Political analyst Žarko Puhovski sharply criticized President Zoran Milanović for his passivity in the environmental crisis in Gospić, noting that under the Constitution he could have convened an emergency session of Parliament. He also believes the opposition's reaction was too slow.
Political analyst Žarko Puhovski, in an interview with N1 journalist Tihomir Ladišić, commented on the environmental crisis caused by the disposal of hazardous waste near Gospić. In his review, he specifically addressed the role of President Zoran Milanović, whom he believes missed the opportunity to use his constitutional powers.
Puhovski emphasized that Milanović's mistake was not sending a short letter to Parliament Speaker Jandroković. "He should have sent a two-sentence letter to Jandroković, based on Article 78, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution: 'I demand the convening of an urgent session of Parliament due to the catastrophic environmental situation in Lika-Senj County and due to the clearly demonstrated inadequate or erroneous response of the executive branch regarding the situation,'" Puhovski quoted, as reported by N1.
The analyst wondered why Milanović did not do this, given that he does not need anyone's consent for such a move. "He 'calls on' the Government... What does it mean to call on the Government? He could have requested that emergency session. They don't go from the sea; it seems that is also part of the problem. It seems that's what it's about," Puhovski criticized the President's reaction.
He also addressed the seriousness of the situation, describing it as a dangerous day for the state. "The word irreversible has appeared, meaning it cannot be undone. Something has happened that cannot be fixed. PFAS compounds are non-degradable and soluble in water. So, they spread through water," he warned. He added that he now understands the structure of Lika-Senj County because the contaminated water flows directly into Vrulje near Karlobag and the Velebit Channel.
Speaking about the failures of the executive branch, Puhovski reminded that Croatia has not had a chief state inspector for nine months, following the dismissal of the arrested Andrija Mikulić. He called for oversight of operations, potentially involving the State Attorney's Office, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Economy. "There should be an inspection of operations in this part of the mining sector where they were messing around with quarries, where Andrija Mikulić long ago qualified for his job because he had previous scandals with a quarry near Trogir," he said.
Although he believes this could very likely be the biggest crisis for Andrej Plenković's government, Puhovski stated that the fall of the government due to environmental reasons is not a realistic option. Instead, he advocates for the formation of a cross-party task force under the control of Parliament that would focus on resolving this crisis.
Commenting on the reactions of political parties, Puhovski noted that Most was the first to respond to the crisis, while others lagged. "The SDP spent two days thinking about what to say, Možemo reacted, but not fast enough; they should have been the first," he said. He also raised the question of whether minority representatives will have the courage to react and say that this is not a party-political issue.
Data shows that as much as 35,000 tons of waste were discovered in Gospić, and a year has passed since that discovery. In conclusion, Puhovski also directed a question to HSLS's Hrebak, asking whether he will rise to the level of modern liberal tendencies that have embraced the green agenda.
