Marija Pejčinović Burić replaces Davor Ivo Stier.
On Monday afternoon, the Parliament confirmed the appointment of Marija Burić Pejčinović as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, with 78 votes in favour and 35 against, reports Večernji List on June 19, 2017.
Until today, Pejčinović Burić was a state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has a respectable diplomatic career. She will succeed Davor Ivo Stier, who resigned as a minister last week and decided instead to return to the Parliament as an MP. It is believed that Stier, a prominent member of the party’s conservative wing, resigned in protest over HDZ’s decision to enter into a coalition with the more liberal HNS.
Before confirmation in Parliament, the new minister passed a hearing at a joint session of the parliamentary committees for foreign and European affairs, where she was supported by the majority of members of both committees.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković’s government has now confirmed its majority in the Parliament, which is the same as ten days ago when seven new members of the government were also approved with 78 votes in favour. The absolute minimum for confirmation of new ministers is 76 MPs.
The new minister took the oath of office, promising to execute her duties honestly and honourably, respecting the Constitution and laws.
Today, Parliament also confirmed the election of Italian national minority MP Furio Radin as the new Deputy Speaker of the Parliament. He is one of three deputy speakers coming from the parliamentary majority. His appointed was not contested, and he received 109 votes in favour and just one vote against.
Eight national minority MPs are the key part of the ruling coalition, and Radin has been elected as their representative. He is also currently the father of the Parliament, as the MP with the longest continuous service.
