ZAGREB (AFP) – Croatia moved yesterday to swiftly fill the vacuum a day after the shock resignation of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, which came as the country faces a serious economic crisis and blocked European Union talks.

Sanader has come under fire for leaving an unenviable political and economic legacy for his deputy, Jadranka Kosor, who was set to be proposed as Sanader’s successor to President Stipe Mesic at a cabinet session yesterday, chaired by the outgoing prime minister.

Parliament could approve Kosor as premier as early as today, making the 56-year-old former journalist the first female to have occupied the most powerful post in Croatian politics since independence in 1991.

Described by observers as an “omnipresent but invisible” ally of Sanader, she will, however, immediately have her hands full.

Croatia is at a critical juncture, mired in economic woes and blocked EU talks – two of the most serious issues to have confronted the former Yugoslav republic since its 1991-95 war.

After dominating Croatia’s political life for the past six years, Sanader stunned his nation by announcing Wednesday he was resigning and quitting politics without elaborating on the reasons behind his move.

Asked whether his announcement was prompted by Zagreb’s stalled EU bid, Sanader only hinted the issue had been a contributing factor. “I certainly also had that in my mind when I was considering this decision,” he said, appearing relaxed while announcing his resignation.

The bombshell came when the EU halted accession talks last week with Croatia due to a border row with blocmember Slovenia, which has stalled its neighbor’s EU process since December.

“Country in recession, No money in budget, EU talks blocked and premier is leaving,” said the Jutarnji List daily, commenting on Sanader’s move, while the rival Novi List newspaper was equally damning: “He left Croatia in crisis.”