By: K. R. (Nova24tv)
Vladimir Prebilič, who is entering the upcoming parliamentary elections with his own party as a so-called new face of the Slovenian left-wing political network, the party congress is expected in October, was the mayor of the Municipality of Kočevje from 2010, which means for 14 years. Although he tries to create the impression of having been a successful mayor, the data suggests otherwise. Under his leadership, the Municipality of Kočevje did not progress: the population decreased, and the total debt of the municipality and public sector legal entities at the municipal level has tripled.
The debt tripled per capita too. The Roma issue is worsening, not improving, and the municipality is also facing several serious environmental problems (Trata, Mlaka).
In 2010, the Municipality of Kočevje had a development coefficient of 0.91% of the national average, according to data published by the Ministry of Finance. By 2023, this indicator had dropped to 0.85, and in 2024 it was at 0.86. Among Slovenia’s 212 municipalities, Kočevje ranked 185th at the time of Prebilič’s departure, roughly the same as in 2010 when he took office. This indicator thus shows no progress for the municipality.
The population of Kočevje decreased during Prebilič’s tenure: in 2010, there were 16,487 residents, but by 2024 the number had dropped to 15,617 – almost 1,000 fewer people, according to Ministry of Finance data tied to municipal debt.
The third key indicator is indebtedness. Under Prebilič’s leadership, the municipality became heavily indebted. Today, Kočevje ranks among the most indebted municipalities in the country, 12th in absolute debt, and 9th per capita among all 212 Slovenian municipalities.
Debt data: From around €6 million to over €16 million
- On December 31st, 2009, the municipality had a total debt of €6,290,053. Each resident owed €380.
- On December 31st, 2010, the total debt was €5,792,245. Each resident owed €351.
- By the end of 2024, the total debt had risen to €16,586,300, meaning each resident was burdened with €1,062 of debt.
The astonishingly ambitious and career-driven Prebilič received 4,503 votes in the October 2010 mayoral elections, defeating then-mayor Janko Veber (SD) with just under 60% of the vote. His candidacy was formally proposed by Lilijana Štefanič and a group of voters. Prebilič later appointed Štefanič as deputy mayor, a role she initially held professionally (as a paid position). She later became the director of the municipal administration, a position she still holds today.
Available information suggests Prebilič began considering launching his own political party shortly after becoming mayor, even seeking candidates for parliament, but eventually backed off. It seems he did not receive the necessary “blessing” at the time.
Prebilič = Golob2
Today, Prebilič, born in 1974, presents himself as someone who built his career outside of politics. However, records show that during Janko Veber’s time as mayor, Prebilič was active in the Social Democrats (SD), serving as a municipal councillor and even as deputy mayor. In 2009, he formally and publicly left the SD (as a protest), reportedly because the party’s headquarters in Ljubljana appointed Janko Veber as Minister of Defence, a position Prebilič had hoped for himself. In 2010, he ran in local elections and served as a non-professional mayor for 14 years. Despite this, he used an excessively expensive €65,000 car during his tenure, a vehicle the municipality must now sell at half the price, as previously reported. Prebilič was employed as a university professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, where he also maintained a residence. According to sources, he is friends with Rupert Gole, former mayor of the Municipality of Šentrupert and co-owner of the energy company Marumi Group International, whose operations in Kočevje, especially the noise in the Trata area, have greatly disturbed local residents. Both Prebilič and Gole are also reportedly connected to Zoran Janković, the mayor of Ljubljana. In 2024, Prebilič ran in the European elections on the Vesna – Green Party list.
Prebilič is thus far from a clean political slate, despite trying to appear that way to the public. Like Robert Golob in 2022, he has begun his current political path with deception, which is why he is already earned the nickname “Golob2.” That label came from Janez Janša, leader of the SDS party, who wrote: “Unbelievable what Murgle and the MSM are able to sell as success and even new hope for the far left.”
Tomaž Smole, deputy mayor of the highly successful Municipality of Ivančna Gorica, wrote: “It is fine to be confident, but that confidence should be based on reality… Self-praise and charming rhetoric just are not enough.”