One of his election posters invited Croats to have coffee with their would-be president and Mr Mesic has been doing his best to put this invitation into practice by meeting ordinary people as often as possible.

BBC: Analysis: Mesic's return

Taxing depositors is seen by the market as a radical change from the usual practice, and doing so would give depositors in other debt-ridden countries an incentive to shift their money to banks in other countries, most likely Germany.

FORBES: Barclays Says Cyprus Bank Crisis Won't Spread To Southern Europe