"I will join the opposition and won't support the government policy in general, but I will support sound solutions from the government if they are in the interests of the public," Skare Ozbolt told reporters in parliament.
The parliament today appointed Ana Lovrin new justice minister, with 82 votes for, 25 against and 15 abstentions.
Asked if her party would continue cooperation with the HDZ at the local level, Skare Ozbolt said that this was up to local party officials and that the DC would not obstruct the functioning of local authorities.
She said her party would leave the parliamentary club of deputies made up of the DC, the Croatian Social-Liberal Party (HSLS) and the Liberal Party (LS) because the club was not functioning as such.
She dismissed PM Ivo Sanader's statement that the DC was having an identity crisis.
"I don't know who is having an identity crisis, the DC certainly isn't, perhaps the Prime Minister is having one because he thinks that the HDZ and the DC are one and the same thing."
She recalled that HDZ officials had proposed unification of the two parties several months ago.
She dismissed accusations that she had leaked confidential government documents to the press, saying that such speculation had been launched by anonymous sources in the government.
The former minister also dismissed the PM's claims that she criticised the government whose member she was, saying that she only responded to trading in the mandates of local councillors and claims by government officials that the establishment of a regional free trade zone would lead to the restoration of Yugoslavia. She added that she opposed the government's position not to adopt any proposal made by her party.
Speaking to reporters after the parliament gave a vote of confidence in the new justice minister, PM Sanader said that he did not expect the DC, after its leader was relieved of duty as justice minister, to continue supporting his government in the parliament, but that he wanted to continue cooperation at the local level.
"We want the DC to remain our coalition partner in municipalities, towns and counties, but the party will probably no longer be our partner in the parliament," Sanader said.
He stressed that the parliamentary majority was stable and added that he would meet with Skare Ozbolt in her capacity as DC leader for talks on possible cooperation.
He resolutely dismissed claims in some media that Skare Ozbolt had been under surveillance by intelligence services.
The new minister, Ana Lovrin, said in parliament that her main task would be to continue the judicial reform with even more determination.