Asked by a reporter whether he saw in Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic, a Social Democratic Party official, his successor, Mesic, who is in his second term as Croatia's head of state, said that citizens would decide on the matter.
In this context he mentioned that some women politicians such as Vesna Pusic, the leader of the Croatian People's Party (HSLS) and Djurdja Adlesic, the leader of the Social Liberal Party (HSLS) were being mentioned as candidates who would be able to perform presidential duties. He also pointed out Dubravka Suica, the mayor of Dubrovnik and a Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) official, as a very good citiy manager and prominent politician.
Asked why he would go to the grave of the former Croatian President, Franjo Tudjman this year although he had not done it so far, Mesic said this year was an exception as it was also the 15th anniversary of Croatia's independence and that he was also in favour of reaching a consensus on protocols for state holiday and memorial days.
Speaking about the first Croatian President Tudjman, Mesic described him as a historical figure. "We should depoliticise the matter and let historians assess his role in the establishment of the Croatian state and all aspects of his politics," Mesic said in the interview which the newspaper published in its issue for the weekend.
Commenting on the developments on the island of Vir, Mesic said that the demolition drive which the Croatian Construction and Environmental Protection Ministry was carrying out there removing illegally built facilities was "a message that one must not built beyond the boundaries of the acceptable".
He said he was sorry to see that "that splendid island has been damaged by unlawful construction".