Bürgerbeauftragte im Referendumskampf, jetzt Kandidatin für die Freiheit

The upcoming local elections in Slovenia, scheduled for October 15, have prompted organized calls from media outlets in Kosovo urging Albanian residents to vote in specific municipalities, notably Celje. These appeals highlight the political potential of ethnic mobilization even after recent legislative changes restricted voting rights for foreign nationals. In Celje, ballots for city council seats are available in Albanian, and social media campaigns featuring candidate Flurina Ametaj of the Freedom Movement party have spread through Kosovan digital platforms and Facebook pages written in the Albanian language. Local Kosovan media present Ametaj to their audiences while simultaneously issuing invitations for electoral participation, illustrating how cross-border media networks can influence domestic voting behavior. This activity reveals the limits imposed by a new amendment to the Law on Local Elections. Opponents of removing voting rights from third-country citizens with permanent residence in Slovenia had argued that foreigners rarely participate in such votes anyway. However, the observed organization by foreign media suggests that the law has narrowed the space for mass mobilization to only those foreign-nationality residents who hold Slovenian citizenship. The exact scale of potential mobilization before this legal change remains impossible to determine, though the impact of such outreach appears significant in areas with larger communities. The amendment itself is currently under review by the Constitutional Court, following challenges filed by members of parliament from the Freedom Movement, Social Democrats, and Left parties. The court has not suspended the implementation of the law during its deliberation. In Celje, the campaign for Ametaj combines her recognizable face, shared language, and community belonging to reach voters who standard partisan campaigning might not attract. On October 24, Suhareka Express, a local Kosovan online news portal, introduced Ametaj as an activist and candidate for the Celje city council. The publication framed her candidacy within the context of political representation for the Albanian community in Slovenia, emphasizing her work in integrating migrants and supporting women and children. Another Kosovan outlet, HisariOnline, presented her candidacy on Facebook, inviting all eligible voters in Celje, specifically mentioning Albanian compatriots. Ametaj thanked supporters for their backing in comments beneath the post. Similarly, the Facebook page Prizren, Albania, encouraged eligible individuals in Celje to participate, pairing the introduction of the candidate with her election number. Comparisons from other parts of Slovenia show similar patterns of media attention. Albanian-speaking media have also covered Ganimet Shala, a city council member in Ljubljana from the Social Democratic Party. The portal Urgjent highlighted her Kosovan origin and previous activities upon her renewed candidacy. This coverage indicates interest in the political representation of the community, although it does not prove organized direction of her votes. Historical examples from opposing political sides demonstrate that such community outreach is not exclusive to one party. In 2022, Egzon Shabani ran for the Nova Gorica city council under the banner of the Slovenian Democratic Party. The portal Syri reported at the time that he linked his candidacy to initiatives by locals of Albanian descent and a desire to represent their interests. Statistical data underscores the demographic context in the Savinja region, which includes Celje. According to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, at the beginning of 2021, 4,742 residents in the Savinja region listed Kosovo as their first place of residence. This was the highest number among all Slovenian statistical regions. The Gorenjska region followed with 4,112 residents, and the Central Slovenian region with 4,061. Nationally, there were 23,691 residents whose first place of residence was Kosovo, with approximately one-fifth residing in the Savinja region. It is noted that these figures reflect geographical origin, not current citizenship, nationality, or voting eligibility. The proportion of foreign residents in municipal areas, including Celje, has risen sharply in recent years. In the City Municipality of Celje, the share of foreign residents has tripled over the last fifteen years, now exceeding 16 percent of the citizenry. Flurina Ametaj’s transition from civil society activism to formal political candidacy has drawn scrutiny. She became widely known during the pre-referendum campaign when she opposed the bill stripping voting rights from third-country citizens. That effort failed, as roughly 55 percent of voters supported the measure in a national referendum. Although Ametaj previously identified herself as part of civil society, she had already run on the Freedom Movement list for the Celje city council in 2022. In 2023, she was elected vice-president of the party’s local board in Celje. Despite this, in December 2024, after posing for a photo with Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti during his official visit to Ljubljana, she stated on Facebook that she had never been politically defined. She claimed her activities were primarily related to the Albanian community in Slovenia and that she entered politics to help young Albanians in Celje. During the referendum campaign, Ametaj acted as a representative of the cultural association Gmajna, led by Aigul Hakimova, a migrant from Kyrgyzstan. She also serves as president of the Lirija Velenje association, which operates in the field of Albanian culture and immigrant education. Additionally, she represents the Union of Albanian Associations in Slovenia, acting as a spokesperson for the broader Albanian community and particularly Albanian women. Her assertion of non-partisan status is questioned by her renewed candidacy for the Celje city council. In her campaign materials, she describes herself as an intercultural mediator and president of the aforementioned associations, citing openness, respect, and connecting relationships. Critics argue that this stance conflicts with her earlier public remarks rejecting assimilation, stating, "Who says we want to assimilate?" The Freedom Movement is expected to benefit from such candidates, aiming to secure votes from ethnic minorities, a strategy that fueled internal debates regarding the new foreign nationals law. The ninth local elections feature a diverse range of mayoral candidates, with 77 contenders in twelve urban municipalities and 521 in the remaining 200 municipalities. Among all mayoral candidates, 80.3 percent are men and 19.7 percent are women. The oldest candidate is 81 years old, while the youngest is 20. For city and municipal councils, 17,663 individuals are running, comprising 8,031 women and 9,632 men. This gender ratio is nearly balanced, with 45.5 percent women and 54.5 percent men. Thirteen candidates are citizens of European Union member states. The age range for council candidates spans from 18 to 95 years. In elections for national minority and Roma community councils, 55 names appear, with 21.8 percent being women and 78.2 percent men. Council elections are conducted via majority rule in 64 municipalities and proportional representation in 147. Voters receive at least two ballot papers, one for mayor and one for councilor, plus additional ballots for local or village communities where applicable. Voting is restricted to the municipality of permanent residence; voting at locations outside one's home municipality is not permitted. In 45 municipalities, only one candidate is running for mayor, ensuring automatic election. These include Valerija Slemenšek in Bistrica ob Sotli, Andrej Steyer in Apače, and Danilo Kacijan in Cankova. Other sole candidates include Franc Čebulj in Cerklje na Gorenjskem, who has led the municipality since its establishment in 1994, and Milan Šilak in Dornava. The list of unopposed mayors continues across numerous smaller municipalities, reflecting a trend where non-party faces increasingly dominate the confirmed candidate lists approved by the State Election Commission.