"The SDP in Istria wants to be a driver of change in how the county is led and that's why we have decided to support Mr Kajin as a candidate for Istria County Prefect," Damjanac said.

Cvek also confirmed his party's support although it had not yet made a formal decision.

Kajin described this joint initiative as a fresh start. "Talks are open, we're not forcing anyone, everyone has the right to choose, and those who are not with us we can do without. I'm certain we will win," Kajin said, adding that he wanted to give power back to the people and offer them a policy of equal opportunity.

"Istria won't be like Calabria or Sicily, it won't be run Mafia-style," Kajin said. "We should put an end to separatist wars with the government which citizens of Istria voted for. The government did not turn its back on Istria and it is with this government that Istria will resolve all problems that Jakovcic could not do with the HDZ prime ministers with whom he curried favour."

"This broad coalition guarantees a better future for Istria, and this joint initiative is not a struggle for power but a struggle for Istria," he said.

The IDS is a junior partner in the state-level ruling coalition led by the SDP and the Croatian People's Party (HNS). IDS MP Kajin has parted ways with the incumbent head of Istria County and IDS leader, Ivan Jakovcic, accusing him of autocratic rule.

The Istria County branch of the HNS has not yet decided which candidate for County Prefect it will support in local elections due this spring. It decided at a meeting on Wednesday evening that it would negotiate both with Kajin and with the IDS. "We don't want pressure from anyone, but we want serious talks with all political parties," the head of the HNS Istrian branch, Veljko Ivancic, told the media.