The Možemo coordinator accused the Prime Minister of failing to acknowledge the ecological disaster and demanded urgent remediation, an emergency parliamentary session, and new elections, while Plenković insists the government is handling the situation responsibly and without panic.
Sandra Benčić, coordinator of the Možemo party, sharply attacked the government and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Tuesday, accusing them of being "the greatest threat to Croatia and all its citizens" due to the ecological disaster in Gospić. Speaking on N1 television, Benčić claimed that Plenković's refusal to acknowledge the findings on soil and water conditions and his dismissal of the situation as a "non-issue" proves that HDZ and he must leave power.
"HDZ and Andrej Plenković must go because of the ecocide in Gospić," Benčić said, adding that the lack of any response regarding the timeline and method of remediation is further evidence of the government's irresponsibility. Možemo has made three demands: immediate initiation of remediation of the contaminated site, convening an emergency parliamentary session with a vote of no confidence in the government, and calling new elections.
Benčić specifically warned about the specific nature of the karst region of Lika, where contamination with so-called forever chemicals (PFAS) poses a permanent threat to groundwater. "The longer hazardous waste remains on the ground, the greater the risk that chemicals will seep into watercourses and the food chain, which could lead to livestock poisoning and a direct threat to human health," she said for N1 television. She also emphasized that Plenković bears full personal and political responsibility for any potential consequences that could affect the health of residents in Lika and surrounding areas.
Commenting on the government's excuses about procedural delays and public procurement regulations, the Možemo coordinator stressed that European rules in emergency situations allow bypassing lengthy procedures. However, she added, the government has known about this problem for a year and a half and cannot now invoke urgency. "Even at the cost of potential penalties, the priority must be the protection of people and nature. Even if we suffer some damage at the European Court or have to pay a fine, we would rather pay that fine than have generations pay by not having clean and healthy water," she stated.
Benčić pointed out that the case in Gospić is not an isolated incident but a direct consequence of the system that HDZ has built over the past ten years. According to her, the relevant ministries have for years been issuing permits for the import of hazardous waste to private companies, even though Croatia lacks the capacity to process it or a functional traceability system. "This waste is then illegally disposed of and buried across the country under the guise of recovery, as recorded in Poznanovac, Pazin, Benkovac, Senj, and numerous locations in Slavonia," she said.
Dušica Radojčić, who chairs the Committee on Environmental and Nature Protection in the Croatian Parliament, has scheduled a thematic committee meeting for Friday, which will be held directly on site in Gospić. The session will seek answers from the relevant ministers on the timeline and methodology for urgent remediation of contaminated soil, responsibility for issuing permits for hazardous waste imports to companies without processing conditions, and the complete absence of a traceability system for hazardous substances.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković responded to the criticism on Twitter, stating that the government is approaching the waste situation in Gospić seriously and responsibly, unlike the opposition, which is "spreading panic with misinformation in an attempt to create a fabricated emergency situation." He announced an acceleration of the remediation process for a total of 37,000 tons of waste, and that all those who committed criminal acts will be held accountable, with the state also seeking reimbursement of funds for remediation.
"According to HZJZ measurements, there is no threat to drinking water in Lika, and the public will be regularly informed about water quality," Plenković posted. He added that everyone will be maximally engaged on the waste issue in Gospić, but "calmly, rationally, seriously, professionally, and responsibly, without hysteria, panic, or drama." He also stressed that the coalition is stable and that the opposition's initiative to oust the government will "end like many before it."
After a meeting of the inner cabinet and coalition, Plenković conveyed the main messages: the criminal process is ongoing, remediation is being accelerated, and the desire of all is to impose the harshest sanctions on those who committed criminal acts.
