The emerging coalition against PM Janez Janša experienced a serious setback last week as the potential candidate for PM-designate Miro Cerar rejected the offer that would put him at the centre of a project government that would see Slovenia through a transition period ahead of a fresh election.

Cerar cited a lack of support for such a government as the reason for his decision after he had received the backing of only the Positive Slovenia (PS), Citizens' List (DL) and DeSUS, while the People's Party (SLS) decided to remain in opposition after moving there and the Social Democrats (SD) have not made up their minds yet.

The SD has meanwhile been trying to enlist support among other parties for a motion of no confidence in Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Žiga Turk. SD president Igor Lukšič announced the motion would be filed at the start of this week.

PM Janša, who has rejected calls for resignation in the wake of a damning report by the country's anti-graft watchdog, will be left by two more ministers on Friday, as officials from the ranks of DeSUS step down in line with the party's decision on 5 February.

After ministers from the ranks of the DL left the government at the end of January, DeSUS leader Karl Erjavec will step down as foreign minister and his party colleague Tomaž Gantar as minister of health, along with state secretaries Janez Ujčič (PS's office) and Brigita Čokl (Health Ministry).

Janša is expected to appoint the remaining government members as stand-ins as he is unlikely to get sufficient support in parliament to appoint new ministers.

After the next session of parliament, starting on 4 March, the SLS is expected to abandon the coalition as well, which will leave Janša with only his Democratic Party (SDS) and New Slovenia (NSi). The parties have a combined 30 seats in the 90-strong legislature.