The session was suspended and will resume after the close of the regular session of parliament, which starts on 20 May.

Jani Möderndorfer, deputy group leader for the ruling Positive Slovenia (PS), said parties should use the time to reach consensus.

The decision, confirmed with coalition votes, reflects currently insurmountable differences over when the fiscal rule should take effect.

The opposition Democrats (SDS), which authored the original proposal for the fiscal rule while still in government last year, insist it needs to be implemented 2015 as originally conceived.

The government, meanwhile, wants to postpone its implementation to at least 2017, arguing that savage spending cuts to the tune of EUR 1.5bn in 18 months, or equivalent revenue increases, would be required to meet the target in 2015.

SDS lawmaker Andrej Vizjak said that postponing the decision was a message that the country is afraid to tackle the difficult task of balancing public finances in a relatively short time.

He reiterated his party's position that 2015 was realistic, in particular due to the safeguard which allows deficits in extraordinary circumstances. The year of implementation is not a problem since the fiscal rule deals with the mid-term balancing of public finances, he said.

The same point was raised by the opposition People's Party (SLS) and New Slovenia (NSi), which suggested adopting the fiscal rule effective in 2015 would send a strong signal to financial markets while still allowing for subsequent tweaks.

The SLS has already sent the government a proposal which would allow parliament to adopt with a two-thirds majority a law that would allow exemptions from the fiscal rule, party president Franc Bogovič said.

NSi deputy group leader said the parliamentary rules of procedure do not make it possible to change the current proposal, but he noted parliament could subsequently adopt legislation to give the government more time to balance the budget.

This is the safer option, as Slovenia would be disburdened of pressure and political blockades, he said.