"This was the first sign that the situation is expected to resolve because it is not logical for Croatia not to have a foreign minister who would be able to lead the negotiating team," SDSS vice-president Milorad Pupovac told Hina over the phone.
Commenting on speculation about a major government reshuffle and statements by opposition politicians about possible cancellation of agreements between the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and its coalition partners, of which some have supported Stjepan Mesic's presidential candidacy, Pupovac said that his party had been advocating a government reshuffle for some time to achieve greater stability of the parliament.
HSP leader Anto Djapic said that his party was not considering cooperation with the HDZ.
"We are now focused on preparations for the upcoming local elections, and after those elections, we will consider the political situation and decide what to do," Djapic said.
The HSP leader expects the HDZ to use Zuzul's resignation for election purposes in the second round of presidential elections and to slightly improve its position in negotiations with the EU.
Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) MP Damir Kajin said he had not expected Zuzul's resignation, but that he would be much happier if it had come after the presidential elections because Zuzul as well as Health Minister Andrija Hebrang would have provided the opposition with much ammunition to attack the HDZ.
Kajin believes that the HDZ and its leader Sanader had made this move so that the party's presidential candidate, Jadranka Kosor, could achieve good results in the run-off election, but not win the elections.
This will indirectly make it possible for the HDZ to achieve good results in the upcoming local elections, as well as at the next parliamentary elections, Kajin told Hina.