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1st LD: Newly-formed Croatian government pledges to focus on economic growth

Xinhua, October 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Croatian parliament on Wednesday approved a new cabinet, ending months of political uncertainty after the fall of previous government in June.

A total of 91 votes were in favour of the cabinet led by Andrej Plenkovic, the president of Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), 45 against and three abstained from voting in the parliament session. There are a total of 151 seats in the parliament but some of them were absent from Wednesday's meeting.

Plenkovic, 46, became the prime minister after HDZ and small party MOST agreed to form a coalition following early election on Sept. 11. With HDZ winning 61 seats while MOST having 13, the election failed to produce a majority needed for forming a new government.

The new cabinet consists of 19 ministers, including four women.

Zdravko Maric, a former executive of Croatia's largest private company and the finance minister of previous government, retained his position. He is expected to continue his efforts to cut the country's budget gap to below 3 percent of GDP.

Martina Dalic, 49, who has been working in financial sector for more than 20 years, was appointed as economy minister. She has to work hard together with Maric to deal with public debts which stand around 85 percent of Croatia's GDP and tackle the country's nearly 15 percent unemployment.

The European Commission has put Zagreb under strict monitoring for macro-economic imbalances and deficits.

Davor Ivo Stier, a 44-year-old diplomat, will serve as foreign minister. He was born and educated in Argentina in a Croatian emigrant family. After returning to Croatia, he has worked in Croatia's diplomacy over 15 years and used to work in the Croatian Embassy to the United States and NATO. He was elected member of the European Parliament in 2013 and 2014.

Nina Obuljen Korzinek will replace Zlatko Hasanbegovic as new cultural minister.

At the parliament session, Plenkovic said his government's goals until 2020 was to achieve stable and sustainable economic growth, job creation, demographic revival and social equity.

Later Wednesday evening, Plenkovic is expected to go to the government office building where he will officially take over power from outgoing Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic. Endit