On Monday, students of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb started a protest, including sit-ins in the faculty building, demanding free education. Since then, the protests have spread to other universities in the country.
Protestors insist on free education at all levels at universities, and call on the Education Ministry to take a stand on their demand to redefine the entire system of financing tertiary education.
Asked by reporters covering his visit to the town of Vrbovec if the ongoing protests could affect the outcome of the 17 May local elections, Sanader said that the protests and the elections were not linked.
Sanader, who is the leader of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), said that his party and its coalition partners would score the best results in the elections for county prefects, city and town mayors and local assemblies.
Sanader refuted claims by some protest leaders that the student action was not only about tuition fees, but that it also reflected dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in society.
During the visit to Vrbovec, Sanader inaugurated a refurbished meat-processing plant. The "PIK Vrbovec" factory, worth one billion kuna, is a member of the Agrokor concern. It is expected to produce 100,000 tonnes of meat and meat products annually.