Milinovic issued a statement today saying that "these were mere insinuations" in some media, because at yesterday's news conference he, among other things, underlined that he made all decisions in his department independently.

"Ivo Sanader left the (ruling) Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the government at the most difficult moment and he attempted to carry out a coup in the party, which is why I voted that he be expelled from the party, and he does not have nor ever will have my support. Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor has my support and the support of the HDZ's Lika-Senj County branch," Milinovic said in the statement.