At an emergency session of the Environment Committee in Gospić, HDZ officials stated that the illegal waste problem must be handled exclusively by experts, while labeling political critics as 'arsonists.'
An emergency session of the Croatian Parliament's Committee on Environmental Protection and Nature was held on Monday, August 17, 2026, in Gospić, the town at the center of the illegal waste dumping affair. Numerous HDZ officials attended the session, including Minister of Environmental Protection and Green Transition Marija Vučković, Minister Habijan, and MP Ante Sanader.
The illegal waste dumping affair, centered on married couple Josip and Monika Šincek, is one of the largest environmental crime investigations in Croatia. Investigators suspect that a well-organized and profitable system operated for years, earning money by avoiding the costs of proper waste disposal.
An unnamed HDZ official told the session that the landfill remediation issue would be resolved, noting that it is already included in Croatia's waste management plan. "We will resolve the remediation of this landfill, as already discussed with those present, including the minister and the Deputy Prime Minister who was here in Gospić a few days ago, and they clearly outlined the methods and procedures for solving this problem," he said.
He added that funding has been secured, which guarantees a solution. "This is what matters most to the residents of Gospić, and we, as the responsible parliamentary majority and the Government, are the guarantee that it will be resolved to the satisfaction of citizens," the HDZ official stated.
The HDZ official was particularly harsh in criticizing politicians who speak on this issue, calling them "ignoramuses" and "political arsonists." "This problem must be addressed primarily by experts; the politicians who speak here are ignoramuses, unqualified in this field, and can only create sensationalism," he said.
He emphasized that serious matters must be handled by professionals, not politicians. "Political arsonists and those who turn this into a spectacle are trying to score petty political points and grab a moment of media attention, but that, unfortunately, does not help the residents who are here today," the HDZ official said.
Ahead of the session, Health Minister Irena Hrstić stated that the water in Gospić is safe for drinking, with the latest findings further confirming its health safety. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition also announced that the water is fit for human consumption.
The Ministry added that the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund (FZOEU) has launched a new procurement procedure and issued a call for waste in bags. According to the competent institutions, this continues the remediation activities at the landfill that has caused concern among residents of Lika.
