After meetings with four other potential partners on Thursday, Cerar was upbeat about chances of forming a broad coalition, indicating that its composition should be clear by the 1 August inaugural session of parliament.

Cerar said it was too early to say who would be in the new coalition as the first round of talks was of an introductory nature with the intention being for parties to say whether they see themselves in the coalition and what they think the new government's priorities should be.

No party involved in yesterday's talks ruled out joining a coalition with Cerar explicitly, although the United Left (ZL) said it would likely be in the opposition due to the great differences in views, especially on privatisation.

Meanwhile, the conservative New Slovenia (NSi) want the SMC to adopt a position on their action plan first so that they can establish whether cooperation is possible at all.

Today, Cerar is meeting the SD, whose leader Dejan Židan said the party was no longer ready for compromises that would hurt people and was not afraid of moving into the opposition.

The only party ruled out of coalition talks is the Democrats (SDS) of the convicted former PM Janez Janša, due to the party's attitude to the judiciary and hence the rule of law, which is a priority for Cerar.