By: Moja Dolenjska
Vladimir Prebilič has not yet officially become the new face of the political left, but he is already following in the footsteps of his predecessor, and now rival, Robert Golob. When asked on the commercial television channel POP TV whether he was just another new face backed by the behind-the-scenes powerbroker of the left, Milan Kučan, he outright lied.
He claimed to have built his entire political career outside of political parties – an evident lie. In fact, until becoming mayor of Kočevje, Prebilič was considered a prominent figure within the Social Democrats (SD).
He began his political journey in the SD. Between 2002 and 2006, he served as a municipal councillor and deputy mayor for the party in Kočevje. In 2008, he became a member of the SD presidency, and in the same year, then-Prime Minister and SD leader Borut Pahor appointed him as his personal advisor on domestic policy. At that time, he also headed the defence committee within the SD’s expert council.
In the most recent European elections, Prebilič was elected as a Member of the European Parliament on the Vesna party list.
