"It was expected, considering the fact that in all opinion polls Ms. Kosor was very highly ranked," Mesic said when asked to comment on today's decision of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) to nominate Kosor its presidential candidate.
He added that Kosor was a serious rival and that his campaign would be affirmative.
The announcement of the HDZ's presidential candidate marks the beginning of the election campaign, Mesic said.
"The official start date of the election campaign will depend on the election commission, that is, the technical conditions of organising the elections," Mesic said, adding that the required 10,000 signatures supporting a presidential candidacy would yet show who would join the race.
Speaking about the election date, December 21, Mesic said deadlines for certain election activities were defined by the law and there was no room for any major changes.
Mesic today visited Rimini to attend the conference "Islands Without Archipelagos" of the Pio Manzu international research centre. On Monday, the president will travel to San Marino for an official visit.