The French AFP agency describes Oreskovic as a compromise who will unify the new conservative coalition.
"A pharmaceutical executive and political novice, Tihomir Oreskovic has become Croatia's premier after spending just a few years in the country and speaking only rusty Croatian, prompting some to question his credentials for the post. Little known to his countrymen before his unexpected nomination, the 49-year-old was considered a compromise, unifying figure for a new conservative coalition after a November election failed to produce an outright winner," the AFP wrote on Saturday.
"Some analysts say Oreskovic's lack of complex political ties could be an advantage, but others warned that leading a company and the state were different challenges, questioning his ability to act independently," AFP
The British Reuters news agency notes that "Croatia's economy is among the EU's weakest although growth of around 1.5 percent is projected for 2015 after six years of recession. Public debt is equivalent to 87 percent of GDP and rising while the unemployment rate stands at 17.9 percent." and the main task of the EU youngest member is to curb the public debt and reduce high unemployment.
This news agency points out that Oreskovic said the government would invest in energy, tourism and infrastructure, partly by drawing on around 1 billion euros (US$1.08 billion) a year of EU development funds, and that it plans to privatise non-strategic assets and tax unused property.
"Some analysts questioned the long-term stability of the government and said there was a lack of details on other policies, like welfare, education or civic rights," Reuters wrote.
The German DPA news agency said that Oreskovic faces huge challenges, such as the much-awaited economic and administrative reforms.
"But the dominant Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) decision to tap controversial historian Zlatko Hasanbegovic as the minister of culture and Mijo Crnoja, who proposed a 'registry of traitors,' as the veterans minister has elicited protests by civic groups and opposition parties," according to the dpa.
According to the Deutsche Welle, "Oreskovic won't be the only political novice in the government. Most (Bridge), a new party and junior coalition partner, has nominated Ante Sprlje, a judge who served only three years in the town of Metkovic, to be justice minister, and a former Catholic nun who mostly worked with drug addicts, Bernardica Juric, to head up the welfare ministry."
Some Russian news agencies note that the new government will be led by one of the most successful Croatian business people and that the Oreskovic cabinet will primarily try to ensure the economic recovery of the country.