Croatian conservative leader Plenkovic becomes PM-designate

FILE - This is a Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 file photo of Andrej Plenkovic, front left, leader of center-right HDZ party as he celebrates elections results at the party's headquarters in Zagreb, Croatia. Croatia's president on Monday Oct. 10, 2016 appointed conservative leader Andrej Plenkovic as prime minister-designate after his party and a small populist group agreed to form a coalition government in a bid to end months of political instability in the EU's newest member state. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File) (The Associated Press)

Croatia's president has appointed conservative leader Andrej Plenkovic as prime minister-designate after his party and a small populist group agreed to form a coalition government.

President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic said Monday she expected the new government to be "stable, constructive and efficient." Grabar Kitarovic added that "I believe we are entering a new phase of political life."

A snap election held on Sept. 11 produced no clear winner, but Plenkovic's Croatian Democratic Union, or HDZ, has forged a coalition deal with the populist Most party and minority groups.

The 46-year-old Plenkovic says the new government will have the support of 91 lawmakers in the 151-member parliament.

The Croatian Parliament convenes for the first time later this week and the government could be approved next week.