Brežice - Ivan Molan, the mayor of Brežice, has announced that he will run again in the 20 November local election, where he is expected to be rivalled again by Igor Zorčič, the former National Assembly speaker who narrowly lost to Molan in the run-off four years ago.

Molan told the STA on Friday that he would run again as there were still many challenges and projects and plans to be implemented in the municipality.

The current mayor, who is wrapping up his fourth full term as the mayor of the eastern Slovenian town, added that he felt he had enough strength and energy to run again.

Among the most important achievements of the current term, Molan mentioned energy efficiency improvement projects on public buildings, saying that "we have made huge savings, especially in light of the energy crisis".

He also noted the construction of two kindergartens, reconstruction of the old railway bridge across the Sava and a wooden bridge in Cerklje ob Krki, investments in infrastructure and titles such as the European Town of Sport.

The future plans include an extension of the community health centre, renovation of the athletics stadium, construction of a new by-pass road and a new bridge over the Sava, as well as self-sufficiency projects.

"We want to make facilities as self-sufficient as possible, and we also want the municipality to become a centre recognised for culture, sports and tourism projects," he Molan said.

In the local elections, he will run as an independent candidate, while he said he would not shy away from endorsement by political parties.

Molan is expected to have the main rival in Igor Zorčič, the speaker of the National Assembly in the previous term, who said he would not speak about his candidacy yet.

Zorčič, who narrowly lost to Molan in the run-off in the 2018 local elections, told the STA he would present his bid and his team by the start of the election campaign, while noting that the first responses to the bid had been positive.

According to the newspaper Delo, Zorčič has already formed a list of 30 candidates for municipal councillors, and that he would run as an independent.