Friday saw Croatia’s parliament approve a coalition government dominated by the conservative, pro-European HDZ party headed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.
The HDZ party (Croatian Democratic Union) led the NATO country in joining the EU's Schengen zone and euro zone last year, and has now formed a coalition with the far-right DF (Homeland Movement). DF will now have three ministers in the 18-member government.
Plenkovic, who now starts his third term as Prime Minister, told lawmakers: “We want a successful, vital, just, sustainable and sovereign Croatia.” Out of 141 MPs, 79 voted to approve the new government and 61 against. There was one abstention.
DF have repeatedly campaigned against immigration and have made the defense of family values one of the core elements of their manifesto. Moreover, they have also campaigned against allowing any minority Serb party to join any future coalition. Now, fears have been voiced that the new cabinet will swing more to the right.
However, analysts have been quick to allay these fears, saying that HDZ will keep its ministers of internal affairs and culture, thereby ensuring that migrant policy and minority rights will not change.
“It is obvious that Prime Minister Plenkovic will find the way to continue to lead centrist policies focused on the EU,” said political analyst Davor Gjenero. “I think there will be no major change in public policies. Croatia remains stable as the state advocating more Europe.”
DF, which won 14 seats, has been called a kingmaker after allying with HDZ who won 61 seats in the 151-seat parliament. Although this was comfortably clear of the 42 seats won by the main opposition party the SDP (Social Democratic Party) and their allies, it fell considerably short of the 76 seats needed for a majority.
Plenkovic, who now starts his third term as Prime Minister, told lawmakers: “We want a successful, vital, just, sustainable and sovereign Croatia.” Out of 141 MPs, 79 voted to approve the new government and 61 against. There was one abstention.
DF have repeatedly campaigned against immigration and have made the defense of family values one of the core elements of their manifesto. Moreover, they have also campaigned against allowing any minority Serb party to join any future coalition. Now, fears have been voiced that the new cabinet will swing more to the right.
However, analysts have been quick to allay these fears, saying that HDZ will keep its ministers of internal affairs and culture, thereby ensuring that migrant policy and minority rights will not change.
“It is obvious that Prime Minister Plenkovic will find the way to continue to lead centrist policies focused on the EU,” said political analyst Davor Gjenero. “I think there will be no major change in public policies. Croatia remains stable as the state advocating more Europe.”
DF, which won 14 seats, has been called a kingmaker after allying with HDZ who won 61 seats in the 151-seat parliament. Although this was comfortably clear of the 42 seats won by the main opposition party the SDP (Social Democratic Party) and their allies, it fell considerably short of the 76 seats needed for a majority.
Entering government for the first time, DF will head the agriculture ministry, a new ministry of demography and part of the economy ministry which has now been split into two departments.
Andrius Tursa, the advisor for Central and Eastern Europe at the advisory firm Teneo, said: “It very much looks like a continuity government, both in terms of its composition and policy priorities, although a slight shift to the right is possible in some areas.”
He added that he expected the government to maintain its pro-Western, pro-Ukraine stance, though added their biggest challenge would lie in stemming corruption.
Andrius Tursa, the advisor for Central and Eastern Europe at the advisory firm Teneo, said: “It very much looks like a continuity government, both in terms of its composition and policy priorities, although a slight shift to the right is possible in some areas.”
He added that he expected the government to maintain its pro-Western, pro-Ukraine stance, though added their biggest challenge would lie in stemming corruption.
Source: Reuters
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