Sanader insists his party has reformed

Mr Sanader's Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and its allies won elections on 23 November, but lack a majority.

Several parties have already declined to join an HDZ-led coalition, but agreed to give outside support.

The HDZ says it has abandoned the extremist nationalist policies of its former head, the late ex-President Franjo Tudjman.

Mr Sanader said he would present his cabinet to the parliament for approval at its inaugural session on 22 December.

The HDZ, which secured 66 of the 152 seats in parliament when it ousted the centre-left coalition from power two weeks ago, will depend on outside support to rule.

The BBC's south-east Europe analyst, Gabriel Partos, says Mr Sanader started signing up support from the Pensioners' Party and ethnic minority representatives even before being named prime minister-designate.

They have pledged to give his future minority government support from outside.

EU membership priority

Our analyst says he can expect to have a similar agreement with the somewhat larger centre-right Peasants' Party, which has declined to join an HDZ-led coalition, while indicating that it would be prepared to vote with the new government on key issues.

Mr Sanader says his government's priorities will be raising living standards at home, resolving unsettled issues with neighbours and acquiring EU membership.

The HDZ was the party to lead Croatia to independence in 1991 and later into international isolation with its extreme nationalist policies.