Matej Vodopivec says rival Zoran Stevanović let him down after protests

Mayoral candidate Matej Vodopivec has shared a pointed personal account of his political disappointment, saying he felt let down by Zoran Stevanović after taking part in protests organized by the politician. His remarks appeared in a questionnaire for candidates running for mayor of Maribor, published by Večer and created by writer and dramatist Tone Partljič. Asked which Slovenian politician irritated him most, Vodopivec named Stevanović and said he had “betrayed people,” adding that he felt betrayed too. Vodopivec said he had attended Stevanović’s protests, giving his criticism a personal edge rather than presenting it as a general political disagreement. The questionnaire excerpt does not provide further details about what prompted the falling-out. The candidate also used the answers to outline some of his priorities for Maribor. He said he would like to make parking and rides on the Pohorje cable car cheaper, and argued that voting should be compulsory. On local infrastructure, he pointed to the area around Maribor Island and said a bridge already connects one bank of the river, while a further crossing to the other bank is still needed. Vodopivec offered a few lighter personal details as well. He described himself as an avid reader with books at home in Maribor and on the Primorska coast, and named former Slovenian president Janez Drnovšek as a politician he admired. He also said his Jaguar XJ had burned the previous year and that he now owned a Jaguar F-Type and a Seat Altea. The questionnaire was designed to give voters a more personal glimpse of the mayoral candidates through questions about politics, the city and everyday preferences. In Vodopivec’s answers, the most striking moment was his candid explanation of why he now views Stevanović with resentment.