Thousands protest in Zagreb over illegal hazardous waste dump in Gospic
A nationwide demonstration is scheduled in Zagreb to demand the removal of tens of thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped hazardous waste near Gospic.
Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste, some classified as hazardous, have been illegally placed near Gospic, prompting a nationwide protest planned for Saturday in Zagreb. The Gospic civil initiative demands swift removal of the waste and accountability for the perpetrators. President Zoran Milanovic endorsed the demonstration, calling the incident an "eco-cide," and urged authorities to act faster.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic visited Gospic to discuss the issue with ministers and local leaders, but the protest organizers were not invited to the talks. The anti-corruption and organized crime prosecutor USKOK is probing the case, which involves waste imported from Italy, Slovenia and Germany and has detected PFAS chemicals in underground water. The government says drinking water remains safe and is preparing to involve foreign specialist firms for the cleanup, with a parliamentary mandate to report progress within 90 days.
Why it matters
The waste dump threatens public health and the environment, sparking political tension and a large-scale protest in Croatia.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report the huge Zagreb protest demanding cleanup of the illegal waste dump, but left-leaning coverage stresses criticism of the conservative government and calls the crime profit-driven, while right-leaning coverage highlights the environmental threat and notes the government's contractor selection yet still urges faster action.
LEFT
Frames the protest as a massive public outcry demanding swift removal of illegal hazardous waste and condemning the conservative government for profit-driven wrongdoing.
RIGHT
Frames the protest as a large-scale demonstration spotlighting an environmental crisis and pressuring the government to accelerate cleanup despite its announced contractor.
The left emphasises
- tens of thousands gathered in Zagreb demanding swift removal of about 37,000 metric tons of illegal hazardous waste
- criticism of conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and his government
- the waste linked to heightened metal levels and PFAS contamination
The right emphasises
- massive demonstration demanding accelerated cleanup of a waste dump holding 34,000-37,000 tons
- environmentalists warn of water contamination and ecosystem damage
- government announced a contractor for initial removal but activists say little work has begun
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