The bill, put forward by a group of 38 coalition and opposition deputies, allows financial investigation for the last five years in case of suspicion of illegally gained assets, which can be based for example on tax information.

The bill also envisages criminal proceedings, possible temporary confiscation and freezing of assets, financial investigation and asset forfeiture.

The National Council, which vetoed the act on 25 October, questioned the provision that the lowest possible standard, a suspicion triggered by an anonymous report, could suffice to introduce a financial investigation.

Councillor Mihael Jencic also stressed today that the act offered no compensation in case of an acquittal.

A proponent of the act, Franco Juri of Zares, meanwhile said the law "is to equip our institutions with an effective tool to mitigate organised crime", which many were bothered with. He is convinced some members of the upper chamber put the interests of the rich first in their decision to veto the act.

Outgoing Justice Minister Aleš Zalar said the act was closely linked to changes to the penal code, as it specifically listed the cases in which an investigation could be launched and assets confiscated.

He said the standards for starting an investigation envisaged by the act were identical to those in the criminal procedure act.

All deputy groups expressed support to the act, except for the SNS, whose leader Zmago Jelinčič said the act ran contrary to the principles of the rule of law and the Constitution.