Židan is happy that new DeSUS leader Aleksandra Pivec has highlighted inter-generational cooperation, efforts to improve the pensioners' situation, and the stabilisation of the health and pension systems.

"Here I'm glad because it seems we'll have a partner with whom we'll be able to work much faster," he told the press after the SD presidency meeting on Monday.

Since Karl Erjavec announced he would resign as defence minister after losing Saturday's DeSUS leadership contest, the SD expects DeSUS to put forward a good candidate that will be backed by all coalition members.

He believes this is where the strength of the coalition lies. "A united coalition which is not busy with itself can do important things."

Židan also rejected the notions that the coalition was clinically dead, as recently assessed by opposition leader Janez Janša, and that the Marjan Šarec minority government could not do important things. He said the SD would like to work together with the other coalition partners to the benefit of the country.