Speaking to the press after a HSLS Governing Council session, Cehok said the recent post-election coalitions, negotiations and blackmail had shown that mayors should have been elected directly at the last local elections.
Cehok said there was no real winner at the May polls and that there was no longer a strong divisions into blocs. Stating that neither the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) nor the strongest opposition party, the Social Democrats (SDP), could win independently, he said that centre political parties should form a coalition at the next parliamentary elections.
Speaking of the merger with the LS, Cehok said it might occur by the end of the year. He maintains that the strengthening of the liberal option will help clear up relations among centre parties.
Cehok said the HSLS would endorse the budget revision in parliament, but added it would make the adoption of next year's budget conditional on better defined development goals. He stated that Croatia still did not have the necessary economic growth rate.
The HSLS Governing Council condemned the recent terror attack in London. Cehok said Croatia should carefully consider sending its troops to peace missions to prevent this from reflecting on security at home.
Speaking of the unification with the LS, HSLS vice president Djurdja Adlesic said the HSLS did not intend to swallow the LS but accept it as a partner. She dismissed the possibility of the People's Party (HNS) joining in too, and refuted media allegations that the HSLS and the HNS would nominate Radimir Cacic of the HNS the new prime minister.
Adlesic said Croatia must be prepared for the adoption of a new budget and EU entry negotiations.