The Maribor mayor race has entered a new phase after incumbent Saša Arsenovič announced that he will not seek a third term in Slovenia’s November local elections. Arsenovič, who has led the country’s second largest city since 2018, said he had decided to leave office after completing two terms and believed he was handing the city over in good condition. His decision leaves an increasingly crowded field of candidates preparing for the November 15 vote.
Arsenovič announced his decision on September 17, saying he had originally planned to serve only one term but ultimately remained in office for two. During his tenure, his administration promoted several major urban development projects, including the redevelopment of the Drava riverfront in the Lent area, investments in sustainable mobility and the construction of the Rotovž cultural center. He also pointed to broader changes in the city during his time in office.
One of the most visible projects associated with his administration is Rotovž, a major cultural complex intended to bring together the Maribor City Library, cinema facilities and spaces for the Maribor Art Gallery. The project represents an investment of roughly €40 million and is expected to open in 2027. Its completion will therefore remain one of the major developments connected to the end of Arsenovič’s second term.
Arsenovič’s time in office has also been accompanied by controversy. In March 2026, Slovenia’s National Bureau of Investigation carried out searches at the Maribor municipal administration and at the mayor’s home as part of an investigation into suspected economic crime and corruption. Authorities said the investigation involved suspicions concerning 17 criminal offences and several people. Arsenovič was temporarily detained during the operation but rejected the allegations and said he had a clear conscience.
The investigation has remained part of the political background surrounding the mayor’s final months in office. Arsenovič has denied wrongdoing and disputed the allegations made against him. The existence of an investigation does not itself establish criminal responsibility, and any eventual legal conclusions will depend on the relevant judicial proceedings.
Candidates Enter the Maribor Mayor Race
With the incumbent stepping aside, attention is now turning to the candidates seeking to replace him. One of the most recognizable names is Bor Greiner, a 54 year old journalist and longtime radio personality who previously served as editor in chief of Radio City. Greiner formally announced his candidacy in September and is running as an independent, without a party label. He is currently collecting the signatures required to formally submit his candidacy.
Greiner’s campaign is built around the idea that the mayor should act as a leader for the city rather than simply as a manager. He has also been putting together a campaign team that includes people with previous experience in the city’s political and civic life. His public profile from decades in local radio gives him a level of recognition among local voters.
Other candidates are also seeking the position. Igor Jurišič, a city councilor associated with the Youth Party, European Greens, is running, while Matej Vodopivec has announced a candidacy connected with the Party of Fair Development of City Boroughs and Local Communities and has received support from the Pirate Party. Additional candidates and party backed contenders could still enter the race before the nomination process closes.
Andrej Bauman is another name connected to the contest. A businessman and city councilor from Arsenovič’s political slate, Bauman has previously been mentioned as a possible successor and has said he was considering a mayoral bid. Whether he ultimately enters the race could further change the field during the campaign.
The formal election process is now underway. Slovenia’s regular local elections will take place on November 15, 2026, with voters choosing mayors and municipal councilors. The City of Maribor has published the requirements for mayoral candidates, including the rules governing candidacies submitted by groups of voters. For a candidate supported by voters rather than a political party, the city currently lists 794 signatures as the required threshold in Maribor.
Maribor Election Focuses on City’s Future
Some local media and online surveys have already attempted to measure candidate support. For example, a June poll among 1,724 of its readers placed Greiner ahead of several other names, but it was an online reader survey rather than a representative public opinion poll, and many candidacies had not yet been formally confirmed at the time. The result therefore reflects that particular audience rather than providing a reliable forecast of the election.
The campaign will take place against the backdrop of several major questions facing Maribor. The city has been investing in cultural infrastructure, public spaces and sustainable transport, while also dealing with questions about municipal finances, development priorities and the long term use of major projects. The next mayor will inherit both ongoing projects and decisions about how the city should develop in the coming years.
Arsenovič’s departure also changes the political dynamics of an election that had previously been expected to revolve heavily around the incumbent’s record. He won both of his previous mayoral elections in run offs, defeating former mayor Franc Kangler on each occasion. With Arsenovič no longer on the ballot, voters will instead choose among candidates offering different approaches to the city’s future.
The November election will therefore mark a significant transition for Maribor. The field is still developing, and candidates continue to organize their campaigns and complete the formal nomination process. Rather than a direct contest over whether Arsenovič should receive another mandate, the election will focus on the candidates’ plans for the city’s next stage of development.
Overall, Arsenovič’s decision not to seek a third term has opened a competitive mayoral race in Slovenia’s second largest city. His eight years in office leave behind major infrastructure and cultural projects, alongside unresolved political and legal controversies. With several candidates already preparing for the November 15 election and more potentially entering the contest, the coming weeks will determine the final field and give Maribor voters more information about the candidates and their plans.
