Han said that at least seven SD MPs will support what is deemed the first privatisation package, providing sufficient support for it to get the parliament's green light. The rest of the coalition partners support the bill.

The list of 15 companies was approved by the parliamentary Finance and Monetary Policy Committee last week, and the National Assembly could meet to vote on the package on Friday.

Han said that support for the bill would not cause a rift within the party. "My heart breaks because we must sell assets created by several generations. But in life, there are situations when one must sell to get ahead. Eventually we could buy back."

Lukšič said today that the documents drafted by the government were much poorer than those drafted by the previous government.

Meanwhile, the head of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) Karl Erjavec said that the contradictory messages coming from the SD served the party's "daily political needs".

When asked whether the privatisation plan could endanger the ruling coalition, Erjavec said this was a question for the SD.

The DeSUS head moreover said that privatisation plans were included in the coalition agreement, while Lukšič claims that the coalition deal speaks only of one company.

"DeSUS is a very pragmatic party capable of focusing on only one thing: pensions. As regards strategic issues, they do not join the debate because seemingly they do not understand most of them," Lukšič said.