Slovenia Needs Time to Fix Public Finances, Premier Says

Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek said the government needs more time to repair public finances as an asset-sale plan failed to quell concern that the euro-area nation will be next to seek a rescue.

Bratusek called fiscal-consolidation plans drawn up by the previous government “ridiculous” and said assumptions in this year’s budget were too optimistic. Slovenia’s default risk rose to a six-month high before a planned debt sale tomorrow and bond yields advanced toward records even after the premier announced plans to sell shares in state-owned companies.