Both sides are still counting the signatures supporting their petitions. At the moment the opponents boast 2600 signatures more than the supporters who started collecting signatures a month later. Tomorrow both groups will present their arguments at two separate events.

The group Citizens against sale – some of the members oppose any sale of state investments, the other disagree only with the manner of privatisation – will tomorrow at the Congress square organize a protest meeting, which will probably last two hours and a half. 2000 to 3000 participants are expected, some are expected to come by busses from different parts of Slovenia. Miha Pitako, coordinator of the community Citizens against sale, said: »If tomorrow more than 2000 people gather in spite of poor weather conditions, it will be the largest meeting after the All-Slovenian People Uprisings.

Some of the economists who had been salvaging companies in the 90s can be found among the opponents.

A larger number of economists is expected at tomorrow's round table, organized by the societies united in the initiative "for privatisation and depoliticisation of economy" at the Commerce Chamber in Ljubljana.

Both sides are convinced that their arguments comply with the circumstances and interests of the common man, taxpayer, consumer. Both sides are aware that the state-owned companies are prey for the politically favoured with narrow private interests, but their ideas of changes or solutions differ. The oponents claim that they are not opposed to the Miro Cerar government, but to politics which has no control over managing, and prevents control by the employees. They demand better management. The supporters however fear that the Miro Cerar government will not do enough for privatisation, thus obstructing the improvement of economy which is urgently needed.

Maja Derčar, Radio Slovenija
Translated by G. K.