Medved Accuses Opposition of Politicizing Gospić Waste Crisis: “Government Is Acting Lawfully and Transparently”

Croatia’s government is fully aware of the waste problem in Gospić and says it is handling the site lawfully, systematically and transparently. Deputy Prime Minister and Veterans’ Affairs Minister Tomo Medved, speaking in Sisak, dismissed the actions of the opposition parties SDP, Možemo! and Most as “pure politicking.”

Medved said the government had already taken a series of concrete steps, which Prime Minister Andrej Plenković outlined publicly two days earlier. The plan includes transporting away bags of waste, arranging for waste disposal in the ground and covering the waste to prevent water from passing through it.

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The government is fully aware of the situation in Gospić, but we are also aware of the situation and the dangers at other illegal waste sites.

Further work will address scattered waste and remove material from an enclosed area, he said. The State Attorney’s Office and law-enforcement bodies have also carried out proceedings, and authorities expect appropriate charges to be brought against those responsible.

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Every action, every step and every announcement of the next activity is carried out lawfully by the government.

The Croatian Institute of Public Health is continuously monitoring and checking drinking-water quality in Gospić. Medved said the water remains safe.

He also addressed the civic initiative “Gospić Is Our Home” and an upcoming protest in Zagreb. Medved said he respected the initiative’s warnings about the dangers of illegal waste sites, but accused the opposition of trying to link itself to the campaign. He said he hoped the initiative would remain a constructive partner in assessing risks, monitoring conditions and communicating results clearly, so that misinformation would not enter the public debate.

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It is pure politicking by Možemo, SDP and Most.