Jakovcic said that his IDS party would start its election campaign on 19 February 2007 at the earliest.
"We have already contacted parties that are interested in cooperation, and for now it is certain that the IDS will not form a post-election coalition with the HDZ," he said.
He described the cooperation with the party's coalition partner in Istria County, the SDP, as very favourable.
The IDS will demand of the future government strong decentralisation of Croatia, he said.
Speaking of cooperation with previous governments, Jakovcic said that Istria was "getting too little from any government".
He nevertheless confirmed that many regional projects had been implemented during the term of the Ivo Sanader government.
Jakovcic announced changes to the party statute and declaration, stressing that the request for the regional autonomy of Istria would be stated more clearly.
Commenting on Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel's statement that Slovenia should have authority over the entire Bay of Piran, Jakovcic described the statement as extremist and unacceptable and detrimental to bilateral relations.