Croatia's main ruling party demands PM resignation

Croatia's main ruling party Democratic Union (HDZ) on Saturday called for the resignation of Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic, or it would initiate an impeachment against him.

HDZ preferred to have a reshuffle, but an early parliamentary election was an option, Tomislav Karamarko, the president of HDZ and the first vice prime minister, said.

He ruled out the possibility of cooperation again with the MOST party, the partner in the coalition.

Also on Saturday, Bozo Petrov, the leader of MOST party and vice prime minister, said his party would never have any further cooperation with HDZ.

Meanwhile, Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), a minor member of the Patriotic Coalition leaded by HDZ, decided to leave the coalition.

In addition, the opposition Croatian People's Party (HNS) and Labour Party on Saturday called on dissolving the parliament and urged President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic to call an early election as soon as possible.

Ivan Vrdoljak, the leader of HNS said that the parliament and government should be dissolved and an early election should be called because the ruling coalition has paralyzed the country in the last seven months.

On Friday, Croatian Prime Minister Oreskovic urged his deputies, Karamarko and Petrov, to step down as their relations had become too big a burden for his government and the country, but they rejected. Enditem