Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament late Monday approved a government led by former reporter Jadranka Kosor. After an all-day session, Kosor became Croatia's first woman prime minister by a vote of 83-45.
She succeeded Ivo Sanader, who shocked Croatia last week by resigning after leading the country for six years.
The 56-year-old Kosor is taking over in a difficult time for Croatia, with the global economic downturn having a severe effect. Kosor pledged to deal with the Balkan country's economic problems and bring Croatia into the European Union by 2011.
Kosor's nomination was supported by the ruling coalition led by the Croatian Democratic Union, whose president she became on Saturday, as well as minority parties.
