Originally elected as mayor of Ljubljana on an ambitious platform of projects back in 2006, Mayor Zoran Janković was re-elected in October with an overwhelming 65% of the vote, ensuring the mayor and his team another four years to continuing improving the Slovene capital. We recently sat down with the mayor to discuss a variety of topics, including some of the projects carried out during his first term in office, the effects of the ongoing global financial crisis, tourism and, of course, John Wayne.
Why did you originally decide to run for mayor back in 2006?
A year earlier the owners (with the support of the then-ruling political party) had asked me, with no fault attached on my side, to resign from my post as CEO of Mercator, the largest retailer not just in Slovenia but in the whole of south-eastern Europe. So then I had some time to think, many people tried to talk me into standing as mayor which I decided to do in the end as I had already made up my mind that my team and I could wake Ljubljana up and carry out the projects for which Ljubljana had been waiting for too long and needed badly.
How did your experience working in the private sector, specifically as the manager of one of the region's largest companies, help prepare you for the position of mayor?
I often say that the principles of working in commerce and the city are the same. Then a narrow team of us formed a board, today it's this team with the deputy mayors (two deputy mayors – Jadranka Dakić and Aleš Čerin were board members at Mercator), that work in a similar way. At Mercator we had the board of directors; in the municipality we have the city council. We used to have the shareholders' AGM every year, now we have elections every four years. The experience from Mercator is priceless in leading the city.
Of all the projects you've overseen during the past four years, which are you most personally proud to have achieved?
At the time we came into office, a third of buildings in Ljubljana lacked proper sewerage, so I'm pleased we are successfully carrying out a project to sort out the communal infrastructure. Our goal for the coming years is sewerage and mains water in every house. I am proud that we have added greenery to Ljubljana with new parks, and closest to my heart is the one at Žale, where there used to be illegal allotments, whereas now it's a welcoming greenspace, and we've put in a modern children's playground. I am proud of the newly-opened sections in kindergartens (we have laid on almost 3,000 more places for the city's youngest residents). I am pleased with the new sports centre at Stožice where Ljubljana has gained a new sports arena, in which Ljubljana sports clubs already find themselves at home, and a football stadium, where the players and fans alike feel great. I am glad about every successfully added not-for-profit flat due to which Ljubljana families have a better quality of life. In our previous term of office we added more than 1,000 such flats. I'm proud that we have won the title of a municipality tailor-made for those with disabilities, by which we prove that we are also friendly to our most vulnerable communities. And of equal value is the UNESCO title of World Book Capital, to win which our outstanding programme fought off stiff competition from the best known global and European capitals.
And what was the most difficult project(s) to realise?
Politically, the projects that have been most exposed and attacked by individuals are the Stožice sports park and the planned building of a car park underneath the central market. In both cases we've clearly presented our arguments and data, and proven that Ljubljana and its residents need them. That we have decided correctly was demonstrated by the people of Ljubljana at the recent elections which we won with more support than the first.
What effects have the ongoing financial crisis had on Ljubljana in general, and your agenda in particular?
We made timely decisions to proceed with all the projects to minimise the effects of the crisis. Firstly, because at the time of the crisis prices were extremely favourable to the city. And secondly because we thus stimulated commerce (we formed the so-called New Deal). In this way we enabled jobs to be preserved in the building industry. Besides this we sped up the acquisition of all the necessary paperwork for individuals' projects. For nearly two years we have frozen the prices of city services (water supply, rubbish collection, public transport, kindergartens and electricity supply) to make the hardest year easier for the people. The prices of public transport and nursery care have still not gone up to this day, as we'd like to increase public transport use and our kindergartens are the best in the country.
What are your goals for the next four years?
As I've said, to finish the project to sort out the communal infrastructure (sewerage and mains water in every house). Two important projects that we've taken on are the renovation of the Ilirija swimming complex and the creation of the Rog contemporary arts centre. We will finish building the car parks beneath Congress Square and the central market. We will build new kindergartens, homes for the elderly and youth centres. We will upgrade the regional waste management centre, which will solve the waste management and disposal problem throughout the region (24 local authorities) for the next 40 years. We will complete a comprehensive re-management of traffic, which is Ljubljana's biggest problem: the city arterial roads will be widened to 6 lanes (two lanes will be exclusively for public transport); we will continue to expand parking in the P+R system and the 'City Bike' cycle rental scheme, finish the second biggest park in the city and much more. The programme before us is ambitious, but I believe that we and our staff will successfully carry it out. After all we are, I'm sure, the best city administration in the country. The common goal of this term of office is to further raise the quality of life in Ljubljana.
Ljubljana is currently ranked as the having the 3rd best Quality of Living in Eastern Europe (behind only Prague and Budapest). What are the city's biggest strengths in terms of Quality of Living?
At the moment, Ljubljana is 77th on the Mercer rankings of quality of life in cities worldwide. Our goal is to be in the top ten globally by the end of this term of office. Ljubljana is an exceptionally green city, and is among the few European capitals where you can drink water straight from the tap. Despite its size, it has everything on offer in larger European and global capitals, while preserving the advantage that you can walk everywhere. And parks for walking and recreation are just a few minutes walk away. The city is especially clean, and we're putting the rubbish bins underground so that they bother people as little as possible. We are a city with a rich cultural tradition and history. Places that are especially attractive to visitors are Plečnik's Ljubljana, the pedestrianised city centre and the newly renovated banks of the Ljubljanica. In the official European rankings we are the safest city in Eastern Europe, and 5th on Forbes magazine’s list of Europe's most idyllic places to live. As mentioned, we have the best quality kindergartens in Slovenia, as is the overall educational system. Ljubljana University is among the best 3% in the world, and its Economics Faculty is one of just 55 faculties among 18,000 business schools that have both American and European accreditation.
And what areas will you be looking to make the most significant improvements in?
We can be and will strive to be better in every one of the areas mentioned. I've already mentioned most projects for the next four years.As stated, the priorities will be to sort out the communal infrastructure and traffic congestion. New green spaces, cleansing and dealing with the waste management question. New flats to make the market price as low as possible. And the enrichment of our sporting and cultural infrastructure.
Are there any other cities in Europe, or the world, that you look to as models for Ljubljana?
Yes, these are Vienna and Barcelona. Vienna above all for its orderliness and organisation, Barcelona for its Mediterranean spirit and lifestyle. By certain measures Ljubljana is already a blend of both.
You've lived in Ljubljana since you were a child, what are some of your fondest memories of growing up in the city (during the 1960s and 70s)?
When I was young I often went to the cinema. I was a fan of westerns, and my favourite actor was John Wayne. I also have happy memories of watching football at the Plečnik stadium in Bežigrad. I’ve always loved living in Ljubljana; to me it has always been a warm, friendly and hospitable city.
How do you like to spend your free time nowadays? Any favourite restaurants, cafés, sights or events you like to visit when you get the chance? Or perhaps places you always recommend to friends visiting from out of town?
I often say that the work I do is also my free time as it is a challenge and a pleasure to me. It's like I'm on holiday. Otherwise I enjoy spending my spare time walking or running on the nearby Golovec hills or on the banks of the Ljubljanica in the city centre. On Saturday mornings I always stroll around the central market which is really lively then. Otherwise, for a good walk there's an excellent promenade from Tivoli Park towards the city centre, coffee at Breg, the path along the Ljubljanica to Špica and back towards the new Butcher's Bridge then a climb up to Ljubljana Castle, which besides a unique view of the city now also offers a good lunch for a reasonable price. It's also possible to have a look at a virtual museum and the Museum of Slovenian History there. I'd also recommend having a look at the new Northern Park, the renovated Koseze Lake and of course the Stožice Centre with its multipurpose sports hall and football stadium. The second biggest city park is there. Other fantastic sights are the Trubar House of Literature, the City Museum and the Šiška Cinema Urban Cultural Centre. We have 15,000 cultural and social events a year in Ljubljana and every one of them is worth seeing. You are guaranteed to eat well in restaurants like As, Cubo, Taverna, JB, Kovač and many others.
Is it ever difficult to balance the needs of Ljubljana's residents with those of short-term visitors and tourists?
Most often no. Our first and most important covenant is to the people of Ljubljana, to whom we'd like to offer the best services and for whom ensure the highest possible quality of life. Contented residents are more friendly and hospitable to visitors and so the circle is closed. We will not subordinate city life to tourists, we prefer to present our daily lives to them and invite them to take it on for themselves. The responses of visitors that I come across in Ljubljana are impressive. The simply love our city.
What can Ljubljana offer visitors that they can't find anywhere else in Europe or the world?
Everything I've mentioned. A green and clean city. By size and number of residents it's small, by spirit, openness and warmth it's an amazingly large capital. A city where inter-cultural dialogue is alive. We live together and respect diversity.
What will Ljubljana look like in 2025?
Spatial development is defined in the new spatial plan which after 25 years was adopted this summer. It will be a city which will know how to balance the historical and traditional with the new and modern. Where there will be a balance between public and private interests. A city that will be clean, green and friendly. As it is today so the city will be in 2025, if I am still alive, to me the most beautiful city in the world.
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