Omerzel is accused of having breached the act on integrity and prevention of corruption by failing to inform the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption about his company in due time, which would have put the firm on the list of companies that have restricted access to state-funded projects.

He said he indeed failed to comply within the 30-day deadline for disclosures, but claims this is merely a procedural breach. He labelled it a "minor bureaucratic infringement" that is understandable given his workload at the ministry.

The NSi and Democrats (SDS) also said Omerzel had mislead the public about the dealings of his company with the state-owned motorway company DARS.

Omerzel said the ministry had no say in DARS's commercial activities. Moreover, he said a contract his company signed with DARS had been signed before he became minister.

The opposition also accused him of failing to prevent the price of the new generator at the Šoštanj thermal power plant from rising. He says he has done everything in his power to finally put a final price on the project.

The NSi labelled Omerzel's response as "bureaucratic and ridiculous". Minister Omerzel does not really understand his role, NSi deputy group leader Matej Tonin told the press today.

According to Tonin, the reason the minister is holding on to his post is the high amounts of money. "It is unclear why the coalition and the government continue to defend him...They are taking responsibility for his conduct".

The interpellation motion will be on the National Assembly's agenda at its next regular session, which starts on 27 January.

Since the ouster motion was filed in early December the minister has been under heavy pressure, as media dug up further revelations about potentially controversial dealings of his company with DARS.

Most notably, his company continues to get money from DARS under old contracts and appears to have found a way to bypass a promised limit on new contracts.

His position in government is precarious. He enjoys the support of his Citizens' List (DL), but other parties have remained cautious in their statements.