17 mayor candidates in Maribor, only 2 in Slovenj Gradec

11. september 2014 ob 14.53 • Ljubljana - MMC RTV SLO

Despite the fact that information on candidates is incomplete, some election commissions decided to not reveal the names of the candidates until they confirm their adequacy. Foto: BoBo

The deadline to hand in the candidacies for local elections that are scheduled for the 5th of October ended yesterday. The mayors of 212 municipalities and councilors will be elected in what will be the third polls this year. Despite the fact that information on candidates is incomplete, some election commissions decided to not reveal the names of the candidates until they confirm their adequacy.

The municipality of Maribor will, with 17 candidates, have the largest pick of possible mayors, while only 2 candidacies have been handed in in Slovenj Gradec. In the capital Ljubljana, 12 candidates will be in the running for the mayor's seat. The lawyer Aleš Avbreht, from the party of Miro Cerar agreed to run for mayor, but experts say his chances to beat Zoran Jankovič, who will run for mayor for the fourth time, do not seem as bright. Jankovič's most serious opponent seems to be the director of the Slovenian philharmonics Damjan Damjanovič, a member of the Slovenian Democrats Parts, but an independent candidate at the elections.

The battle for the mayor’s chair in Maribor will be tough, seeing as there are 17 candidates. The elections might be interesting given the fact that the former mayor of Maribor; Franc Kangler is also in the running for the mayor’s seat. Kangler is namely returning to the political scene for the first time after the riots 2 years ago. His successor Andrej Fištravec is also in the running while Miro Cerar’s candidate, Anton Kranjc attracted a lot of attention.