Slovenia Unitary state

Structures and competences

Local level :

212 municipalities (občin)

The municipal council (obcinski svet) is the municipality’s deliberative body and is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four year-term. Deputy-mayors are appointed by and from among council members, upon the mayor’s proposal. The council is responsible for making the municipality’s main decisions, such as adopting local land and development plans and the municipal budget as well as deciding on the acquisition or selling of municipal property.

The mayor (zupan) is the municipality’s executive body and is elected by direct universal suffrage for a mandate of four years. He/she represents the municipality and is at the head of the local administration. Slovenian municipalities are divided into local, village or neighborhood communities, (krajevne, vaške or četrtne skupnosti), where each has a council whose members are elected by direct universal suffrage. These councils have the power to enact the municipal council decisions.

Slovenian municipalities are divided into local, village or neighborhood communities, (krajevne, vaške or četrtne skupnosti), where each has a council whose members are elected by direct universal suffrage. These councils have the power to enact the municipal council decisions.

The capital city of Slovenia, Ljubljana, and 10 other municipalities have the status of urban municipality (mestna obcina). A municipality can acquire the status of urban municipality if it has a minimum of 20,000 inhabitants and 15,000 jobs. Urban municipalities have more competences than the other municipalities, including responsibility for urban transport, hospitals, public services, culture, radio, television, press, sports and recreation.

COMPETENCES

• Public safety and protection
• Housing
• Land development
• Urban planning
• Trade and industry
• Environment
• Roads network
• Transport
• Pre-school and primary education
• Social security
• Water treatment and waste collection