"My point is that this government, which is legal but not legitimate, has no concept for saving this country except repeating that everyone is invited to join the project of tackling the crisis," Jankovič told a press conference on Wednesday.

"Mister Janez Janša, if you don't know how, or can't, just look at the polls which show that your actions are bad for the country and step down," Janković added in reference to the prime minister's statements that Slovenia was heading for a bankruptcy.

He believes the public deficit will exceed EUR 1bn within nine months, which will be topped by an "additional minus caused by the government measures".

He also reiterated his criticism of the laws on the Slovenia Sovereign Holding and the bad bank. Both were passed in a re-vote yesterday after having being vetoed in the National Council, Slovenia's upper chamber of parliament.

Janković also touched on the 2013 and 2014 budgets, questioning the viability of the proposals, especially with regards to funds the government expects to receive from the EU budget.

Even if what Jankovič said was true, "we have already achieved more than any government of his may ever achieve," Janša responded as he spoke to the press during a visit to Zasavje.

"He had an opportunity... We all know what the result of the early election was. The SDS and me personally wanted long for him to put together a government. He had the chance, the math was in his favour but he could not even build a government," Janša said.

The prime minister urged Janković to be "a bit more patient...he's in for a long wait and it would be good if he stops with the monkey business."

"Apparently Zoran Janković fails to understand that tough times require unity. Criticising everything and everyone is not a solution," came the response from New Slovenia (NSi) deputy Jožef Horvat, who added Janković's statement were hurting Slovenia's unity.

Horvat added Janković's "nervousness" regarding the bad bank could only be explained by article 33 of the law, which extends the period during which banks' top officials can be prosecuted. "The Slovenian public is aware of Janković's involvement in obtaining loans for the Stožice sports complex," Horvat said.