Deputy Prime Minister Darko Milinovic on Monday refuted media headlines that he had received HRK 200,000 from the Croatian Democratic Union's alleged (HDZ) slush funds, but he did not dismiss the possibility that the said headlines were messages from the HDZ after he announced his candidacy for party president at the coming party elections.
Milinovic reiterated that he legally received from the party only HRK 70,000 for the reconstruction of a church in Bilaj, adding that he had no knowledge about anything above that amount, that receipts must be provided for everything, and that there was no need for experts to examine his signature.
Evidence must be there for every amount I withdrew, because none of that money ended up in my pocket, Milinovic told reporters.
He also said today's media headlines could be a message from the HDZ after he announced his candidacy at the coming party elections and after Vladimir Seks's statement that at the said elections Jadranka Kosor would be able to run for president and he (Seks) for vice president.
"I don't want to believe in conspiracy theories, but if this is the case I will not be intimidated. I will be one of those who will fight for the democratisation of the HDZ," Milinovic said.
Milinovic also believes that another two to three candidates should run for the position of party vice president.
