The Prime Minister has called an emergency meeting of the parliamentary majority for today, August 11, with HDZ sources indicating that dismissals are inevitable. Meanwhile, Most is demanding an extraordinary session of Parliament.
Pressure on the ruling party over the illegal waste disposal scandal in the Gospić area has escalated to the point where the discussion is no longer just about the investigation but has moved directly into the political arena. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has called an emergency meeting of parliamentary majority representatives for today, August 11, 2026, and according to Dnevno sources, serious discussions about personnel consequences are already underway at the top of HDZ.
"This is above all a major political test. It's no longer just speculation, criticism from civil associations, citizens, or political opponents-this is a major environmental problem and clearly potential criminal activity, in black and white. We must react on all fronts," a well-informed source from the ruling party told Dnevno.hr.
The same source claims that political consequences are practically inevitable. "Politically speaking, we have enough experience. Someone has to pay the political price. Who will it be? I won't name names, but rest assured there will be dismissals and demotions. The Prime Minister is angry, but he's too experienced to show it. Behind closed doors, you can see it-he's furious," the source said.
Currently, the institutions responsible for environmental protection and waste management have become the main target of political debates. The public is now questioning how the relevant Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition operates, as well as the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, and other parts of the system that had their own jurisdictions. Although criminal responsibility will be assessed by the competent authorities, for the government, the political question will be much broader: was the system functional, and was there an opportunity for someone to react before the problem became so serious?
According to Dnevno's findings, within part of the HDZ, there is consideration of implementing broader personnel changes beyond just determining specific political responsibility for the Gospić case. Every major scandal within the government simultaneously opens the door for internal restructuring, and major crises often serve as a moment to resolve issues that have been problematic for much longer than the scandal itself.
Meanwhile, Most's president, Nikola Grmoja, commented on Tuesday on the illegal waste disposal case and announced new steps in uncovering what he called an environmental catastrophe and a threat to citizens' health, not only in Lika but across a much wider area. "When our Zvonimir Troskot was week after week at locations in Lika, as president, I wondered why such engagement, why so persistent, and why so many press conferences. Now all of Croatia, and even I who was skeptical-we know what this is about. I didn't know the scale of this catastrophe, and I couldn't believe that people who were given the trust of Croatian citizens would be willing to do something like this for money," Grmoja said for HRT.
Grmoja emphasized that this is a cross-party issue of national importance. "That's why we've sent an invitation to all party clubs, all parliamentary clubs, all political parties, even the ruling ones, to attend a meeting today so we can see what more we can do," he said. He also called for convening an extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament. "That's an extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament that can only be called by the President of the Republic, but also by the Speaker of Parliament if requested by deputy clubs. I hope we can agree that it's necessary," he added.
Grmoja also stated that public hearings are not necessary because "everything is clear here." "The entire public is familiar with the actors. It's clear who is criminally and politically responsible for environmental pollution," he said. He reminded that Troskot, since March 2025, at the invitation of local residents, has been going to locations in Lika, uncovering this issue and raising it to the national level. After more than a year of engagement, as much as 35,000 tons of waste was discovered.
