Croatia's ruling HDZ party head Tomislav Karamarko resigned as deputy prime minister on Wednesday, leaving the rightwing coalition government teetering on the brink of collapse.
Karamarko, a key figure within the government, stepped down on the eve of a no-confidence vote against technocrat Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic, which could lead to snap elections.
The no-confidence motion, which was filed by HDZ, the biggest party in the ruling coalition, was to be put to a vote on Thursday, less than five months after the former pharmaceutical executive took over as head of a government cobbled together following indecisive November polls.
The government's "disfunction is unsustainable... that is why I am resigning," Karamarko told reporters on Wednesday.
The move came just hours after Croatia's ethics watchdog ruled he had a conflict of interest with respect to an oil dispute with Hungary, deepening a political crisis which has inflicted a serious blow on the fragile coalition.
A special state commission found there was a conflict of interest due to a business deal between Karamarko's wife and a lobbyist for Hungary's oil group MOL. MOL is currently locked in a dispute with Croatia over its national oil group INA, where it is a major shareholder.
Karamarko denied his resignation was linked to the ruling.
His resignation was largely seen as a bid to boost his party's chances of forming a new majority if the government collapses, which is seen as a likely scenario.
He has also avoided facing a no confidence vote against him over the oil affair that was to have taken place by Saturday.
- Coalition squabbles -
The coalition's work has been marred by disputes between HDZ and its junior coalition partner, Most, ever since it took over.
The crisis escalated last month after the Most party called for Karamarko to quit over the affair.
The spat prompted Oreskovic to call for the resignation of both Karamarko and Most leader Bozo Petrov, who is also a deputy premier.
Oreskovic also rejected a call by HDZ that he himself stand down, saying he wanted to defend himself against the party's accusations in the assembly. Shortly after, HDZ filed the no confidence motion.
On Wednesday, Oreskovic told reporters he believed the "coalition will overcome this (crisis) ... and the government will continue to implement (reform) changes."
HDZ, whose ratings have been affected by the affair, has expressed confidence that it would be able to form a new parliamentary majority, although analysts were sceptical it would work.
If the government collapses and there is no replacement within 30 days, the parliament will be dissolved and the president will call new elections.
Early elections would delay implementation of reforms in the European Union's newest member whose economy remains one of the 28-nation bloc's weakest.
Croatia’s ruling HDZ party head Tomislav Karamarko resigned as deputy prime minister on Wednesday, leaving the rightwing coalition government teetering on the brink of collapse.
Karamarko, a key figure within the government, stepped down on the eve of a no-confidence vote against technocrat Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic, which could lead to snap elections.
The no-confidence motion, which was filed by HDZ, the biggest party in the ruling coalition, was to be put to a vote on Thursday, less than five months after the former pharmaceutical executive took over as head of a government cobbled together following indecisive November polls.
The government’s “disfunction is unsustainable… that is why I am resigning,” Karamarko told reporters on Wednesday.
The move came just hours after Croatia’s ethics watchdog ruled he had a conflict of interest with respect to an oil dispute with Hungary, deepening a political crisis which has inflicted a serious blow on the fragile coalition.
A special state commission found there was a conflict of interest due to a business deal between Karamarko’s wife and a lobbyist for Hungary’s oil group MOL. MOL is currently locked in a dispute with Croatia over its national oil group INA, where it is a major shareholder.
Karamarko denied his resignation was linked to the ruling.
His resignation was largely seen as a bid to boost his party’s chances of forming a new majority if the government collapses, which is seen as a likely scenario.
He has also avoided facing a no confidence vote against him over the oil affair that was to have taken place by Saturday.
– Coalition squabbles –
The coalition’s work has been marred by disputes between HDZ and its junior coalition partner, Most, ever since it took over.
The crisis escalated last month after the Most party called for Karamarko to quit over the affair.
The spat prompted Oreskovic to call for the resignation of both Karamarko and Most leader Bozo Petrov, who is also a deputy premier.
Oreskovic also rejected a call by HDZ that he himself stand down, saying he wanted to defend himself against the party’s accusations in the assembly. Shortly after, HDZ filed the no confidence motion.
On Wednesday, Oreskovic told reporters he believed the “coalition will overcome this (crisis) … and the government will continue to implement (reform) changes.”
HDZ, whose ratings have been affected by the affair, has expressed confidence that it would be able to form a new parliamentary majority, although analysts were sceptical it would work.
If the government collapses and there is no replacement within 30 days, the parliament will be dissolved and the president will call new elections.
Early elections would delay implementation of reforms in the European Union’s newest member whose economy remains one of the 28-nation bloc’s weakest.
