Croatian parliament elects new speaker amid political crisis

ZAGREB, Croatia – Croatia’s parliament has elected a new speaker after the previous one resigned amid a breakup of the ruling coalition and a government crisis in the European Union’s newest member state.

Gordan Jandrokovic from the ruling Croatian Democratic Union was elected in a 76-13 vote Friday. The parliament then announced a one-month break until after the May 21 municipal elections.

The recess is apparently designed to buy time for Croatia’s beleaguered conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who needs a new alliance after junior partner Most, or Bridge, left his ruling coalition last week. Plenkovic wants to avoid a second snap election in less than a year.

Jandrokovic was elected thanks to an opposition lawmaker who also helped Plenkovic’s finance minister survive a no-confidence motion Thursday. Jandrokovic’s predecessor was from Most.