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The move seems to resolve an imminent crisis in the party and possibly the ruling coalition, which was heralded by Wednesday's decision of the PS's former head and founder Zoran Janković to challenge Bratušek at the election congress.

"This is the strongest political message...that can come from the party at this moment," PS vice-president Robert Golob told the press, arguing the party had united in the view to put the interests of the country before its own considerations.

Golob added that Bratušek, who did not give statements after the meeting, probably "has even more support today than she had yesterday or a month ago".

Bratušek said in a press release in the morning that nobody should live under the illusion they can use the election congress as a tool for controlling the prime minister.

Unofficially, Bratušek was still against the idea of postponing the congress in the morning, but agreed to "accept the decision" after what are said to have been four hours of heated debate behind closed doors.

PS deputy group leader Jani Möderndorfer noted that the government is getting ready to adopt the most important acts so far and that this is not exactly an appropriate time for an election congress.

The executive committee believes that it did not violate the party's statute with the decision. While it was agreed at the January congress that an election congress would be held within a year, it is the executive committee that is in charge of everything to do with elections. Moreover, today's decision is also to be confirmed by the party council.

Janković said in his reaction that the move was legitimate, but that it would not deter him from standing for party president at the congress, where he will explain his reasons.

He does not see the decision as a vote of no confidence against him but as a confidence vote for Bratušek.

Janković, who is also the mayor of Ljubljana, stepped down as the head of the biggest parliamentary party earlier this year after several parties made this a condition for entering a new, PS-led coalition.

The previous Democrats (SDS)-led government collapsed in February following a Corruption Prevention Commission report accusing SDS head Janez Janša as well as opposition leader Janković of serious violations of anti-graft legislation.

Meanwhile, fellow coalition parties, which were threatening to leave the coalition immediately if Janković is elected, had mixed reactions to today's decision.

Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) head Karl Erjavec said it ended a political crisis, as it stabilised the coalition and government.

However, as regards the situation in the PS, Erjavec feels that it will benefit Janković in the long-term, giving him time to criticise Bratušek's work and create conditions that will lead to a congress.

Citizens' List (DL) boss Gregor Virant seemed surprised by the decision, which came just as he was reiterating for the press that the party was determined to leave if Janković returns.

He said he was disappointed by what he described as a half-baked decision that showed the PS is not capable of cleaning up its act. He said he would talk to Bratušek and that the situation would shortly also be discussed by the council of the DL.

A similar view was expressed by SocDems deputy group head Matjaž Han, who said that postponing the congress cannot solve the political crisis but can only deepen it.

He told the STA that serious parties have rules that "cannot be changed every five minutes" and announced the SD leadership will discuss its further steps in relation to the situation in the coalition next week.