Jadranka Kosor and Ivo Sanader"I am leaving politics, but politics will not leave me", Prime Minister Ivo Sanader announced today in the Croatian government building, informing the public that he has resigned from all of this political functions.

Earlier on Wednesday, the prime minister informed his closest associates of his decision, while a meeting between him and his coalition partners is taking place at the moment. He has recommended Jadranka Kosor as his successor, and she is also
expected to take over the HDZ presidency.

nacional.hr has learned from a government source that Sanader has recommended Andrija Hebrang and Dragan Primorac as HDZ's presidential candidates. However, we learn that Primorac, the minister of education, is resolved in his decision to retire from politics, and will not accept Sanader's offer. Moreover, according to nacional.hr's sources, Primorac has announced that he will hand in his resignation as a member of government by the end of this week.

Sanader prefers Hebrang because he is older, and has given him 24 hours to announce whether he accepts the candidacy.

Bianca Matković, State Secretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sanader's most trusted associate, will join the goverment as a minister. Also expected to be promoted is Agriculture Minister Božidar Pankretić , who is to become Deputy Prime Minister.

As Sanader stated at the press conference, the reasons behind his resignation are not health-related. The general conference of the HDZ, set for Saturday at the Zagreb Arena, will therefore not simply be a formal 20-year party celebration, as was formerly announced. It is already speculated that Jadranka Kosor will officially be chosen as new HDZ president in front of the full auditory.

Earlier today, a HDZ party conference had taken place today at the Croatian parliament, attended by almost all of the members of Cabinet, but not by Jadranka Kosor and Ivo Sanader. Interestingly, none of those present wished to comment on the main subject matter.

Therefore, based on the information presently available, Sanader's resignation in this extremely delicate situation for Croatian politics and economy was not motivated by his ambitions to succeed Stjepan Mesic as Croatian president. His decision to quit as leader of Croatia's strongest party should also be view in that light.

Asked whether he has also retired from future political life, Sanader merely replied "never say never".