Croatia's ruling HDZ elects PM-designate as its new chief (Roundup)

Jul 4, 2009, 14:16 GMT

Zagreb - Croatia's ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party Saturday elected prime minister-designate Jadranka Kosor as the party's new head after the surprise resignation of Ivo Sanader.

Kosor was elected to lead Croatia's strongest party with an overwhelming majority, local media reported.

'I will rule the country and the party with strong woman's hand,' Kosor said. 'I will be ambitious for Croatia and I want Croatia to be ambitious with me.'

Earlier Saturday, media reports said President Stjepan Mesic late Friday gave Kosor a mandate to form a new government, two days after Sanader's withdrawal from politics.

'I believe that the new government will be formed on Monday.' Kosor said Friday after a marathon five-hour meeting with Mesic and members of all parliamentary parties and minorities.

'I expect the new government to continue pro-European politics,' Mesic said.

Kosor's mandate was no surprise as Sanader earlier hinted that the 56-year-old had support from both him and the ruling coalition.

Kosor will be Croatia's first female prime minister. A former reporter on war veteran issues - a job which gained her popularity among the fighters who are an influential part of Croatian society, Kosor is a loyal Sanander supporter.

She must now take on the difficult task of bringing Croatia through the financial crisis, which has hit this Adriatic country hard.

Sanader, whose reasons for withdrawing from politics are still unclear, will remain honorary member of the HDZ. Some, however believe that he could reappear later in the autumn, just in time for presidential elections.

Kosor, at the HDZ congress in Zagreb, supported Andrija Herbrang as HDZ presidential candidate for the coming elections.

'I am looking forward to working with Herbrang in creating our foreign policy,' Kosor said.