She will be the first woman to lead the watchdog and aims to strengthen its mandate, advocating for independence, professionalism, and legislative changes to enhance its role in fighting corruption.
Bervar Sternad, who has over 15 years of experience heading the Legal Centre for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (PIC), plans to introduce “collaborative oversight” for major projects and legislation, improve whistleblower protection, and make the KPK’s work more transparent to the public and media.
She also highlighted widespread public concern over corruption in Slovenia, citing a 2024 Eurobarometer survey showing 95% of respondents believe corruption is common.
The new president takes over from Robert Šumi on 1 April. She stressed that maintaining professionalism and avoiding political bias is crucial, noting that politicians must respect the watchdog’s decisions to prevent its politicisation. Bervar Sternad has received multiple awards for her human rights work and has been instrumental in initiatives defending vulnerable groups and democratic principles in Slovenia.
