Croatia's new parliament on Monday elected Zeljko Reiner, a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), as the Speaker of the 151-seat assembly.
In its first session after the November 8 elections, a total of 88 lawmakers backed Reiner, the sole candidate for the post, while 62 others abstained from voting and one person voted against, Xinhua reported.
Reiner made his first speech after vote, calling for national unity and making Croatia a just state.
"We have to bring back hope to Croatian citizens," he said.
Reiner announced the eighth parliament would soon hold its first working meeting, likely after January 15.
Reiner was a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s executive board from 1995 to 1998 and served as Croatia's health minister from 1998 to 2000. He was deputy speaker of the country's former parliament.
