Faced with doubts on financial markets that it can overcome the crisis alone, Slovenia has found itself in complicated times, in which the issues of social and national liberation overlap, once again, the president said.

The last time this happened was in the late 1980s, when the standard of living was dropping rapidly and social, as well as national right were in jeopardy, he told some 6,000 people that gathered on Javorovica hill outside Šentjernej.

Although it took a while to unite politically, Slovenians managed to find the right solution in democracy, an independent state and the joining of the EU, the president said.

More than two decades later, Slovenians face the same issue: will the country manage to unite so as to overcome "colossal problems".

He remains firmly convinced that Slovenia can find solutions enabling it to remain a sovereign state and to overcome the intense economic and financial situation.

He believes this will be possible only with optimism and realisation that the country cannot simply go back to the way it was before 2008 and that pointing the finger to assign blame for the situation is fruitless. Now Slovenia has an opportunity for something new, he added.

Numerous Labour Day celebrations were held across the country today. The head of People's Party (SLS), Franc Bogovič, addressed a ceremony near Podbočje (SE), saying that it was hard to celebrate Labour Day if there are not enough jobs.

He believes that measures must be adopted to cut into established political practices in order to enable growth and creativity in the society. Slovenia will have to face the truth and find out where are the massive non-performing loans that paralyse the banking system.

A Labour Day celebration in Ljubljana was addressed by Mayor Zoran Janković, who underlined that each job needs to be fought for. If there are no jobs, there can be no budget, no welfare, no public education and no health care.

Slovenia is living in "some form of capitalism" that nobody likes. Apparently this capitalism will end, Janković said, adding that Europe must find new forms of harmony, solidarity and camaraderie.