"The statement can only be confirmed by those who were present, and so far only Kucan has come forward. I don't know if there is anyone else who can confirm it, but this was never discussed in my presence," Mesic said during a visit to Gornji Bogicevci in eastern Croatia.
Commenting on the possibility of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) supporting his presidential candidacy, Mesic said he believed the HDZ was not likely to support any candidate other than its own.
"However, considering the fact that the HDZ holds the parliament, the government and public institutions and controls the majority of mechanisms of state authority, it may judge that it's not good for democracy to put all one's eggs in one basket and advise citizens to vote according to their conscience," Mesic said.