The next municipal elections in Croatia are drawing nearer. To the best of my knowledge, they will be early next year. At any rate, the local political shenanigans will start in a couple of months. But there are rumors abroad that Slobodan Vugrinec, the current mayor of Motovun, will not be running this time around. Phew! I could not care less about the next elections, but I am delighted by the persistent rumors. Vugrinec lives in Vrsar on the western coast of Istria, which means that he will be coming to Motovun rather rarely. Say, once or twice a year. The bliss! If I were to come up with one thing I dislike the most about the hilltown, it would be seeing Vugrinec in passing almost every day. The rigid glare! The pursed lips! It is a painful experience, to put it bluntly. Very painful, indeed! As for the next mayor, all options are open. Given the Croatian laws, he or she might now be living as far as Moscow.