Commenting on Croatian Television Kolaric's claims that he initiated the ousting, Maras said the prime minister did so at the party presidency and that "everyone agreed."

Maras said he had been for delaying a discussion on Kolaric's ousting until the end of elections in Zagreb's SDP branch. He is a candidate for branch president.

Asked if the ousting had to do with Kolaric's criticism of the prime minister in an open letter in which she called on SDP members to oppose him regarding the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) law, Maras answered in the negative. He said Kolaric was ousted because she had been communicating with the party through the media the entire year.

Asked about Milanovic's responsibility concerning the EAW law, over which Croatia is facing European Commission sanctions because it is not aligned with European law, Maras said he trusted the prime minister and that the public would be informed in a few days of the agreement that was reached with the Commission.

"I am confident that this issue will be solved very soon. I have complete trust in both Justice Minister Orsat Miljenic and the prime minister, who are communicating with those in charge in the EC," Maras said, voicing confidence that Croatia would suffer neither political nor financial damage because of this case.

Asked if the government had underachieved economically, he said, "We have underachieved in some things, but generally I thing we are doing a good job. I think that in the first year of our term we could and should have made more drastic cuts."