the "All-Slovenian Uprising".
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana Protesters carrying banners on the way to the third in a series of protests against political elites, dubbed the "All-Slovenian Uprising". Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana
Protesters carrying banners on the way to the third in a series of protests against political elites, dubbed the "All-Slovenian Uprising".
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana A protester carries a banner saying "We want them to step down, now" next to pictures of PM Janez Janša and Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana
A protester carries a banner saying "We want them to step down, now" next to pictures of PM Janez Janša and Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana Lovro Šturm, the head of the Assembly for the Republic, addresses the crowd gathered for a rally in support of the government of Janez Janša. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
Lovro Šturm, the head of the Assembly for the Republic, addresses the crowd gathered for a rally in support of the government of Janez Janša.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana Prime Minister Janez Janša delivers a video address to the Assembly for the Republiy rally. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana
Prime Minister Janez Janša delivers a video address to the Assembly for the Republiy rally.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana Prime Minister Janez Janša delivers a video address to the Assembly for the Republiy rally a a participant holds up the sign "I don't feel like living without Janša". Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana
Prime Minister Janez Janša delivers a video address to the Assembly for the Republiy rally a a participant holds up the sign "I don't feel like living without Janša".
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Ljubljana A large Slovenian flag is unveiled by attendants of the Assembly for the Republic's patriotic rally. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
A large Slovenian flag is unveiled by attendants of the Assembly for the Republic's patriotic rally.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana A large Slovenian flag is unveiled by attendants of the Assembly for the Republic's patriotic rally. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
A large Slovenian flag is unveiled by attendants of the Assembly for the Republic's patriotic rally.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana A large Slovenian flag is unveiled by attendants of the Assembly for the Republic's patriotic rally. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Ljubljana
A large Slovenian flag is unveiled by attendants of the Assembly for the Republic's patriotic rally.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Thousands of people gather in central Congress Square for a patriotic rally expressing support to the government.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

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© STA, 2013