Luka Mesec, the Levica co coordinator and candidate for mayor of Ljubljana, has presented the first major priorities of his campaign ahead of the upcoming local elections. His program is built around four central ideas: making Ljubljana more affordable, giving residents a greater role in decisions, improving traffic flow and creating a greener and safer city. Mesec entered the mayoral race in July and says his support extends beyond members of his own political party. With several candidates expected to challenge incumbent mayor Zoran Janković, the campaign is beginning to take shape as voters prepare for a competitive local election. Mesec has presented his vision as an attempt to make everyday life easier for people who live and work in the Slovenian capital, with particular attention to housing, childcare, transportation and public participation.
One of the most prominent proposals is aimed at reducing the cost of living for families. Mesec is promising free kindergarten for all children in Ljubljana, alongside measures designed to make housing more accessible. His program also addresses short term apartment rentals, which he argues contribute to the difficulty many residents face when looking for long term housing. Under his proposal, the city would introduce a regulation limiting short term rentals in problematic areas to a maximum of 30 days per year. Such rentals would also require the consent of neighbors, while stronger monitoring would be introduced to ensure the rules are respected. The housing issue is particularly important in Ljubljana, where rising property and rental costs have become a major concern for residents. Mesec is presenting affordable housing and family support as key elements of his effort to make the capital a city where people can more easily afford to live.
Transportation is another major part of Mesec’s proposed program. His vision includes a Ljubljana where public transportation and traffic are more efficient, with the broader goal of creating a city that is easier to move around. At the same time, he wants residents to have a stronger voice in decisions affecting their neighborhoods. One of his proposals would give citizens at the level of local district communities the opportunity to participate directly in deciding which projects should be carried out in their areas. To support this, Mesec says five percent of the entire municipal budget would be allocated for projects decided through this form of local participation. The proposal would represent a significant shift toward participatory decision making, giving residents more influence over how public money is spent in their neighborhoods.
Mesec is also placing strong emphasis on environmental protection and safety, describing them as essential parts of his vision for Ljubljana. His four priorities combine social affordability with changes to transportation, urban development and local decision making, while presenting a greener and safer capital as the long term goal. His campaign comes as other political figures are also entering the race, including former Slovenian prime minister Anton Rop, who has announced that he will challenge Janković in the November local elections. With multiple candidates now seeking support, Ljubljana voters are likely to face a wider choice than in previous contests. Mesec argues that this gives residents an opportunity to decide between different visions for the future of the capital, with his campaign centered on affordability, public participation, mobility, environmental protection and safety.
