"We're not going to reduce maternity allowances, child benefits or disability allowances," Opacic told a Croatian Television (HTV) talk show on Sunday afternoon when asked about the first moves to be taken by the new government. "We're facing hard work, but we won't take such decisions as would affect those who are already in a difficult situation."

Opacic is seen as the most likely candidate for the post of deputy prime minister for social issues. She would not speculate on her role in the future government, adding that she was leaving it to the prime minister-elect to announce the names of cabinet ministers.

Commenting on speculations that the next year would be a year of austerity, Opacic recalled that during the election campaign coalition members had warned about necessary changes and the need to redirect funds towards enterprises and industry. She said they expected public support for their efforts, adding that the new government would tell the public what they had inherited from the previous government, what needed to be done and when the results of the measures to be undertaken could be expected. She noted that despite people's wishes a rise in pensioners' living standards could hardly be expected any time soon.

Speaking of possible lay-offs in state administration, Opacic said that all those who had been politically appointed would have to go, without specifying their number. She could not say if any other public-sector employees would be made redundant "because we haven't yet received data about the number of employees in state administration and the public sector." "Before we see what the actual situation is, it is hard to say anything," she added.

When asked to comment on reported political appointments in the police service, Opacic said that the Police Act should be changed because it had made possible for people without necessary qualifications to be appointed to senior positions.

Opacic said that the new Parliament should also amend the law regulating child adoption in order to simplify and speed up adoption procedures to the benefit of children.

When asked to comment on the work of the Chief Public Prosecutor, Opacic cited his failure to promptly deal with criminal complaints filed against political officials, as a result of which innocent people, such as SDP mayors Vojko Obersnel of Rijeka and Zvonimir Mrsic of Koprivnica, had been brought in for questioning. She said that the work of Chief Public Prosecutor Mladen Bajic would be decided by Parliament at the end of his term in office.