Slovenia's DARS Names Acting CEO After Ribič Exit; SDS Candidate in Frame

DARS Leadership Change After the Government Shift

Andrej Ribič has exited the chief executive role at DARS, Slovenia's state-owned motorway operator, after reaching an agreement with the supervisory board on early termination for economic and business reasons. Anton Guzej, a member of the company's supervisory board, has taken over as acting chief executive with immediate effect.

Guzej is best known to the public as the director general of RTV Slovenija from 2006 to 2010, during the first government of Janez Janša. Earlier in his career he held finance and commercial positions at Pošta Slovenije, the former NKBM, Krekova banka and Avto Celje. His supervisory board mandate at DARS will be suspended while he runs the company.

Ribič, who took the DARS job in November 2024 and is considered an influential member of the opposition Gibanje Svoboda, faced criticism during his tenure over severe motorway congestion and alleged irregularities in the construction of DARS's new office building in Ljubljana. Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec has said congestion at the Domžale and Postojna sections will be a central challenge, but cautioned there is no immediate fix while roadworks continue in the tourist season.

Unofficial reports from the portal Necenzurirano name Peter Drobež, a former manager at Frutarom Etol and owner of flavours producer Frutol Flavours, as the current frontrunner for the permanent CEO position. Drobež briefly served on the board of Slovenian Sovereign Holding in 2022 and would reportedly be appointed through the SDS quota, even though the infrastructure ministry is led by NSi's Jernej Vrtovec.

Political Quotas and Traffic Bottlenecks at Slovenia's Motorway Operator

This is not simply a company reshuffle. The change at DARS follows a shift in Slovenia's governing coalition and carries direct consequences for motorway investment and construction oversight.

From Gibanje Svoboda to SDS: A Political Rotation at DARS

Ribič's appointment in November 2024 placed a figure linked to Gibanje Svoboda in charge of the state's motorway operator. After the new Janša-led government took office, his early exit was negotiated through the supervisory board. Guzej's interim appointment brings back a manager associated with the first Janša government, while the reported frontrunner, Peter Drobež, is linked to the SDS quota. DARS has historically been led by cadres close to Christian democrat and Slovenian People's Party networks, so a shift toward SDS would mark a rebalancing of coalition influence over a strategically important state company.

Domžale and Postojna: The Congestion Files

Whoever takes the permanent job will inherit two visible bottlenecks. Minister Vrtovec has specifically named Domžale and Postojna as problem sections where roadworks are causing severe delays in the high tourist season. He has also said there is no quick solution, which means the new management will be judged on how it handles construction schedules, traffic management and communication with drivers under political pressure. The earlier criticism of DARS's new headquarters project adds a governance layer: any review of that investment could consume management attention and delay other priorities.

Guzej's Interim Role and the Drobež Question

Guzej, born in 1952, is widely reported to be a caretaker rather than a long-term solution. His interim status matters because unresolved leadership questions can slow procurement and project decisions. If Drobež is confirmed, his background is in the food-ingredients industry rather than motorway management, which would put a premium on the professional staff already inside DARS. The succession remains unofficial, but the reporting points to a politically negotiated appointment rather than a purely technical selection.

What DARS's Leadership Transition Means for Contractors and Road Users

For the parties directly touched by the transition, the practical implications are specific:

• DARS contractors and suppliers: Expect possible reviews of ongoing construction contracts once a permanent CEO is confirmed. The Domžale and Postojna roadworks are already named by Minister Vrtovec as priority bottlenecks, so project timelines and procurement decisions may be reassessed under new leadership.
• Road users and freight operators: Do not expect immediate congestion relief. Vrtovec has said there is no quick fix at Domžale and Postojna while roadworks continue in the tourist season, so planning around peak periods remains the realistic short-term response.
• State-owned enterprise and political stakeholders: If Drobež is confirmed as reported, it would put an SDS-linked figure in charge of DARS despite the NSi-led infrastructure ministry, signalling which coalition party will shape motorway investment priorities in this government.