The ruling conservatives in Croatia have agreed to govern in coalition with right-wing populists after failing to secure a parliamentary majority in last month’s election.
The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), headed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, announced on Wednesday it had agreed on a coalition government with the Homeland Movement (DP), a fledgling nationalist party that affiliates with the Identity and Democracy (ID) European parliamentary group.
The Homeland Movement, led by former HDZ member Ivan Penava, came third in April’s parliamentary elections, securing 9.5 percent of the vote share and giving it influence in the creation of the next government.
A total of 76 seats are needed for a parliamentary majority in Croatia’s 151-seat parliament. HDZ secured 61 seats and DP has 14, meaning the coalition will still need to rely on minor conservative parties such as the ECR-affiliated Croatian Sovereignists, who won 11 parliamentary seats.
DP comprises several former HDZ members who splintered from the ruling conservatives over social issues. It is in favor of Croatia’s EU membership but remains skeptical of the single currency and opposes abortion and same-sex marriage.
The agreement will see the Croatian government shift significantly to the right ahead of next month’s European elections for which Plenković is a candidate for the HDZ.
The DP will hold three ministerial posts in the new cabinet, taking charge of the Agriculture Ministry, the Ministry for Demography, and leading a new ministry following the split of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.
“Today we had another round of talks between HDZ and DP. We agreed on a partnership in the context of creating a new parliamentary majority and collecting signatures for me as a representative for the third time for the third term at the head of the government,” Plenković said on Wednesday.
“We reached an agreement on the structure of the next government. We agreed that three departments belong to DP.
“What we have agreed in principle is that the member of the government who is responsible for demography will also be the deputy prime minister for the interdepartmental coordination of these issues, because it is not the job of one department,” the Croatian prime minister added.
