Croatian opposition files no-confidence motion against Plenkovic over illegal waste dump
The Social Democratic Party has lodged a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, citing the illegal dumping of tens of thousands of tonnes of waste near Gospic.
On September 25, the Social Democratic Party presented a no-confidence motion to the Croatian parliament, gathering 54 MP signatures to question Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic's role in the illegal waste dumping near Gospic. The motion enjoys support from the Mozemo! party, various minor opposition factions, the Most party and independents Marija and Nino Raspudic. Investigators have identified 34,000-37,000 tonnes of waste, largely imported from Italy in 2023-2024, and are examining corruption allegations tied to former State Inspectorate head Andrija Mikulic.
Opposition figures argue that the scale of the dump reveals systemic weakening of environmental controls, noting a tripling of waste imports since 2015 and reductions in fines and oversight mechanisms. Public protests in Zagreb have intensified pressure on the government, which says cleanup is complex and is seeking a European contractor to remove buried material. The prime minister maintains that prosecutors are handling culpable individuals and that the priority is safe waste removal.
Why it matters
The motion could force a parliamentary showdown over government accountability for a major environmental scandal.
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