HDZ faces major political crisis over Gospić waste scandal

The ruling HDZ party is facing a significant political crisis in Croatia following a scandal involving hazardous waste in Gospić. Sociologist and political analyst Dragan Bagić describes this as the most serious crisis Andrej Plenković has faced in his ten years in power.

Unlike previous corruption scandals related to public procurement or healthcare, this issue directly impacts environmental safety, a matter of high sensitivity for Croatian citizens. The crisis is linked to the government's governance model, including the appointment of the chief state inspector and legislative changes made in 2019.

Public dissatisfaction has been further compounded by local economic impacts, such as a 400 percent increase in waste disposal costs in Andrijaševci, following protests in the Lika region. Recent polling indicates a significant decline in trust for the HDZ as a result of these developments.