"The government will now have even stronger support in Parliament. I thank the three MPs for appreciating the government's efforts to bring the EU accession negotiations to completion and implement the economic recovery programme, and in particular for their support in the fight against corruption," Kosor said at a joint press conference with Cehok.

Cehok said that earlier today he had resigned from membership of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), which in turn had left the ruling coalition at the weekend. Cehok said it was very hard for him to leave the party, because he was one of its founders and former president.

Commenting on Tuesday's statement by the HSLS president that the party would support the government's economic recovery programme, Cehok said that in that case the HSLS should not have left the ruling coalition. "I think my former party made a bad decision at a bad time."

Cehok said that he, Horvat, a former member of the People's Party (HNS), and Korusec, a former member of the HSLS, would form an independent caucus in Parliament. They would apply for its registration probably already on Thursday, the last day of Parliament sitting before the summer break.

Korusec entered Parliament to take up the seat of HSLS deputy Djurdja Adlesic after she had been appointed deputy prime minister.

Kosor said that Adlesic had tendered her resignation in writing on Tuesday, but that it had been agreed that she would stay in the government to finish the projects she had begun.

"We agreed she would stay until the beginning of August, and then we'll see," the prime minister said, stressing that Adlesic's cooperation had been excellent.

When asked by reporters if it had been decided that Sima Krasic should stay on as chief state auditor, Kosor said that a final decision had not been made yet.

According to media reports, it is still uncertain whether the 71-year-old Krasic will be re-appointed to another eight-year term due to her age.