Commenting on Sanader's claim that if the HDZ had been in power in the previous government Croatia would already have been in the European Union, Racan told the press on Monday this statement showed Sanader's intention to have Croatia join the EU although it was not ready and thus favour "some foreign political circles and owners of capital" so that their support could guarantee his remaining in power.
Sanader's rhetoric is damaging to Croatian interests "because he is insulting our friends in the EU by claiming that through mere lobbying he can persuade them to let Croatia off lightly although it has not yet adopted all Union standards," and what is worse, because he downplays and does not acknowledge the damage Croatia may sustain if it joins the EU not ready, said Racan.
"Sanader has returned from Rome with Berlusconi's pat on the back and spoke as a classic right-wing crusader against the left-wing in Europe and Croatia. This swift removing of the mask is becoming worrisome," said Racan referring to a convention of the European People's Party Sanader attended in the Italian capital last week.
He described the HDZ's attacks on the SDP and the devaluing of the former, SDP-led government's achievements in drawing closer to the EU as "Sanader's hopeless adventure," an indicator of the fact that Sanader did not have a European but a Balkan mind-set.
Asked if the two parties could cooperate on Croatia's EU accession given their fierce mutual attacks, Racan said that real cooperation, if it existed, would be in Croatia's interest. He added, however, that "the SDP could not accept Sanader's bluffing and looking for alibis to deliver Croatia to the EU as soon as possible and unready".
Regarding Sanader's statement that he appointed Racan to head the national committee monitoring EU entry negotiations because it did not require a lot of work, Racan said the prime minister was insulting the parliament and the aim to establish the committee. He announced the SDP would see if further cooperation with the HDZ was even possible.
Asked about the possibility of early elections, Racan said he was not sure that even Sanader knew when they would be held although he was telling the public the elections would be regular.