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The executive committee of ZaAB, established after the split in Positive Slovenia (PS) that led to the July general election, met today for the first time after Bratušek was rejected last month in the European Parliament as Slovenia's EU commissioner candidate.

It decided that the party will hold a congress at the beginning of next year, it is however not clear yet whether it will be an election congress.

While the centre-left ZaAB managed to make it to the National Assembly with 4 MPs, it has seen a rapid decline in popularity after Bratušek's self-nomination for the commissioner post as outgoing PM, a move that has also cost ZaAB membership in the new ruling coalition.

Open criticism of Bratušek has also come from the party's members, for instance vice-president Peter Vilfan, and an election congress is not being excluded.

Bratušek has said she will not hold the party hostage and there has also been speculation that the party could change its name and ask again for a spot in the Miro Cerar government should Bratušek be replaced.

In today's statement for the press, Bratušek added that time will show whether ZaAB will continue with her at the top.

"Only I can decide about my resignation and I believe it is right that I take time to reflect on this step," she said.

Meanwhile, a change is also possible at the helm of the opposition New Slovenia (NSi) whose head Ljudmila Novak has not yet decided whether she will run for another term at the NSi election congress later this month.

Unofficially, Novak, who became NSi president in 2008, would not have a rival candidate if she opts to stand again.

The other scenario would probably see the party's no 2., deputy group leader Matej Tonin, get challenged by vice-president Aleš Hojs, who has been at odds with the party over its failure to go all the way in its support for the imprisoned head of the fellow centre-right Democrats (SDS) Janez Janša.

Moreover, a change at the top of the People's Party (SLS), a centre-right party with long tradition that however failed to make it parliament in July, is already certain.

Franc Bogovič, elected to the European Parliament in May, announced a resignation immediately after the July election debacle, and a new leadership is expected to be appointed at the 6 December congress.