Unrest in Maribor, multiple injuries reported

Multiple individuals were injured during the unrest in Maribor on Monday evening, following a protest rally against Mayor Franc Kangler, where citizens demanded his resignation.

According to Slovenian electronic media reports, unofficial data indicates that around ten police officers and several demonstrators were injured, and multiple vehicles were damaged in the clashes that occurred after police used tear gas in front of the city hall to disperse demonstrators who were throwing flares and firecrackers at the building.

Before arriving at the municipal building, demonstrators gathered at Freedom Square in the city center, burning posters featuring Kangler’s image, chanting ‘Leave, thief’ and ‘We are Maribor’. Kangler is currently serving his second term as mayor, and he is facing around ten legal proceedings in which he is suspected of clientelism and corruption.

Protests against Mayor Kangler in Maribor have been ongoing for several weeks, with Monday’s protest being the largest, with estimates ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 participants.

A Facebook group calling for Kangler’s dismissal has over 20,000 members, and demands for his resignation have escalated since last month due to dissatisfaction with the city authorities’ decision to outsource the collection of fines for speeding on city roads to a private company.

Kangler is a former member of the Slovenian parliament and has been one of the most influential members of the Slovenian People’s Party (SLS), which operates in coalition with the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) and the Pensioners’ Party (DESUS) in the Maribor city government.

At the end of last week, the president of the SLS and Minister of Economy in Janša’s government, Radovan Žerjav, expelled Kangler from the party, but acknowledged that there is dissatisfaction among some members regarding this decision, which is why he decided to remain at the helm of the party for just a few more months, until the congress early next year.