Following today's first regular government session after summer recess, PM Marjan Šarec told the press that the Left had the right to carry out its own politics as it saw fit, but reminded the party the government had other options in case the Left decided to withdraw its budget support.

Asked whether by that he was implying cooperation with New Slovenia (NSi), the head of the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) replied that it all depended on the further developments.

The abolition of top-up insurance is set in the coalition agreement, though the Left had left out the part where it said that the insurance would be abolished if the financial situation allowed that, Šarec pointed.

He highlighted that the proposal did not hold water as demonstrated by the health and finance ministries, saying it would not prove sustainable in the current situation, let alone if the economy started cooling down.

Furthermore, the agreement states that a special task force will come up with the proposal, said Šarec.

Meanwhile, the Left responded by saying that top-up insurance was one of the key projects set in the agreement and that if the government was not willing to reach a compromise in autumn, their cooperation would suffer.

The party's coordinator Luka Mesec said that it was unacceptable the government had been dismissive of the party's proposals and the agreement's commitments which is why the party had decided to deliver this ultimatum.

Discussing the Left's Wednesday proposal before the government session, the coalition partners also rejected the Left's ultimatum tactics.

According to the first estimates by the health and finance ministers, the ad hoc and unilateral proposal does not take into account all the circumstances and cannot be endorsed, said the partners.

Health Minister Aleš Šabeder announced today that his ministry would draw up its own proposal, expected to be tabled in June 2020. He also presented preliminary studies demonstrating that the Left's proposal would create a gap in healthcare funds which would have to be compensated for.

Modern Centre Party (SMC) deputy group head Igor Zorčič said the coalition was willing to discuss the issue with the Left despite its blackmailing tactics; however, they are not sure if the party is actually willing to discuss it or if it just wants to end the cooperation with the government.

Maša Kociper of the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) agreed that the Left's proposal would create a heavy burden on the healthcare budget which would probably have a crippling effect.

However, Franc Jurša of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) pointed out that the abolition of top-up insurance was written in the coalition agreement, but, according to him, the Left's move was premature and the coalition would not yield to the party's pressure but it is willing to engage in conversation.

Meanwhile, Dejan Židan, the Social Democrats' (SD) leader, urged the Left at the first anniversary of signing the coalition agreement to cooperate and stick to the agreement which envisages the Health Ministry to come up with an effective proposal.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) as well as the Chamber of Trade Crafts and Small Business (OZS) were also critical of the Left's proposal, deeming it unacceptable.

The former said it would threaten the stability and sustainability of the healthcare system, while the latter believes it would leave businesses to take the brunt of the related costs.