The Slovenian parliament has set 27 November as voting day for three referendums initiated by the opposition Democrats (SDS) in an attempt to repeal three government-sponsored laws.
The SDS wanted the three referendums - dealing with amendments to the acts on the government, public broadcaster RTV Slovenija, and long-term care - to be held with the mayoral run-off on 4 December.
The party argued in the parliamentary debate on 18 October this would save costs.
More importantly, however, holding the referendums alongside an election would significantly improve the prospects for the achievement of the quorum.
To have the laws repealed, voters not only have to reject them, the no votes must represent at least 20% of all eligible voters. This means almost 340,000 voters would have to vote against.
In the five referendums held since the quorum was introduced in 2013, only two succeeded, amendments to the family law legalising same-sex marriage were defeated in a referendum in 2015, and in 2021 a huge majority voted to repeal a new waters act.
The coalition argued that the SDS was abusing the right to referendum and its initiatives were only meant to put a spoke in the government's wheels and drag out the legislative process.
Nataša Sukič of the Left quoted a Dnevnik commentator in saying that "quorum was raised to deter party trolls from choking voters all the time with piecemeal demands of suspicious nature" and that quorum for a referendum that would be held with elections "is all but secured".
Speaking for the Freedom Movement, Teodor Uranič said it was not true the coalition wanted the turnout to be as low as possible, but rather to have as many people as possible turn out and vote no.
SDS lawmaker Branko Grims said the coalition and the ruling party in particular appeared to be unable to accept the fact that the constitution vested power in people.
He quoted late Constitutional Court judge Lovro Šturm in describing referendum as the only effective tool to curb power, which he said the coalition was afraid of: "You fear the moment of truth that facing the will of the people means."
New Slovenia (NSi) likewise opposed holding referendums on a separate date with Vida Čadonič Špelič noting that it would mean going to the polls five times in two months.
"I don't think we're sending people the right message. Firstly, that we don't value their time ... and secondly that we don't value their money," said Čadonič Špelič.
Along with the referendum day, Slovenian voters will go to the polls on four consecutive Sundays starting with the presidential run-off on 13 November.