Following an emergency meeting of the inner cabinet and coalition partners, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković will make a statement on the waste crisis that has prompted the opposition to seek the government's dismissal.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković will give a media statement on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, following a series of urgent consultations convened due to the escalation of the political crisis sparked by revelations about the scale of waste pollution in Lika. The statement is scheduled after a meeting of the government's inner cabinet and the parliamentary majority, held via video link.
Pressure on the government is mounting from multiple directions. President Zoran Milanović has called for urgent remediation of the waste in Gospić, describing the case as ecocide and demanding punishment for those responsible. Ivan Penava, leader of the Homeland Movement, as a coalition partner, has demanded "an immediate response from partners in power and the start of remediation of the polluted area," while his party proposes declaring an ecological disaster in Lika.
A number of opposition parties on Monday demanded an emergency session of Parliament. The SDP has announced a concrete move—initiating proceedings for a vote of no confidence in the government. Simultaneously, Most has launched its own initiative to bring down the government, deeming the Lika case sufficient grounds for such a step. Most's leader, Nikola Grmoja, stated on Tuesday that at a meeting with other parliamentary clubs, he would propose jointly requesting an extraordinary session from the Speaker of Parliament, emphasizing that "the only acceptable outcome of the ecological disaster in Lika is the fall of the government."
Sandra Benčić, coordinator of Možemo, went a step further by directly addressing partners in the ruling coalition. She called on HDZ's coalition partners to withhold support from Plenković's government, which would further shake the already fragile ruling alliance.
The political crisis followed the release of findings on the extent of pollution in the Gospić area. The Ministry of Environment claims it has been undertaking remediation activities with the Environmental Protection Fund since day one, but that it was not involved in issuing permits nor is it responsible for inspection oversight. Details on the type and quantity of waste, as well as who is responsible for its illegal dumping, should become clearer after Prime Minister Plenković presents the government's position and announces concrete measures to address this environmental issue that has escalated into a serious political battle.
