Speaking to the press after the council's session, HSLS president Ivan Cehok said the unification would be carried out on an equal basis, in accordance with the current political standing and popularity of the two parties.
The HSLS expects the united party to become a relevant force of the political centre without which it will not be possible to form the government after the next parliamentary elections. The HSLS expects the new party to win 8-10 seats in the next parliament.
Cehok said the HSLS felt it would be counterproductive to cause early parliamentary elections at this moment because on the foreign policy front the incumbent government was better than the previous one, and because economic indicators were not below those under the previous government. He added the LS agreed with such positions.
Commenting on the launching of Croatia's European Union entry negotiations, Cehok said the government should not neglect national interests or abandon the negotiating positions. He added parliament should define the negotiating positions as soon as possible.