Janševa's 'first wife' returns to the political arena

Former long-term partner of Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, Silva Predalič, has returned to public political life after years of media silence. She will run for a seat on the Grosuplje municipal council in upcoming local elections. Predalič, who is frequently misidentified in public discourse as Janša’s first wife despite the couple having lived together in an unmarried partnership, is leading the Grosuplje Seniors List. She recently voiced her support for incumbent mayor Peter Verlič, a member of Janša’s Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS). The pair share two adult children, son Zane and daughter Niko. Predalič stood by Janša during pivotal moments of his political ascent, including the period surrounding the JBTZ trial, which significantly marked Slovenian political history. Before retiring, she worked at the road infrastructure company DARS, where she headed the information technology department. Her recent political activation was confirmed by the local SDS committee via social media. They stated that representatives from two generations supported Verlič: Predalič for the seniors list and Blaz Kastelc for the Youth Voice for Grosuplje initiative. The party noted that the experience of older citizens combined with the energy of youth would contribute to the municipality's future development, adding that this cooperation enriches their electoral program. In Grosuplje, five candidates are competing for the mayoral office alongside Verlič. These include Rajko Palcar from the Local Communities List, Eva Perme from the Freedom Movement, Renato Bedene from the Grosuplje Future List, and Joze Berdajs from the Social Liberal Party. Although Predalič is not running on the SDS list herself, her endorsement aligns her politically with the prime minister’s party. This alignment mirrors the trajectory of their son, Zane Janša, who entered local politics four years ago. He ran on the SDS list in Grosuplje but failed to secure a mandate due to his position number 15 on the ballot. His wife, Maja Mikanec Janša, currently leads the joint municipal administration known as 5G, which connects the municipalities of Grosuplje, Ivancna Gorica, Ig, and Skofljica. Prime Minister Janša visited Grosuplje recently to attend the ceremonial opening of the renovated Zalna-Velika Loka road. Both the government’s official social media profile and Janša’s personal account highlighted the visit. This timing coincides with Predalič’s renewed visibility in local affairs. The prime minister and his former partner remain aligned on the same political side, following a path previously taken by their son. Sources indicate that Predalič had largely withdrawn from public attention for several years prior to this announcement. Her return marks a shift from private retirement back into active civic engagement within her home municipality. The local SDS organization emphasized that intergenerational collaboration strengthens their campaign platform. No further details were provided regarding specific policy positions or campaign strategies beyond the general statement about supporting community development through diverse age groups. The election results will determine whether Predalič secures a council seat, while Verlič seeks re-election against four rivals.