Raising the prospect of a snap election, members of parliament oust technocrat Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic.
Croatia's parliament has overwhelmingly voted to oust technocrat Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic, who resumed office just five months ago, triggering the fall of the government and raising the prospect of a snap election.
The vote on Thursday in the 151-seat assembly was 125 for the ouster 15 against and two abstentions.
The no-confidence vote was put forward by the ruling coalition's biggest party, the conservative HDZ, which had helped install Oreskovic but then fell out with him and accused him of being incapable of leading the country amid deep economic and social problems.
"I came in with the best intentions to help my homeland," said Oreskovic, a Canada-educated financial expert, after the vote.
"I am a little sad because I think we could have achieved more," he said, adding that he will serve as acting prime minister until a new government is elected.
Members of parliament will now have 30 days to generate a new government or face a snap election.
Oreskovic, with no party affiliation, lost the support of the HDZ after he clashed with their leader, Tomislav Karamarko, who has been accused of conflict of interest due to his links with a lobbyist for Hungary's state oil company.
Karamarko on Wednesday stepped down from his deputy prime minister post, pledging to oust Oreskovic and collect enough votes in the parliament to form another government with a new premier.