Kosor called for togetherness and unity within the HDZ, saying that no one could break or destroy the party which, under Franjo Tudjman's leadership, created and defended Croatia and then led it into NATO and now to the European Union's doorstep.

"That's why me must joint forces, each one of us give their best so that we win the election, not for us, not for me, but for Croatia," said Kosor.

She said the HDZ's enemies, those who wanted to destroy it, did not understand that the HDZ was not only its leaders, herself or any individual, but that the HDZ was the driving force of the Croatian people.

"Some would like to destroy the HDZ. Why? Because some have hated the HDZ from the moment the HDZ, with Franjo Tudjman at the helm, destroyed their communism and Yugoslavia. They would destroy the HDZ because they can't stand that we haven't let our heroes be forgotten," said Kosor.

"Many would destroy the HDZ because they mind that we no longer go to Belgrade for instructions, that Belgrade is not asked for permission, that the money we earn here doesn't go to Belgrade."

Many take issue with the HDZ also because it opened the door wide to the fight against corruption, she said.

"To the last day of our political career, and I believe it will last long, we will work hard so that the fight against corruption reaches all parties, and our party has paid the highest price in the fight against corruption. But we won't stop until that fight comes to the doors of the SDP, the HNS and the IDS and until we see what they did in the past and what is true in the stories going around town and Croatia."

Kosor announced changes to the HDZ statute because in the past, she said, sometimes there was no firm democratic practice in the HDZ. She suggested incorporating into the statute mechanisms that will make all party decisions a fruit of intra-party democratic procedure and not orders from the top.