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SD deputy Majda Potrata told the press on Tuesday that the SD decided to push ahead with the ousting motion in order to give MPs a chance for a thorough reflection on Turk's work.

Potrata said that the allegations against the minister are set down in eight main points that point to his supposed inaction and violations of laws. She argued that the allegations have been carefully thought through.

The main point says that Turk has "acted contrary to public interest" and that the trust and credibility of the government have been harmed beyond repair.

Responding to the announcement, Turk's party, the Democrats (SDS), blasted the motion as a "rascal-like attempt to bring down the government" in their first reaction via Twitter.

The minister also took to twitter to label the SD's announcement as a "political act, which has been directed at me along with many other things". Turk added that he will provide a "strong and exhaustive response to everything" in the motion.

Moreover, the head of the SDS deputy group in parliament, Jože Tanko, said that the move "suggests that the opposition lacks sense and cohesion", as he spoke to the press.

This "rascal-like act" will only further weaken the state, said Tanko, who added that the opposition should show it was capable of acting rationally and for the benefit of the state with the majority it now holds.

Arguing that Slovenia needs measures to bolster cohesion rather than to expand divisions, Tanko reiterated the SDS's call to the opposition to move ahead with a no-confidence vote if it is not happy with the current government.

"If they hold a majority, they should act quickly...Then they will be able to take solutions that are in line with their will," he said, adding that a snap poll was an alternate option.

While Potrata announced that the SD had not received a response to their motion from other parties prior to filing it, at least two parties indicated on Tuesday a readiness to back it in parliament.

While Positive Slovenia (PS) and the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) indicated they would be willing to back the ousting of the minister, other parties remained reserved, casting doubt about whether the motion could get the required absolute majority in parliament to succeed.

The People's Party (SLS), which is set to leave the government in early March, said it would not endorse the motion because it would not contribute to resolving the current government crisis.

Meanwhile, the opposition Citizens' List (DL) said it would decide on whether to back the motion when it makes the agenda of parliament. Moreover, DL representative Rihard Braniselj added that the DL found PM Janez Janša, not Minister Turk, to be the main problem in the government.

The coalition New Slovenia (NSi) has already rejected the possibility of backing the motion to oust Turk.

Potrata said that the parties should decide for themselves whether the case against Turk deserved endorsement, but added that the party had received expressions of support from "experts and stakeholders".

According to Potrata, the party had acted because of the "ethically unacceptable" and "legally dubious" measures by the ministry headed by Turk. The minister's term has been a "a year of the dictate of unfounded policies on upbringing, education, science, culture and sport", she said.

The minister's actions, says Potrata, have endangered the right to quality and accessible public education and have formed the basis for "speedy privatisation of the public good of knowledge".

She added that the motion also alleged Turk failed to provide for conditions enabling the creation, exchange and protection of cultural goods.

Highlighting "the unfounded abolishment" of the Slovenian Cultural and Information Centre in Vienna (SKICA), the motion also alleges that the minister has failed to implement a ruling by the Constitutional Court on financing of universities.

Moreover, the motion alleges that the minister has ignored the parliament's will by saying he would use EUR 16m set aside for higher education in an amendment to the budget passed by parliament at his discretion.

Citing the cut in the license fee and the disputed dismissal of members of the supervisory board of public broadcaster RTVS, the SocDems also allege that the minister has "threatened the institutional autonomy and editorial independence" of RTVS.

This is the second ousting motion in the current government's term, after Interior Minister Vinko Gorenak survived a motion brought by Positive Slovenia in December.