ZAGREB, May 21, 2018 – Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Monday that the name of the new economy minister and deputy prime minister would be known by Friday, adding that the ruling HDZ party led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković was stable.
“I expect we will have at least 77 votes next Friday to confirm the economy minister. I expect a good working week which will end with a general convention of the HDZ,” Jandroković told the press while entering government headquarters.
Asked to comment on the statement by Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) leader Darinko Kosor that he would support the majority as long as Plenković was at the helm of the HDZ and government, Jandroković said: “You will see it all at the HDZ general convention, which will demonstrate the strength of the party and strong support for the prime minister. Everything will be clear then.”
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Martina Dalić resigned last Monday following accusations of conflict of interest during the restructuring of the indebted Agrokor food and retail group.
Jandroković said that the prime minister’s position had not been shaken by the affair. “This week will show everything and will end to the satisfaction of the HDZ and all those who believe that the HDZ should continue leading Croatia,” he concluded.
Tomislav Tolušić, the current Minister of Agriculture, and Darko Horvat, who had served as Minister of Entrepreneurship and Crafts in 2016, when the HDZ was led by Tomislav Karamarko, have been mentioned by the media as possible candidates for Dalić’s successor.
