It is difficult for the current government to offset the consequences of the theft conducted by the HDZ in eight years, Linic said in the town of Cavle, western Croatia, at an SDP meeting.

Linic claimed that members of the current HDZ leadership had been also involved in that theft.

"The cabinet of Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic is changing that course and is trying to address the issues pertaining to the little man", Linic said, admitting that, unfortunately, salaries and wages were low but it was a consequence of the theft of the country.

"We haven't yet opened the story about two billion kuna syphoned through gas business," Linic said, referring to the situation in the INA gas and oil company after the conclusion of a shareholders' agreement between the previous HDZ government and Hungary's MOL. In this context he accused the former HDZ president and former Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, and that party.

In response to questions from reporters whether the SDP and its junior coalition partner -- the Croatian People's Party (HNS) -- were at loggerheads over the question of engaging foreign investors in the Croatian energy sector, Linic answered in the negative.