Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic said on Monday that the name of the new economy minister and deputy prime minister would be known by Friday, adding that the ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic had a stable majority in the 153-seat Parliament.

“I expect we will have at least 77 votes next Friday to confirm the economy minister. I expect to a good working week, which will end with a general convention of the HDZ party,” Jandrokovic told reporters in front of government headquarters.

Asked to comment on the statement by the leader of the opposition Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) Darinko Kosor that he would support the majority as long as Plenkovic was at the helm of the HDZ and the government, Jandrokovic said: “You will have a chance to see it all at the HDZ general convention, which will demonstrate the strength of the party, and the strong support for the prime minister. Everything will be clear then.”

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Martina Dalic, handed in her resignation last Monday over allegations of conflict of interest following the publication of her e-mail correspondence with consultants who had drafted the controversial Lex Agrokor bill in early 2017 on state-appointed management of the indebted Agrokor food and retail group.

Jandrokovic said that the prime minister’s position had not been shaken by the e.mail affair. “This week will show everything, and it will end to the satisfaction of the HDZ, and all those who believe that the HDZ party should continue leading Croatia,” he added.

Tomislav Tolusic, the current Agriculture Minister, and Darko Horvat, who had served as Minister of Entrepreneurship and Crafts from January to October 2016 when the HDZ was led by Tomislav Karamarko, have been floated in the media as possible candidates to succeed Dalic.

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