"The date is disputable from the constitutional point of view and it is not good because of the referendum. But I repeat, we are ready for elections, we finally know what the government considers to be the best date for the elections and we plan to win and change things in Croatia," Milanovic told reporters at the SDP headquarters, after the ruling coalition agreed earlier today that parliamentary elections would be held on December 4.

Asked to clarify why the date is not good from the constitutional point of view, Milanovic said that "it will complicate things concerning the referendum."

"This is perhaps too complicated to explain and it will be discussed in the coming days. I thought they would have given more thought to this decision. Given the constitutional deadlines and the parliamentary declaration on Croatia's EU entry, the date is simply problematic," Milanovic said.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said that elections would be held before December 9, when Croatia is expected to sign an accession treaty with the European Union.

There are some important decisions to be made before Parliament is dissolved, Kosor said.

The Croatian People's Party (HNS) said that the proposed election date absolutely jeopardised one of Croatia's long-term objectives -- membership of the European Union -- adding that this decision was yet another confirmation of a high level of the incumbent government's irresponsibility.

The president of the HNS parliamentary caucus, Vesna Pusic, said the proposed date jeopardised Croatia's EU membership, given that "we all know that the signing of the accession treaty will most probably take place on 9 December."

HNS president Radimir Cacic said the decision to set the elections for 4 December was yet another confirmation of a high level of the incumbent government's irresponsibility and negligence of the interests of the Croatian citizens and the Croatian state, with the aim to remain in power for another 10 to 15 days.