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The coalition meeting was dedicated to finding common ground on the government-proposed package of 15 state-owned companies, including the NKBM bank and telco Telekom Slovenije, which are slated for privatisation.

Virant said that support for the first privatisation package in parliament would prove "that we actually do what we promised to do".

He added Finance Minister Uroš Čufer would begin preparing the privatisation strategy and the strategy of assets management, which is demanded primarily by the Social Democrats (SD).

SD deputy Matjaž Han meanwhile said his party planned to hold another meeting with Čufer before it decides whether to support the first package. He added that the SocDems - who have been reluctant about privatisation plans - will definitely not support the next privatisation package without an associated strategy of asset management.

Positive Slovenia (PS) deputy group leader Jani Möderndorfer said the meeting helped to "shed light" on matters, adding that he expected the coalition to eventually find a unanimous agreement.

He believes that the sale of the 15 companies will receive a green light in parliament, but this does not mean that the companies will be sold at any price. "This was made very clear today," he stressed.