In his address, Milanovic said that his government was facing a huge responsibility, but also a chance to improve the situation in the country.

"A crisis always has an element of threat and an element of chance, and we want this to be a chance," Milanovic said, stressing that Croatia today was turning a new page in its political history.

The new government would have 20 ministries and 22 members -- Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Zoran Milanovic as prime minister, four deputy prime ministers and 20 ministers; three deputy prime ministers would at the same time also serve as ministers.

The head of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), Radimir Cacic, would be the First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister. The other three deputy prime ministers would come from the SDP: Milanka Opacic, who would also serve as Minister of Welfare and Youth Affairs; Branko Grcic would run the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds; and Neven Mimica as Deputy Prime Minister for Home, Foreign and European Affairs.

Vesna Pusic (HNS) is expected to be Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Ranko Ostojic (SDP) would be Minister of the Interior, Rajko Ostojic (SDP) would be Minister of Health, Slavko Linic (SDP) is expected to be Finance Minister, Ante Kotromanovic (SDP) would become Minister of Defence, Orsat Miljenic (non-party) would be Minister of Justice, Arsen Bauk (SDP) would be Minister of Administration, and Gordan Maras (SDP) would be Minister of Enterprise.

Mirando Mrsic (SDP) would be Minister of Labour and Pension System, Zlatko Komadina (SDP) Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, Tihomir Jakovina (SDP) Minister of Agriculture, Veljko Ostojic (Istrian Democratic Party) Minister of Tourism, Andrea Zlatar (HNS) Minister of Culture, Mirela Holy (SDP) Minister of the Environment, Ivan Vrdoljak (HNS) Minister of Construction and Spatial Planning, Predrag Matic (non-party) Minister of Veterans' Affairs, and Zeljko Jovanovic (SDP) Minister of Science, Education and Sport.