"That may sound arrogant, but it's true. It's best if we decide, because there's no better solution for the citizens of this country," Cacic said at an HNS election convention at which he is the only candidate for party president.

Assessing the present economic situation in Croatia, he said it was a clear indicator of how much damage could be done by unsuccessful political elites which had not risen above the average. "One must be very incompetent to bring the country to such a state," he said, adding that the current government was not surprised by what it had found and that it was deeply aware of responsibility.

"The opportunities lie ahead, but the problems are huge," Cacic said, adding that it was tragic that Croatia's debt had exploded in only a few years while all entitlements were retained and projects were slashed. "We must totally change that."

He said energy and food production were the main priorities, on which there was a consensus among everyone, and that the government would present this year major projects that "will be in motion" by the end of 2013.

Cacic highlighted energy efficiency programmes in which one billion euros would be invested, saying the European Union would follow those projects.

He said the government was encountering problems in shipbuilding and private companies such as Dioki, and that this year was particularly problematic, as the government must scan and recognise hundreds of small projects so that the industry could go up more than 50 per cent.

"We want to show everyone that politics is a quantifiable discipline and we don't want to be quantified by babbling," said Cacic.

Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusic said the HNS had a big responsibility for the country's future and the realisation of ideas.

"The country is in a difficult state, but also at a phenomenal watershed and at a point of bigger opportunities than ever," she said, adding that the HNS had always spoken of responsibility, democracy, freedom, autonomy and equality, despite a global narrow-mindedness and belief that one could fare better the more merciless and rude one was. "That needs changing."

"Let's act together and in synergy, otherwise we will be only a flash, a falling star without lasting impact on the country's future," Pusic said, adding that everything should be done so that Croatia was just, open and capable of guaranteeing security to its citizens.

Physical Planning and Construction Minister Ivan Vrdoljak said his ministry would launch a series of projects, including subsidised housing, renovation of public buildings, and equality in the issuance of permits, "so that citizens don't have to know the minister to get better public service."

Vrdoljak said his ministry would also work on the implementation of the law on illegal buildings and the law on physical planning and construction, in order to be faster and more efficient, and follow what investors and entrepreneurs were doing so that they knew that the state was behind them.

"The HNS isn't looking for excuses but wants to work and today, for the first time, we can dream and build a society of equal opportunities in which the rule of law functions," he said.

Culture Minister Andrea Zlatar Violic said social values were in crisis in Croatia and that the country was "devastated" by transition and facing globalisation challenges. She added, however, that Croatia was also a country with different identities which belonged to different European circles of cultural heritage and that this was Croatia's wealth.