The agreement is expected to be ready for signing by 13 February, according to statements, which also suggested that the partners decided to put off taking decisions which could have led to a split.

Leader of the Social Democrats Igor Lukšič said that all major disputes were put off for a period until reform legislation will start to be drawn up.

Lukšič believes that the new coalition agreement is a good basis for the work of the government and that there are no major outstanding issues.

There was no word initially on the contents of the finalised draft, which will form the basis of the coalition's work until the end of the current term in the autumn of 2015.

However, Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) leader Karl Erjavec said it could not be ruled out that one or more of the parties could demand further changes following internal confirmation procedures.

Erjavec also announced that he and Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek would agree on the nominees for the vacant positions of health and economy ministers by the end of the week.

The nominees are expected to be put to the coalition at Monday's weekly meeting and then be revealed to the public.

Prior to the resignations of Health Minister Tomaž Gantar and Economy Minister Stanko Stepišnik in November, DeSUS held the health portfolio, while Bratušek's Positive Slovenia (PS) ran the Economy Ministry.

Erjavec indicated it was possible that the two parties could make a swap, depending on the names which will be debated.

Justice Minister Senko Pličanič, who is representing the Citizens' List (DL) in the coalition talks, said that the draft prepared by Bratušek represents a good basis for a final agreement.