Political analyst and philosopher Igor Pribac said for MMC that the winner of these elections was the »apathy party«. Obviously the voters assumed no changes were possible, thus small voter turnout. Pribac said it would remain much below 50 percent, and adds it is "a sign to start ringing the bell". Such an atmosphere favoured the present mayors, added Pribac.

In Pribac's opinion the examples of Janković, Popovič, and Kangler as well prove that only »enterprising, hard-working and efficient administrators of city projects« can be mayors, and a relatively successful mayor can be ousted only by somebody who would rock the moral foundations of their successfulness. "Triumph of the two notorious mayors in the perhaps most important centres of Slovenia confirms the assumption that the surge of voters' bet on honesty, noticed at the state assembly elections with a strong support to SMC Party, hasn't reached the municipalities."

Honesty vs. efficiency
The results of the elections were followed by Tanja Starič, journalist, and Dejan Steinbuch, publicist, from the TV Slovenia studio. Where the people had to choose between honesty and efficiency, it is quite obvious which trait won at these elections, was Starič's comment of the success of Ljubljana and Koper mayors.

Steinbuch added that in Ljubljana it is obvious "that a candidate speaking of honesty only, on condition that he himself is honest as well, simply can't succeed. People don't care what stands behind an achievement, and who will be paying off loans for the next 20 years," Steinbuch continues.
Steinbuch claims the reason for the failure of right-wing competitor Damjan Damjanovič is the fact that Ljubljana is explicitly left-wing municipality, in which right-wing parties can't win; right-wing parties obviously can't attract enough established, urbanized city dwellers without a political stigma into their midst.

In reference with the success of the present mayors of the city municipalities Pribac also warns that "public funds have been illegitimately used for own promotion in municipality newsletters," giving the example of Koper.

Kangler's success shows disappointment with uprisings
Pribac characterized Kangler's placement into the second round as perhaps the biggest surprise of these elections; this result was made possible as "the uprising mayor Fištravec probably proved less entrepreneurial, less agile in the administrative role".

Tanja Starič also believes Kangler was one of the biggest surprises. The lives of the inhabitants of Maribor certainly haven't improved, and in her opinion the fact that Kangler is again a serious candidate only means that people are disappointed with the proceeds from the uprisings. Let us remind you – Kangler lost the position of mayor due to the uprisings.

Steinbuch warns that Kangler had his own electorate in spite of the uprisings. Obviously the number of people supporting him unconditionally is still big enough.

Crisis of parliamentary parties
A number of candidates decided to gain support by addressing voters, and not their own parties, which means "a defeat of large parties at the local level", warns Pribac, and continues that the relation between head offices and local committees started to break up.
The support of parties can even be detrimental to candidates, Starič believes, which in her opinion reflects crises of parliamentary parties. This year parties exhausted themselves at state assembly and European elections, as far as personnel and funds are concerned, and through the result "the voters informed the parties time for changes has arrived."

As far as SMC Party is concerned, Pribac adds that the party chosen by people to cleanse Slovenia has not invested enough into their candidates for mayors, and has not emphasized enough honesty and moral integrity of politicians. Starič believes that the rift in the party has negatively influenced the results of SMC Party.

"It is obvious that the city level is not the level on which great ideological fights should be fought," emphasizes Pribac, and continues that the large parties failed to adapt.

B. V.