"We (the opposition coalition) excused ourselves a month ago and said it was pointless to take part in a professional conference in Opatija which is actually a political pre-election panel," Milanovic told reporters in Cakovec.

Asked to comment on Kosor' statement that his failure to attend confirmed that he knew nothing and wanted to know nothing about the economy, he said the coalition's leaders had spent the entire day "with the real economy and production" to see the problems the people of the Medjimurje region had. "I know something in theory but I won't compete like this."

Asked to comment on Interior Minister Tomislav Karamarko's announcement that the government would appoint a new police director and new police chiefs before next month's parliamentary election, Milanovic said Karamarko should not do this.