Slovenians rejected a gradual rise in the national retirement age in a referendum, giving a further blow to the minority centre-left government of Prime Minister Borut Pahor.
The government, which already lost a referendum on labour reform in April, said the pension reform was necessary for long-term budget stability, while analysts said its rejection could lead to cuts in Slovenia's credit ratings, and possibly an early election.
The pension law, which was passed by parliament in December, would gradually raise the retirement age to 65 from the minimum age of 57 for women and 58 for men. Trade unions demanded a referendum, arguing the increase was too steep.
The voters also rejected two other government laws in the same referendum, one designed to combat unregistered labour and the other on keeping part of the communist-era secret service files closed to the public.
Despite the set-back Mr Pahor told reporters he did not plan to resign.
His resignation would enable parliament to spend several months trying to elect a new prime minister as Slovenia's president can only call early elections after parliament fails to elect a new premier in three attempts.
Mr Pahor said that the government planned to send to parliament a law that would cut spending in order to ensure budget stability, adding it may ask parliament for a vote of confidence at the same time.
But the opposition and trade unions said the government should leave immediately.
The government lost its majority in parliament in early May when a junior coalition party, Desus, left the coalition over internal squabbles which included the party seeking a faster increase in pensions.
