SDP leader Ivica Racan said the strongest opposition party's leadership unanimously decided to support Mesic's candidacy because of the good cooperation the previous, SDP-led Government had with Mesic, notably in the democratisation, development and transformation of Croatia from a country with a semi-presidential system into a parliamentary democracy.
Racan said Mesic had greatly contributed to the reform and depoliticisation of the police, the army and the judiciary, and together with the previous Government had helped in raising Croatia's very low rating and its affirmation and better reputation in Europe and the world.
Asked to comment on Mesic's recent claim that Croatia and Montenegro had never been at war, Racan said that statement had been wrong, but that he believed Mesic had meant that Croatia had never been at war with Montenegro as a state. He added Mesic himself had realised his mistake.
SDP Main Committee chairman Tonino Picula said the party's main body today adopted an agreement on pre-election cooperation with the Peasant Party (HSS) for local polls due next year. He added the two parties' leaders were expected to sign it next week.
The agreement expresses the two parties' will to cooperate before local elections in every county, although no agreement has been reached on three counties, which Racan said should be settled in future negotiations.
He announced the SDP and the HSS would launch two joint projects next week to show they were capable of reaching agreement also on issues which previously had been contentious.
The agreement urges the continuation of negotiations with the People's Party (HNS) and other opposition parties on the possibility of forming a wider coalition for the local polls.
Asked about the accuracy of a weekly's claims about political bargaining between himself and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, Racan said he had talked with Sanader but refuted the magazine's allegations of possible agreement in connection with the Commission for the Prevention of Conflict of Interest or election coalitions. He added those subjects were not discussed.