The opposition Democrats (SDS) remain in the lead with 20%, followed by the SD and the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) with 8.5%, shows the poll carried by Delo on Monday.

The forth-strongest party is the opposition People's Party (SLS) at 5.9%, followed at 5.7% by the Liberal Democrats (LDS), the only partner of the SD to remain in the coalition following the exit of DeSUS and Zares.

Zares garnered 3.7% in the poll, less than the National Party (SNS) at 4.6%. The non-parliamentary New Slovenia (NSi) was backed by 2.9% of those polled, while 14.7% were undecided and 21.6% would not turn out.

The public assessment of the government's job remains negative, but it has improved somewhat from the month before. This time the government scored a 1.96 on the scale of 1 to 5, compared to 1.82 in June.

The score for parliament is somewhat higher at 2.05, compared to 1.89 the month before.

President Danilo Tuerk remains the most popular politician, ahead of European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik, MEP Lojze Peterle and DeSUS leader Karl Erjavec. PM Borut Pahor trails the list of 20 ahead of Zares leader Gregor Golobic.

The poll was conducted by the newspaper publisher's market research division Delo Stik over the telephone among 700 respondents between 11 and 13 July.