Asked by the press ahead of a meeting of the main committee of the HNS, a junior partner in the SDP-led four-party governing coalition, whether his post on the board of the JANAF company had become uncertain following his interview with the public broadcaster HTV in which he said that the "economic policy is not a mere tax policy but a broader notion" and when he also recommended reading more books on the theory of economic policy, Kovacevic said today that "the HNS, as a coalition partner, has its own opinions."

"This is not a one-party government but a government consisting of four parties and everyone has the right to express their own opinion," Kovacevic said on Saturday.

The latest case of dissonance in the ruling coalition ensued after Finance Minister Linic unveiled his plan to prepare legislation that would limit citizens' bank account overdrafts to one instead of three monthly salaries, accusing banks of "dirty work" in order to stop the bill.

Immediately after that Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak told the press his HNS party had not yet discussed the bill. "I think it's quite a risky bill, with lots of shortcomings and lots of advantages. If structured well, perhaps it makes some sense. But I think it's quite a risky bill."

Linic's plan also provoked a strongly worded response from Kovacevic who said that it was only Minister Linic's proposal and accused Linic of playing solo.

Asked whether disputes between the HNS and the SDP had been most often related to the scope of activities of Minister Linic, Kovacic said today that the problem lay in communication.

Kovacevic said that the two coalition partners should upgrade their communication and "respect each other more", recalling previous disputes with Linic regarding his plan to impose taxes on real estate, which was also met with criticism from the HNS.

"We still believe that such tax should not be imposed as long as necessary conditions are not met, such as economic recovery and enabling citizens to earn higher incomes," said Kovacevic, who is also the HNS economic strategist.

Another HNS official, Jozo Rados, has said that "in coalitions, coalition partners cannot and should not always be in agreement."

"The coalition parties have their own platforms and positions which are not always the same and need to be harmonised. Sometimes that doesn't have to be a problem, but of course a final position needs to be agreed upon," Rados told the press in the Parliament building on Friday.

On Friday, SDP officials seemed more reserved in comments on Kovacevic's criticism of Linic.

"Relations between coalition members are honed out by the parties' leaders and I cannot comment on such statements," said Nenad Stazic of the SDP when asked by reporters in the Parliament building about developments in relations between his party and the HNS following Kovacevic's interview with the HTV.

SDP secretary-general Igor Dragovan said that "everyone struggles for their own political space, so do our coalition partners".

Dragovan expressed his firm belief that the governing coalition was stable and said that Linic's views enjoyed the SDP's support.

"He is a finance minister who performs his duties responsibly, seriously and transparently and he is a person who candidly communicates with Croatian citizens," Dragovan told reporters on Friday.