April 28 (SeeNews) - Croatia's prime minister Andrej Plenkovic has toppled the coalition government by sacking all ministers from junior coalition partner MOST, the leader of the centre-right party, Bozo Petrov, said on Friday.
"Andrej Plenkovic has toppled the government and claims he has a new parliamentary majority", Petrov told a news conference aired live by public broadcaster HRT.
"MOST is no longer a part of the government", he noted, adding that Plenkovic has caused a political and constitutional crisis in Croatia.
Earlier on Friday, Plenkovic dismissed administration minister Ivan Kovacic, the only remaining member of his cabinet from MOST. The government said in a statement that Kovacic, also a deputy prime minister, was relieved of his duties at his request "given the change in political circumstances".
In a separate release, the government said that ten government secretaries from MOST have also been dismissed.
The latest sackings followed the dismissal of three MOST ministers on Thursday over their refusal to support finance minister, Zdravko Maric, in a no-confidence motion against him sought by opposition SDP party.
In his address to the media, Petrov also said that a confidence vote in Maric will be held in parliament on Wednesday. However, according to local media reports, HDZ, the senior partner in the government coalition led by Plenkovic, plans to file a no-confidence motion against Petrov in his capacity of parliament speaker as early as today.
The Social Democrats earlier filed a no-confidence motion against Maric over the way he has handled the financial crisis in Croatia's largest food and retail concern Agrokor, his former place of employment. On Thursday, the government voted to reject the motion, but three MOST ministers cast their votes in support of SDP and against the government.
During a weekly cabinet session, aired live on the government's website, Plenkovic dismissed interior minister Vlaho Orepic, justice minister Anto Sprlje and energy minister Slaven Dobrovic.
In October last year, conservative Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, and centre-right MOST agreed to form a government following a snap vote in September - Croatia's second parliamentary election in 12 months time.
The vote was brought on by the dissolution of parliament in July prompted by poor relations between MOST and HDZ. Despite their track record, MOST and HDZ agreed to form a new coalition government but a new break in relations is currently unfolding.
HDZ has 56 of 151 seats in parliament, MOST has 14 and SDP controls 36.