President Ivo Josipovic said in Umag on Sunday he would not become involved in the Hypo bank case in any way, as that was the job of the state prosecutor's office and the police and later, if necessary, of the judiciary, too.
"In this case I will insist that the police and the state prosecutor's office be given total freedom of action and that there is no political influence," he said responding to questions from press, adding he would insist that the bodies whose work, under the constitution and the law, was within his remit, fully help the judiciary and other bodies do their job.
Commenting on the fact that some politicians' activities might lead to the conclusion that the election campaign had unofficially begun, Josipovic said it was good that different political options showed citizens their intentions and plans.
"The time is coming in Croatia when problems won't be solved only on the level of yes-no, for-against. Croatia is looking for some sophisticated solutions, for talks and compromises and a perspective that isn't exclusionary," he said, adding this was why he encouraged initiatives aimed at defusing the "serious social tensions".
Josipovic said Croatia must focus on reforms which he added were at a stalemate.
"Only reforms can drag us out of the serious recession, because this isn't only an economic crisis. It is slowly becoming a political crisis, too, given that politicians aren't giving the right answers to problems via their normal channels," he said, adding this made citizens distrust political institutions, which was not good for Croatia.
"That's why I want dialogue and discussion."
Asked if he anticipated a "dirty campaign," he said the campaigns when he was running for president had shown that "dirt doesn't win".
"Citizens want serious and realistic politicians, not defamers or those talking and promising what is unrealistic. I'm convinced that citizens will elect people who have a vision and believe in themselves and the citizens. That's a clear message to everyone in politics," Josipovic said, adding a very comprehensive pension reform was imperative.
"The reform as it stands requires further corrections. I suggest that social dialogue be opened on time. Talks are imperative because as a society we must learn constructive dialogue, not only on the government-unions, government-opposition level, but in general, because that is a characteristic of democratic and civilised societies," the president said.
