Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said Thursday that his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has reached a coalition agreement with the minority Independent Democratic Serbian Party (SDSS).
As a result, a representative of the Serbian minority would assume a post as a government vice-president for the first time in the country's history.
The conservative HDZ won 66 of the 153 seats in November elections and had to resort to forming coalition agreements with a total of four parties to construct a majority government of 83 parliamentary representatives.
In order to meet the demands of the large coalition, made up of HDZ, SDSS, the Croatian Peasants Party (HSS), the Croatian Social- Liberal Party (HSLS) and the Pensioners Party (HSU), Sanader's cabinet swelled to include five vice-presidential posts - the most in any European country.
The Serb official, expected to be Milorad Pupovac, would become the vice-president for foreign affairs, European integration and regional relations.
The SDSS is expected to adopt the coalition agreement either later Thursday or Friday. ( Dpa )