Maribor - The opposition Social Democrats (SD) have presented an action plan for tackling the crisis caused by the rising prices of basic foodstuffs, energy and raw materials. The party advocates regulation of the electricity market by determining a maximum allowable price and control of the prices in the food supply chain.

The action plan was presented in Maribor on Thursday by SD president Tanja Fajon, who was joined by several other candidates of the party for the 24 April election.

"I talk with older people who are very worried about how they will pay their heating bills next winter. I talk to families concerned about the sharp rise in food and energy price," Fajon illustrated the issue.

The SD is also in touch with entrepreneurs who are deeply concerned about the sharp rise in the prices of raw materials, she added.

According to Fajon, the current government is not responding to the rise in prices of basic foodstuffs, energy and raw materials and to the warnings by economists that an even larger crisis is looming.

The party has thus come up with an action plan "to help people, the economy, Slovenia" and to respond to the important questions of how to secure energy sources, raw materials, food and money.

Fajon noted that possible measures included regulating the electricity market by determining a maximum allowable price.

Due to the severe rise in the prices of raw materials and goods, the SD also advocate that priority should be given to purchasing food produced in Slovenia and that prices in the entire food supply chain should be controlled.

"We are proposing a rescue package worth EUR 1.5 billion with interest-free loans for the economy," Fajon said.

The plan includes restrictions on food exports, targeted promotion of the production of strategically important agricultural crops, regulation of the motor fuel market and freezing of value added tax on energy.