He was referring to the SDP-led coalition which won the January 2000 elections, after the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) had led the country for a decade. The HSLS was a part of that coalition but it left in 2001 over disagreements on some issues including cooperation with Slovenia and ICTY indictments against Croatian generals.
"We would prefer talking about galvanising the political centre, about the third way against the backdrop of bi-polarisation of the Croatian political scene," Cehok said.
He reiterated that the Social Liberals would run independently in the parliamentary elections next year.
Asked by reporters which parties would make up the third way, Cehok added that after the elections the HSLS would be willing to talk with centre parties, primarily the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) which he said like the HSLS did not want "to be tailored" according to requirements of the ruling HDZ or the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
According to him, the HSLS is also open to cooperation with the Pensioners' Party (HSU) and parties representing ethnic minorities.