Speaking on Croatian Television, Milanovic reiterated that he neither approved nor had understanding for Habus's conduct, but said that in Habus's case, the decision was up to the HNS.

The SDP and the HNS are part of the four-party coalition Kukuriku running in the upcoming parliamentary election.

Milanovic said it was not for him to say whether Habus should resign as mayor of Varazdin, adding that this concerned the HNS.

"We are running in the election together but we are four parties, after all. After the election, and I believe in the citizens' support, we will be one government with very strict criteria. If I will be prime minister, I won't tolerate such behaviour in any way and I can promise the Croatian public that I won't make such compromises," he said, adding: "We will have high standards."

Asked if he considered Mladen Bajic a good state attorney and if Bajic was irreplaceable, Milanovic said: "I am not irreplaceable either." He added the State Prosecutor's Office was not a political body and that, therefore, it was not and must not be crucial who was at its helm.

Regarding concessions on motorways, Milanovic said if concessions were given, they should not be given to foreign concerns, and that a possible model might include Croatian pension funds.

Commenting on speculations on the possibility of asking the International Monetary Fund for help after the election, Milanovic said the IMF was not "the bogeyman but not what we need either... We are not running in the election to call the IMF but to win the people's trust. Anyone call call the IMF. We have to make our own decisions and that's why we are running in the election."