This means that only the bad loans that have been transferred from majority state-owned commercial banks to the Bank Asset Management Company (BAMC) will be disclosed. BAMC will have to release data on the clients, the persons who approved the loans and the collateral.

The DL proposed releasing data even on the loans more than 90 days overdue which the commercial banks that have been bailed have not transferred to BAMC, but the amendment was defeated by 39 votes to 38.

A similar amendment was also tabled by the opposition Democratic Party (SDS), whose MP Andrej Šircelj noted that EUR 4.5bn-worth of bad loans had been transferred to the bad bank, while a further EUR 6bn remained at banks, which meant Slovenia had in fact not cleaned up the banks.

The citizens, who paid EUR 3.5bn to bail out the banks, have the right to know where their money went, Janez Ribič of the opposition People's Party (SLS) argued. Similarly, DL MP Bojan Starman justified the party's demand for disclosure by saying that Slovenia had seen "a decade of well organised bank robbery".

But the fellow coalition parties were not persuaded. Jani Möderndorfer of the Positive Slovenia (PS) cited fears that the disclosure would only increase the banking hole as clients fled to private banks fearing being listed in case they failed to pay their loans.

While other coalition MPs argued that such a disclosure would make the state-owned banks less competitive, Social Democrat Matevž Frangež said the disclosure would not provide an answer as to what exactly went on at the banks.

He urged the government to draw up a public inquiry act that would enable upgrading the crackdown on actions that had brought about the troubles in the banking system.

The government-sponsored changes to the freedom of information act were backed by 51 members of the 90-strong assembly, with none voting against, but the SDS abstained.

The changes expand disclosure requirements to companies in majority ownership of the state or municipalities. These will have to disclose information on the value of all transactions and the counter-party, unless that could undermine their competitive advantage.

Regardless of that exemption, they will have to disclose all information about donations, sponsorships, consultancy agreements and contracts for copyrighted works. Data on executive pay will also be subject to disclosures.