"That programme, which is in fact a wish list, contains many of the measures the SDP proposed less than two years ago, but none of which has ever been adopted," Milanovic said at a press conference at his party's headquarters in Zagreb.

He particularly criticised the part of the programme where the the government said that economic growth and recovery was the duty and responsibility of all citizens. "That's not true. Macroeconomic measures and economic policy are the duty of the government."

Milanovic recalled that the SDP had been calling for annulment of the so-called crisis tax and parafiscal duties.

"We have insisted on it for a year and a half, and our proposal didn't go through Parliament. It's not a matter of timing. The government can at any time come out before the public and its coalition partners with a package of measures," he said, adding that over the last year and a half "we have witnessed a dramatic economic downturn, a serious financial crisis, and Croatia's incompetence to respond to global, regional and domestic economic challenges."

"I don't see it as a responsible document, we don't believe that the government will implement it effectively," the SDP president said.

SDP member of Parliament Gordan Maras said that the government's anti-recession programme was "an attempted electoral programme". He recommended to the government to "call an early election before putting together an election programme."