ON
← Back to feed
Did the logger's supervisor circumvent the law with an anti-dated statement?
Slovenia🏛️ PoliticsLean Progressive9/2/2026

Did the logger's supervisor circumvent the law with an anti-dated statement?

The article investigates whether Aleš Novak, a prominent member of the Logar Democrats, circumvented legal requirements by becoming a supervisor at Mladinska Knjiga, a state-owned publishing house, while still being the head of the Maribor branch of his political party. According to Slovenian law, individuals who held political office within six months prior cannot be appointed to supervisory roles in state-owned companies. Novak claims he resigned from his party position in January 2026 via an internal written statement, but there is no public evidence of this resignation. The SDH (Slovenian State Holding), which oversees appointments to state-owned enterprises, has confirmed that Novak meets the legal criteria based on documentation provided by him. However, questions remain about why Novak continued to present himself as the head of the Maribor Democratic branch after allegedly resigning.

Aleš Novak, former leader of the Maribor branch of the Democratic Party, stepped down from his position several months ago, leaving the local chapter without formal leadership. According to reports from the Slovenian public broadcaster RTV Slovenia, the Maribor branch continues its operations normally despite the absence of a clear successor. The Democratic Party confirmed to STA that all three former members of the Maribor leadership had resigned, though they remain official party members. The exact date of Novak’s resignation was stated as January 6th, 2026, although he had already announced his departure earlier. The party did not provide specific reasons for his decision to step down. At the time of the formation of the municipal branch in March 2025, Novak led the group. He was known as the artistic director of the Borštnikovo meeting, an event that has been unofficially linked to potential candidacy for mayor of the City Municipality of Maribor. His role within the party was notable, even beyond his official duties. The party has not disclosed who has taken over leadership of the Maribor branch in the past six months, nor have they named anyone on their website under the section for the city council. Despite this lack of transparency, the party asserts that their branch operates smoothly and is preparing for upcoming local elections. The new leadership is set to be elected on September 10th, according to reports. Among the potential candidates, Katja Koren stands out as the most likely choice. Koren previously ran for parliament in 2008 as a candidate for the Social Democrats (SDS) and currently serves as a state secretary at the Ministry of Economy, Labour, and Sport. She emphasized the importance of Maribor's development for the broader region and the country. Anže Logar, president of the Democratic Party, leads the party and supports the selection of a strong leadership for the Maribor branch. Koren expressed confidence in the party's ability to choose effective leaders who will improve the city and region. The executive board of the Maribor branch included several individuals, including Vladimir Cokoja, Uroš Fonovič, Helena Kujundžič Lukaček, Vito Kunstek, Martin Mlakar, Renato Škrbinc, Simon Trpin, and Nataša Vidnar. Cokoja and Vidnar serve as city councilors, Cokoja comes from the SDS parliamentary group, while Vidnar represents the Freedom Movement. Despite the uncertainty surrounding current leadership, the party maintains that its operations in Maribor continue without disruption. The election of new leadership is anticipated to bring clarity and direction to the branch ahead of the local elections.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 3 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

3 reports

RTV Slovenija (MMC) logoRTV Slovenija (MMC)State / PublicCenterFactual 95Objective 888/28/2026
Aleš Novak resigned as leader of the Maribor Democrats months ago, you (still) without leadership

Aleš Novak, former leader of the Maribor branch of the Democratic Party (Demokrati), resigned from his position several months ago. The local chapter has been without leadership since January 6th, when Novak stepped down along with two other members of the executive committee. Despite this, the party claims that the Maribor branch continues to operate normally and is preparing for upcoming local elections. A new leadership is expected to be elected on September 10th. Potential candidates include Katja Koren, currently serving as the state secretary at the Ministry of Economy, Labour, and Sports, who previously ran as an SDS candidate in 2008. The current executive committee includes members such as Vladimira Cokoja and Nataša Vidnar, both of whom are members of the Maribor City Council.

Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced overview of the situation within the Maribor branch of the Democratic Party, including the resignation of the previous leadership, the current status of the branch, and potential future developments. It cites multiple sources, including the party itself and the Večer,

Why factuality (95): The article reports accurately on the resignation of Aleš Novak as leader of Maribor's Democrats, stating he stepped down 'already months ago' and confirming the date as January 6th. It mentions the ongoing process of electing new leadership and the lack of official names published, aligning with th

Why objectivity (88): The tone remains neutral, presenting facts without overt bias. However, there is a slight emphasis on the uncertainty surrounding the new leadership, which may lean slightly towards highlighting the instability, though not overtly partisan.

Necenzurirano logoNecenzuriranoIndependentProgressiveFactual 85Objective 70
Did the logger's supervisor circumvent the law with an anti-dated statement?

The article investigates whether Aleš Novak, a prominent member of the Logar Democrats, circumvented legal requirements by becoming a supervisor at Mladinska Knjiga, a state-owned publishing house, while still being the head of the Maribor branch of his political party. According to Slovenian law, individuals who held political office within six months prior cannot be appointed to supervisory roles in state-owned companies. Novak claims he resigned from his party position in January 2026 via an internal written statement, but there is no public evidence of this resignation. The SDH (Slovenian State Holding), which oversees appointments to state-owned enterprises, has confirmed that Novak meets the legal criteria based on documentation provided by him. However, questions remain about why Novak continued to present himself as the head of the Maribor Democratic branch after allegedly resigning.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the situation as a potential legal violation involving a high-profile politician transitioning from politics to a state-owned enterprise role, suggesting possible misuse of influence or procedural shortcuts. It highlights concerns over transparency and accountability, aligning it

Why factuality (85): The article presents a detailed account of Aleš Novak’s potential conflict with the Slovenian State Holding (SDH) regarding his eligibility as a board member due to his previous role in a political party. It references legal provisions and cites statements from both Novak and the Democratic Party, a

Why objectivity (70): The tone leans slightly towards skepticism, questioning why Novak continued to represent himself publicly after resigning. While not overtly biased, the article frames the situation as a controversy, potentially influencing reader perception by emphasizing the contradiction between his actions and o

Večer logoVečerIndependent🔒CenterFactual 80Objective 659/2/2026
Novak's resignation surprised even the Democrats.

The article discusses the resignation of Aleš Novak from his position as president of the Maribor branch of the Democratic Party, which he allegedly tendered in early January but did not publicly announce until months later. This has caused surprise among some members of the local committee. The piece raises questions about why the party did not inform the public about his resignation earlier, how Novak explains the lack of awareness among some committee members, whether he connects his January resignation to his subsequent appointment to the supervisory board of Mladinska Knjiga Publishing House, and why he refuses to show the resignation statement to Večer despite claiming it exists. It also explores where he might have submitted the document and his future plans.

Bias read (Center): The article presents multiple perspectives and questions without overtly favoring any side. It does not use biased language or selectively present information to support a particular viewpoint. Instead, it frames the situation as a series of unanswered questions and discrepancies between claims made

Why factuality (80): This article corroborates the claim that Novak claimed to have resigned in January 2026 but continued to act as a party representative. It highlights the confusion among party members and the lack of communication from the party, supporting the factual narrative presented in the first article. The i

Why objectivity (65): The article has a more journalistic tone but still appears to frame the situation as a scandal, particularly through its focus on the party’s failure to communicate effectively. This suggests a slight editorial bias toward highlighting organizational shortcomings rather than presenting a purely neut

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories