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The decision was taken at a meeting of leaders of the outgoing coalition ahead of the regular weekly government session, as Bratušek failed to get the partners on board for the appointment.

"We agreed to try to find a compromise [with the SMC] and unless such a compromise is possible, a decision on the matter will be taken by the new government", Bratušek told reporters after the cabinet session.

She continues to believe the appointment should not be a subject of coalition talks. Although "I'd be happiest if the new government assumed this responsibility", Bratušek maintained that it was her government which should make the proposal and assume responsibility for it.

However, she admitted that her coalition partners did not share her view. She would be prepared to discuss the matter should Miro Cerar bring it up as they meet today as the likely new PM opens coalition talks.

Bratušek reiterated that time was pressing with the EU expecting Slovenia to submit a commissioner nominee to Brussels by the end of the month.

If Slovenia failes to do so, "it will be us who will block further procedures", Bratušek said, asserting that a potential blockade would not be her fault.

Meanwhile, Milan Brglez, a vice-president of the SMC, repeated that the party would want for a consensus on the nominee to be reached in a "sensible time frame" or "at least by the first week of August".

He welcomed the decision for the outgoing government not to nominate a candidate on its own, which he said would "enable us to arrive at a more consensual proposal for the Slovenian commissioner".

Neither Bratušek nor Brglez would discuss any names with Bratušek saying that she had received no proposal from Cerar, "except for the whole thing to be put off", which she now obliged.

Bratušek would not give a clear answer when quizzed about her own bid to become commissioner, repeating that it was not important what she wanted, while she also noted that many countries named former ministers or prime ministers as commissioners.

The coalition today also decided against a proposal to put forward three candidates for European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to pick from, Social Democrat Matjaž Han told reporters.

Unofficially, the proposal was made by Bratušek with her being one of the three candidates.

Commenting on that, Brglez said "this is not the usual practice and would not go to show that Slovenian politicians were capable of forming a unified proposal".

Outgoing Interior Minister Gregor Virant, speaking on behalf of the coalition Citizens List (DL), opposed such a proposal on grounds that it would have meant "Slovenia renouncing part of its sovereignty".

Virant also underscored that election winner SMC should have the main say in the selection of the commissioner.

Meanwhile, Han said that no names were discussed today, but confirmed the names of potential candidates circulated in the media were accurate.

Apart from Bratušek, willingness to seek a third term has been expressed by incumbent Janez Potočnik. Nor have Slovenia's Ambassador to the EU Rado Genorio, outgoing Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec, and MEP Lojze Peterle denied being interested in the post.