Opposition leaders expressed their concern over the fact that Prime Minister Ivo Sanader had resolutely defended his minister on Wednesday. They said that the PM had acted rashly, without promising to look into the accusations against Zuzul.
In that way Sanader took on the responsibility for the accusations of conflict of interest and corruption, said the chairman of the leading opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ivica Racan, adding that the accusations were so serious that they could not be just Zuzul's problem.
The minister's responsibility will have to be established in the Parliament, and unless the Prime Minister takes action, the whole government will be held responsible, the SDP leader said.
Racan said Sanader had himself become involved in the scandal by standing in Zuzul's defence in the Parliament on Wednesday.
Slaven Letica of the Party of Rights (HSP) said that Sanader was now facing a test that would show whether he cared about prevention of conflict of interest or not.
The fact that Zuzul is the chief negotiator with the European Union will make Croatia's position in the negotiating process more difficult, Letica said.
Peasant Party (HSS) leader Zlatko Tomcic said that reports of the Imostroj scandal were indicative enough for the Prime Minister to deal with them, and that some even showed that Zuzul might be criminally responsible.