October 20 (SeeNews) - Croatia's new prime minister, HDZ leader Andrej Plenkovic, took office late on Wednesday after his government received the parliament's approval, following a day-long debate over the ministerial nominees.
Croatia's parliament approved Plenkovic's cabinet and programme with 91 votes in favour and 43 votes against. Three MPs abstained, the government said in a statement on its website.
One of the priorities of the new government will be tax reform, Plenkovic told parliament. The government will also focus on achieving economic growth and social solidarity, as well as enhancing the rule of law and political stability.
"The government's programme is clearly linked to the election programme of HDZ and its partner MOST, as well as the political agreement we reached with the representatives of national minorities. Our approach is openness to different ideas and political views. Every idea has something positive and can become part of the strategic and legal framework," Plenkovic said.
The new government consists of four deputy prime ministers and 20 ministers, all of whom were sworn in following the vote.
Plenkovic's four deputies will have ministerial portfolios. They are economist and finance official Martina Dalic, who will head the economy ministry; former Croatian member of the European Parliament Davor Ivo Stier, who will run the foreign affairs ministry; Army Major General Damir Krsticevic, appointed defence minister; and former Omis mayor Ivan Kovacic, who will head the public administration ministry.
Zdravko Maric, who was appointed as finance minister by former prime minister Tihomir Oreskovic, will remain in his post.
On Thursday, Plenkovic is attending a meeting of the European Council in Brussels. His first visit to a foreign country for bilateral meetings will be to neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Earlier this month, HDZ reached an agreement with centre-right MOST to form a coalition government. HDZ won 61 of the 151 seats in parliament in last month's early elections. MOST won 13 seats. Plenkovic has also been backed in parliament by deputies representing ethnic minorities and some smaller parties.
MOST leader Bozo Petrov was appointed parliament speaker for a two-year term. The two parties agreed on a rotating system, whereby the post will be held by two people appointed for a two-year period each.