Several streets in the proximity of the parliament house, the government building and the presidential palace were closed for safety reasons. Four people were arrested, including three minors.

Police officers have also escorted a procession of protesters that went on a walk around the city centre and blocked the streets they crossed.

Earlier in the evening, several powerful petard blasts were heard, but this was accompanied by booing of the crowd.

In Maribor, where the protests first started in late November, about 1,500 people gathered, according to news portal 24ur.com.

A manifesto for a better future of the city was read by two local theatre actors. Several musicians also took the stage, calling for the resignation of local authorities.

The rally in Maribor was the first and only rally so far that has been reported beforehand at the administrative unit.

Apart from rallies in Maribor and Ljubljana, groups of several dozens also protested today in Ptuj (NE), Murska Sobota (NE), Slovenska Bistrica (NE), Postojna (SW), Lendava (NE), Ajdovščina (W) and Mirna Peč (SE), according to the police.

Prime Minister Janez Janša responded to the protests on Twitter, saying that "talks, agreements and demands for political reforms are more than needed". "It was just a matter of time. The SDS has presented its proposals," he tweeted in reference to his party, the ruling Democrats.