"In agreement with our friends from the HSS, the HDZ is entering into a strategic coalition and a relationship which could last a long time," Karamarko told the press after the HDZ presidency session, recalling that his party had already started bringing the centre-right parties together and that by forming a partnership with the HSS, the HDZ had stepped out of its circle of centre-right parties to reach out to the left.

He added that the heterogeneity of the HSS suits the HDZ, adding that the HSS recorded the best results at the May elections in areas in which it ran in a coalition with the HDZ.

The decision to enter into a coalition with the HSS is yet to be confirmed by the HDZ national council and the coalition should be presented to the public on Friday.

Asked to comment on the government's decision to increase excise taxes on gasoline, with rises ranging from 0.10 to 0.20 kuna per litre depending on fuel type, Karamarko said this way yet another attack on living standards and an attempt to patch up budgetary holes at the expense of citizens.

"Just as the monetisation of motorways, this too is a short-lived measure that will be of little use. This is a failed attempt to clutch at the last straw," said Karamarko, confident that the budget could not be filled by such measures but buy investments which would create new jobs.

The HDZ leader also commented on the government's decision to sell the postal bank Hrvatska Postanska Banka (HPB) and the insurance company Croatia Osiguranje (CO). "Strategic infrastructure entities are being sold, which is not good. Budget inflow needs to be secured in another way and not by selling something we could live off of. They are cutting off the branch they are sitting on," Karamarko said, adding that after the HDZ wins the next election it will inherit "only charred ruins".