Croatia Parliament Votes in Plenkovic's New Govt

A new centre-right coalition government in Croatia under Andrej Plenkovic, president of the leading Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, was voted in by the country's parliament on Wednesday.

The coalition government of the HDZ, the centre-right Bridge of the Independent Lists, MOST, and all eight national minority MPs gathered the support of 91 of the 151 MPs in parliament.

Plenkovic presented the program of the government and four key goals that the government wishes to fulfill by 2020: stable and lasting economic growth, the creation of new jobs, reversing emigration and demographic renewal - and social justice and solidarity.

"I am convinced that with a clear vision and unity we can achieve positive changes," Plenkovic told MPs while presenting the future government.

It has four vice prime ministers, three of them from the ranks of Plenkovic's Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, which did best in the general election.

As expected, Plenkovic's close associate, the HDZ political secretary, Davor Ivo Stier, is one Vice Prime Minister, also taking the position of Foreign Minister.

Former general Damir Krsticevic is another Vice Prime Minister, and Defence Minister. The third HDZ Vice Prime Minister will be Martina Dalic, who also took the Economy Ministry. Dalic was Finance Minister between 2010 and 2011 in the HDZ government led by Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor.

The fourth Vice Prime Minister comes from the HDZ's coalition partner, MOST. Ivan Kovacic will also be Minister of State Administration.

Three MOST ministers kept their positions from the last coalition government that fell in June: Interior Minister Vlaho Orepic, Justice Minister Ante Sprlje and Environment Protection Minister Slaven Dobrovic. He also obtained the...