Klakočar Zupančič and Rop challenge Janković in Ljubljana mayoral race

Slovenia is gearing up for local elections on November 15, when voters across all 212 municipalities will select mayors and municipal councils for a four-year term. The election date was set by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Zoran Stevanović, with the deadline for electoral activities beginning on September 7. According to law, the regular local elections are scheduled for the third Sunday in November.

A second round of voting for mayoral candidates who do not secure a majority in the first round will take place on November 29. The capital city, Ljubljana, is poised for one of the most interesting electoral contests in recent years. Mayor Zoran Janković, who has held the position since 2006, faces significant competition for the first time. Janković announced his intention to run again in May.

“

The primary aim of my leadership is to sanitise the drug market. I came with a reform agenda, and while some traders believe it has caused them inconvenience, we remain committed to eliminating fake and substandard medicines from the market.

Other announced candidates include councilor Aleš Primc, Pirate Party president Jasmin Feratović, and Mihael Jarc of the Slovenian National Party. However, reports from Dnevnik suggest that former National Assembly Speaker Urška Klakočar Zupančič and former Prime Minister Anton Rop might form a joint list to challenge Janković. The specific mayoral candidate for their joint list has not yet been revealed. Rop previously served as Prime Minister and multiple minister, while Klakočar Zupančič was Speaker of the National Assembly before leaving the Freedom Movement party after the last parliamentary elections.

An opinion poll conducted by Ninamedia for Dnevnik in May indicated that Janković had 36.8% support, with Klakočar Zupančič at 19.6%. This suggests a potential second round where the outcome could be much closer. Levica's co-coordinator Luka Mesec has also been mentioned as a potential challenger to Janković, but he stated to STA that he is not yet a candidate for Ljubljana mayor. Levica is preparing for the elections and will present its candidates in due course, discussing potential cooperation with the Vesna party, with whom they ran in the last parliamentary elections.

“

The seized products would be transported to the agency’s destruction facility in Awka for disposal.