"The key word of this campaign is trust. People's trust in politics and in the institutions has been killed and our main task is to restore their trust," SDP leader Zoran Milanovic told a press conference, adding that he expected a more civilised campaign in the run-up to the election, scheduled for December 4.

Coalition leaders were asked to comment on a traffic accident caused this weekend by the Mayor of Varazdin, Goran Habus of the HNS, while driving under the influence of alcohol, and whether he would suffer any consequences.

Milanovic said there was no excuse for such behaviour, adding that he would leave it to the HNS to decide on the matter. "If I become Prime Minister, I will not tolerate such behaviour from anyone at any level," he said.

HNS leader Radimir Cacic, who himself is awaiting a trial for causing a fatal traffic accident in Hungary, concurred with Milanovic. "Such behaviour cannot be tolerated. It was an unacceptable mistake a mayor can't afford to make," he said.

Cacic said that at this point he would not ask Habus to resign as Mayor or withdraw from the election slate for Constituency No. 3, which he said was agreed by the party's executive board about 10 days ago and was unchangeable as such.

"The man will answer for the traffic violation, but here it's not just about a traffic violation, but about the fact that a public office holder in this country should not be driving a car while intoxicated. Any such mistakes will be penalised by the party in the future," Cacic said.