December 23 (SeeNews) - Croatia's rightist Patriotic Coalition, led by the opposition HDZ, and the reformist MOST party have agreed to tap a local businessman, Tihomir Oreskovic, as their candidate for prime minister, local media reported on Wednesday.
The announcement was made by HDZ leader Tomislav Karamarko and his MOST counterpart Bozo Petrov, state-run news agency HRT reported.
Following an inconclusive parliamentary vote, several rounds of consultations with Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic for the formation of the country's new govenrment failed to yield any results as no one secured enough support to get a cabinet mandate.
The general elections held in Croatia in early November failed to produce an outright winner. The Patriotic Coalition garnered 59 MP seats while the Croatia is Growing alliance, led by the ruling Social Democratic Party, secured 56 seats. MOST, a relative newcomer to the political scene, got 19 MPs, turning it into a potential king-maker after the two main political rivals rejected any talk of a grand coalition.