The Croatian Parliament convenes an extraordinary session on Thursday regarding the hazardous waste case in Gospić, but neither the President of the Republic nor the Prime Minister will attend. Four government ministers have confirmed their presence.
The Croatian Parliament will hold an extraordinary session on Thursday, August 20, 2026, dedicated to the hazardous waste case in Gospić, but the two highest state officials will not be present. According to information from the President's Office, Zoran Milanović will not attend the session, and it has been confirmed from Banski dvori that Prime Minister Andrej Plenković will also not attend, as reported by N1 journalists Tina Žagar and Helena Puljiz.
President Milanović requested the urgent session after the meeting of the parliamentary committee responsible for the environment and nature, which had been convened due to the waste situation in Lika, fell through. Chief State Attorney Ivan Turudić will not attend the session, although he had previously confirmed his presence at the committee meeting in Gospić.
Environment Minister Marija Vučković and Health Minister Irena Hrstić have confirmed their attendance at the extraordinary session. Justice Minister Damir Habijan and Deputy Prime Minister Branko Bačić will also participate. Representatives from the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance have also announced their presence.
At least 76 deputies are required to secure a quorum for the session. Although the President of the Republic can impose a topic for extraordinary sessions, final decisions on proposed conclusions will be made by the parliamentary majority, led by the HDZ.
At the center of the case is an industrial complex on Bilajska Street in Gospić. According to a report by experts from the Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, prepared at the request of USKOK, approximately 37,000 tons of mixed waste are located in the investigated area. Samples showed hazardous ecotoxic properties, and the black piles were classified as hazardous waste.
The experts also recorded very high levels of copper, lead, and antimony in the soil, as well as soil damage and the destruction of part of the natural habitats. Increased concentrations of PFAS compounds were found in groundwater downstream from the site, and the landfill is considered a very likely source of their spread. However, the report does not indicate that the public drinking water supply system is contaminated.
Deputies will consider Milanović's proposed conclusions, and a debate is expected on how the disputed waste disposal was even possible, whether the competent institutions reacted in time, and who is responsible for endangering the environment and the health of residents. One of the key questions will be who allowed the waste to be brought and disposed of for years, and who will pay for the remediation.
The debate in the Croatian Parliament should reveal what the opposition will demand, how the ruling party will respond, and whether the hazardous waste case in Gospić will lead to questions of political and institutional responsibility.
Amid the political crisis over Gospić, Prime Minister Plenković posted on his X profile that he met with the leadership of the Croatian Gymnastics Federation regarding the hosting of the European Championships in men's and women's artistic gymnastics in Zagreb.
"We are proud that Croatia is hosting as many as 4️⃣ European Championships, in men's and women's senior and junior artistic gymnastics. Croatian gymnastics has a long and successful tradition. ✅ Our athletes have won two Olympic silver medals 🥈, five world and ten senior European medals, and a total of 187 medals at World Cups," Plenković wrote.
The Prime Minister added that the government continues to strongly support Croatian sports and the organization of major international sporting events, and congratulated the Croatian Gymnastics Federation on the organization. On the same day, Plenković also met with a delegation from the Croatian Athletics Federation.
