The presidential elections in January will also be in line with the Constitution, and it is very likely that in this case the first round of the elections will be scheduled for 2 January, a Sunday, and the second round for 16 January, which also falls on a Sunday, Seks told reporters in the eastern Croatian town of Veliskovci where he cut a red ribbon at the official opening of a local school.
The Constitution stipulates that presidential elections are held 30 days at the earliest and 60 days at the latest before the expiry of the presidential term.
The five-year term of President Stjepan Mesic expires on 18 February 2005, as he was inaugurated on 18 February 2000 after two election rounds, on 24 January and 8 February, and 21 December 2004 is exactly 60 days before the end of his term in office.
If the government decides to call presidential elections for 21 December this year, it will opt for the first time limit envisaged by the Constitution for the arrangement of presidential polls,
December 21 falls on Tuesday, a working day, and the fact that it may be proclaimed as a nonworking day for the purpose of the elections was criticised by employers who fear the move may cause huge losses to businesses.