Zmajlovic was sworn in after the vote, thus replacing Mirela Holy of the SDP, who resigned last week after an email was leaked to the public showing that Holy had asked the CEO of the Croatian Rail (HZ) company, Rene Valcic, not to fire the wife of their party colleague.

Before appointing him as the new minister, the parliamentary clubs held a debate on the developments surrounding the entire case.

Davorin Mlakar of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said that he disagreed with the government's claims that Holy's resignation stemmed from the principles of the Zoran Milanovic cabinet and that he believed that she was actually a victim of the failure of Radimir Cacic of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), who is the Deputy Prime Minister, and some other government members to agree on some things.

"Mirela Holy was incompatible to the 'investment tsunami', which was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Cacic, as an exit from the crisis, which would be probably to the detriment of the nature protection," Mlakar said.

The Croatian Democratic Party of Slavonian and Baranja (HDSSB) parliamentarians accused the SDP-led ruling coalition of nepotism and incapability, adding that the SDP was employing its members and supporters along that party lines.

Nada Turina Djuric of the HNS said that she believed that Zmajlovic would be a good minister and that he should search for a balance between environment protection and investments, notably those ones in the energy sector. She called for striking a balance when it comes to the future hydro power plant at the River Ombla.

Introducing Zmajlovic as the nominee for the new environment and nature protection minister, Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic earlier on Wednesday called on members of parliament to vote for this Social Democrat (SDP) candidate, and expressed hope that he would be a high-quality minister.

Milanovic said that Zmajlovic would take over the ministry in which there "are many specific and big material interests which should be regulated within legislative and European frameworks".

The premier said he expected the new minister to demonstrate a pro-active and strong attitude, fight for projects and protect the Croatian nature in accordance with the highest standards.

He went on to say that he also expected the new minister to give answers within the shortest sensible time frame to the projects such as the future hydro power plant on the River Ombla, adding that his cabinet would decide on the continuation of that project after receiving opinions from Croatian and international experts.

He admitted that the Plomin 3 thermal power plant was also "a complicated and delicate job" adding that after taking all indicators into consideration the government would give a final say on it.