"This is an exceptionally difficult moment in the life of our party, possibly one of the most difficult moments and possibly the penultimate station of our Way of the Cross which we have been undergoing since 1 July 2009 when I took the helm of the party," Kosor told an extraordinary news conference in the HDZ headquarters in Zagreb.

Kosor confirmed that the ongoing investigation covered former HDZ leader, her predecessor Ivo Sanader, and some other persons.

Kosor said that it was true that she was not under investigation.

HDZ Vice President Ivan Jarnjak said that he had not received any notification that he might be under investigation.

Both Kosor and Jarnjak expressed readiness to be questioned in the investigation, if necessary.

Kosor said that the developments would not weaken the resolve of the HDZ to keep fighting corruption and crime.

It is the HDZ that has sincerely launched that fight, she said.

"It seems it has boomeranged, but we will not grow tired," Kosor said, adding that the party was prepared to start anew, if necessary.

Kosor said that the HDZ would also insist on investigations into other scandals implicating other political parties.

In this context she mentioned the case of the Rijecka Trznica fresh produce market operator from Rijeka and claims that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had secret bank accounts abroad.

Kosor said that the HDZ was a stable, strong and big party with 220,000 honest members and that the current developments would make it a firm political party.

"All presidency members are ready to give their statements if necessary about how the party has been financed and what they know about it," she added.

"We are proving that the interests of the nation are above partizan interests for us," she said, adding that what was good for Croatia was good for the HDZ.