Zagreb - Davorko Vidović of the Social Democrats group, the largest opposition group in the Croatian Parliament, was appointed a new, fifth Deputy Parliament Speaker on Wednesday.
This decision was made by a majority of MPs - 114 of them, while one abstained, with Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković congratulating Vidović on the appointment and wishing him success.
Parliament previously relieved of his duties as Deputy Parliament Speaker Miroslav Škoro, former leader of the Homeland Movement party with which he parted ways this summer and is now a member of the Croatian Sovereignists group, which has six seats in Parliament.
The Social Democrats group was formed recently after a rift in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) group, which now has 14 members, while the Social Democrats group has 18 members.
Parliament has five Deputy Speakers - minority MP Furio Radin and HDZ members Željko Reiner and Ante Sanader of the parliamentary majority, and Vidović and SDP MP Sabina Glasovac of the opposition.
Vidović is a veteran of social democracy in Croatia, having served as labour and social welfare minister in the Ivica Račan government in the early 2000s.