"I sincerely wish the SDP would beat the incumbent HDZ government in the upcoming parliamentary elections," Antunovic told reporters during a visit to Topusko outside Zagreb, where she attended ceremonies marking the 62nd anniversary of the victory over fascism and Croatia's liberation and the 63rd anniversary of the third session of the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Croatia (ZAVNOH).
"I want the SDP to ensure a state where there will be less corruption, more work for all, less poverty and more prosperity. I never had any doubts about it and I will be a candidate for the post of SDP president," Antunovic said.
She recalled that the party had improved its ratings and public reputation and that for the first time in its history it had better ratings than the HDZ.
Asked if the party's former leader, the late Ivica Racan, had ever told her that he wanted her to succeed him, Antunovic said that she and Racan had discussed the party's strength and election victory.
Asked if she would be prime minister if the SDP won the elections, Antunovic said the SDP should win the elections and that she had never said that the function of party president and that of prime minister were inseparable.
Antunovic added that her priority was not distribution of posts in the future government, but the SDP's victory and formation of teams capable of implementing party programs efficiently.
Asked if Ljubo Jurcic was the SDP's candidate for prime minister, Antunovic said that Jurcic was her colleague who had significantly contributed to the party's economic platform and would continue to have an important role in an SDP-led government, to be formed after the party's election victory.
Asked if she believed in her victory at the upcoming party election convention, Antunovic said her priority at the moment was creation of conditions that would enable the SDP to implement its political programs.
"I feel capable of leading the SDP towards that victory. I know, can and want to ensure election victory for the present generation of SDP members," the SDP vice-president said.