"There was simply too much meddling or attempts to meddle in the work of the government, it just didn't work any more," Bratušek said in an interview for public broadcaster TV Slovenija. It was about "staffing in particular," she said.

Bratušek had previously refrained from explaining why she decided to push for an early congress at which she then lost the leadership battle to Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković, who has insisted he has never interfered in the government's work.

Janković had mobilised the rank-and-file and even organised free bus transport to the congress in order to get enough of his supporters into the election congress.

"I didn't organise any buses, but in the week before [the congress] I met quite a few members across Slovenia. I got the feeling I had significant support in the party," she said.

After Janković's victory the party split in two, but several members, including two MPs, who split from him have now returned back, amidst reports that they had been offered generous rewards to return. Bratušek said she hoped that this was not the case.

Bratušek is now in the process of forming a new party, but she refused to provide any details beyond saying that "after all we have done in the last year, it would be irresponsible to just lift our hands and walk out of politics."