The Croatian parliament on Thursday passed a decision accepting Prime Minister Ivo Sanader's resignation and the decision will become effective the moment a new prime minister receives a vote of confidence.

A total of 118 deputies voted for Sanader's replacement, two deputies of the People's Party refrained, while independent deputy Dragutin Lesar voted against, the Croatian news agency HINA reported.

On Wednesday, Sanader announced his sudden resignation from the post of the government head. He also decided to withdraw from his party duty as the president of the senior ruling party Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

Sanader said that the ruling coalition would nominate Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor as the new prime minister. The 56-year-old Kosor could become the first female prime minister since Croatia gained independence in 1991.

The Croatian parliament on Thursday also accepted the dissolution of the government which, according to a previously adopted law on the government, would continue to technically perform its duties until a new prime minister is appointed and a new government confirmed.

The Office of Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said on Thursday that it had received the parliament's decision and the signatures of 83 deputies supporting Kosor's appointment, but that President Mesic would launch consultations with parliamentary parties on Friday to see if Kosor enjoys the necessary parliamentary support.

Ivan Jarnjak, HDZ secretary-general, told the press that a party conference on Saturday would be an election conference at which delegates are expected to accept party president Sanader's resignation, change the statute, and elect a new president and leadership.

Kosor, a long-standing deputy prime minister and the right hand to Sanader, is expected to succeed Sanader as the new president of the HDZ.

Source: Xinhua