ZAGREB, February 16, 2018 – Parliament on Friday did not elect a Conflict of Interest Commission chairwoman as neither Nataša Novakoviž nor Dalija Orešković, who chaired it until the end of her term on February 11, received the required 76 votes, while four members of the Commission were elected.
Novaković received 75 votes and Orešković 46, Speaker Gordan Jandroković said, adding that the secret vote would be repeated.
Of the 151 members of parliament, 127 voted for the new Commission chair. Six of the ballots were invalid.
The four elected Commission members are Tatijana Vučetić, Davorin Ivanjek, Aleksandra Jozić Ileković, and Tončica Božić. Vučetić and Ivanjek were re-elected.
The fact that the Parliament failed to elect the candidate supported by the government shows that there were at least three MPs from the ruling parties who have not voted as expected, which bring into question the stability of the ruling majority. The vote was by a secret ballot, so it is not known who undermined the majority.