Milanović calls for emergency Parliament session over Gospić waste crisis

President Zoran Milanović has requested an emergency session of Parliament to address the hazardous waste crisis in Gospić.

In his proposed agenda, Milanović is calling for the urgent cleanup of the illegal waste disposal site and for the Government to brief civic associations on its remediation plans within three days. He is also urging the swift appointment of a chief state inspector and for inspectors to immediately begin monitoring all waste disposal sites where there is reasonable suspicion that dangerous or illegally disposed waste is present.

The President's request comes after a meeting of Parliament's Environment Committee in Gospić broke down when environmental activists and opposition MPs walked out in protest.

One environmental group that has been vocal about the dangers posed by illegally dumped hazardous waste in Gospić said it was planning a protest in Zagreb.

"We are disappointed that this issue has turned into a tool of political brinkmanship. We, as citizens, saw that we were going to get very little time at the very end of the meeting, after all of the politicians had taken their turns. That's why we decided to walk out. Our next move is to hold a protest in Zagreb," said activist Vjekoslav Bušić.

The opposition SDP is calling on Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to take responsibility for the health of Gospić residents.

"The purpose of yesterday's committee meeting was to divert attention from the person most responsible for all this: Andrej Plenković," said SDP MP Mihael Zmajlović.

Most MPs are angry that Gospić residents were not allowed to ask questions at the committee meeting. Most MP Nikola Grmoja is urging the Speaker to ensure that the public can take part in the special session of Parliament, in a format he described as a kind of public hearing.

The ruling majority supports holding the special session, said HDZ MP Ante Sanader.

"This will be an opportunity to present the truth to the Croatian public. They can hear from people in government, the scientific community and other experts on this issue, to stop falsehoods from spreading," Sanader said.

The Speaker has received the President's request and has eight days to call the special session.