Will there be only two of you left in the elite club of eternal mayors?

With local elections approaching, Slovenia's political landscape is once again scrutinizing the issue of term limits for mayors, particularly focusing on those who have held office for extended periods. The debate resurfaced after December of last year when the Pirate Party proposed legislation aimed at limiting the number of terms a mayor could serve. This proposal was largely driven by revelations of questionable practices involving Ljubljana’s mayor, Zoran Janković. At the time, the ruling coalition opposed the measure, citing concerns over the lack of clarity in how such a policy would effectively reduce nepotism and corruption. As the country prepares for upcoming municipal elections, several well-known mayors are either stepping down or considering whether they will seek re-election. Among them, Franc Čebulj, mayor of Cerkelj na Gorenjskem, has indicated he likely won’t run again. He mentioned personal challenges in his private life as a reason for this decision. Meanwhile, Franc Mužič, mayor of Brdo, has already announced he will not stand for re-election and plans to focus on retirement activities, including managing his small farm and enjoying leisure time. The situation is less clear with regard to Branko Kidrič, mayor of Rogaška Slatina, and Matjaž Švagan, mayor of Zagorje ob Savi. Officials at Rogaška Slatina did not respond to questions about Kidrič’s intentions, stating he is currently on annual leave. Švagan, however, noted that he hasn't yet decided whether to run again, leaving the possibility open until September 7, when the deadline for candidacy registration begins. Zagorje ob Savi, one of the municipalities with the longest-serving mayor, recently granted Švagan an eighth term, securing his position with 76.05% of the vote. This outcome highlights the continued support among residents for long-standing leadership, despite ongoing discussions about potential reforms. The topic of restricting mayoral mandates has gained renewed attention ahead of the elections. Although the Pirate Party introduced the initiative last December, other major parties, including SD, Levica, and SDS, have remained silent on the issue. Jasmin Feratović, who is set to run for mayor of Ljubljana later this year, stated that his party intends to address the question of limiting mayoral terms more actively post-elections. However, he acknowledged that introducing changes to electoral law just before elections could face legal challenges, potentially leading to invalidation by the Constitutional Court. Feratović has been advocating for term limits for mayors for several years. In June 2023, he and Levica submitted a legislative proposal to restrict mayoral terms to two mandates, supported by over 5,000 signatures. Despite this effort, the professional community expressed concern over the shortage of candidates, noting that 51 municipalities had only one candidate each in the last local elections. Both regional councils have previously opposed the idea of limiting mayoral terms to two, arguing that such a restriction might hinder the completion of ongoing projects. The debate surrounding mayoral term limits continues to reflect broader concerns about governance, accountability, and the need for fresh leadership in Slovenian municipalities. As the election season approaches, the decisions made by current mayors will shape the political dynamics in their respective communities.