Ljubljana - The executive council of the coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC) discussed on Thursday the possibility of its leader Zdravko Počivalšek resigning as economy minister and returning to the National Assembly to secure an additional vote for the party, which recently saw three MPs leave its 8-member deputy group. It is yet to decide how to proceed.

The party said in a press release after the meeting that this option raised a lot of questions that needed to be examined carefully.

"We must also consider calls by business representatives who want to continue working with Zdravko Počivalšek in his capacity as minister," the party said. The party leadership will take the next few days to make a decision.

Last night, Počivalšek tweeted that he would act responsibly and for the good of the country. The SMC deputy group has meanwhile said that Počivalšek could best fulfil his mission as economy minister.

The executive committee meeting comes two days after the coalition failed to replace Igor Zorčič as parliamentary speaker soon after he left the SMC group alongside Janja Sluga and Branislav Rajić.

The three former SMC MPs formed an independent deputy group alongside Jurij Lep, who broke off from the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) deputy group. DeSUS left the coalition months ago but its deputy group has shown support for the government and coalition a number of times since.