Ivan Gašparovič Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Ivan Gašparovič GCollSE R.E.
Gašparovič in 2008

3rd President of Slovakia
In office 15 June 2004 – 15 June 2014
Prime Minister	Mikuláš Dzurinda Robert Fico Iveta Radičová
Preceded by	Rudolf Schuster
Succeeded by	Andrej Kiska
In office 14 July 1998 – 30 October 1998 acting Served with Vladimír Mečiar
Prime Minister	Vladimír Mečiar
Preceded by	Michal Kováč
Succeeded by	Mikuláš Dzurinda (acting) Jozef Migaš (acting)
Speaker of the National Council
In office 23 June 1992 – 30 October 1998
Preceded by	František Mikloško
Succeeded by	Jozef Migaš
Member of the National Council
In office 23 June 1992 – 15 October 2002

Personal details
Born	(1941-03-27) 27 March 1941 (age 84) Poltár, Slovak Republic
Political party	Communist Party (1968) People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (1992–2002) Movement for Democracy (2002–2004)
Spouse	Silvia Beníková (m. 1964)
Children	2
Alma mater	Comenius University
Signature

Ivan Gašparovič (born March 27, 1941) is a Slovak politician and lawyer. He served as the third president of Slovakia from 2004 to 2014. He was also the first and only Slovak president to be re-elected for a second term.

About Ivan Gašparovič
Private Life
Honours and Awards
- Slovak Honours
- Foreign Honours
See also

About Ivan Gašparovič

Early Life and Education

Ivan Gašparovič was born in Poltár, a town in present-day south-central Slovakia. At that time, it was part of the first Slovak Republic. His father, Vladimir Gašparovič, moved to Czechoslovakia from Rijeka (now in Croatia) after World War I. His father was a teacher and later a headmaster in Bratislava.

Ivan Gašparovič studied law at the Comenius University in Bratislava. This is a very important university in Slovakia. He attended from 1959 to 1964. After finishing his studies, he worked as a prosecutor in different offices from 1965 to 1968.

Starting a Political Career

In 1968, Gašparovič joined the Communist Party of Slovakia. He was said to support the reforms of Alexander Dubček. However, he left the party after the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968.

Even after leaving the party, Gašparovič continued his legal career. From 1968 to 1990, he taught criminal law at Comenius University. In February 1990, he became the deputy vice-chancellor of the university.

After the Velvet Revolution, which ended the Communist rule, Gašparovič was chosen for an important role. The new democratic president, Václav Havel, made him the country's federal Prosecutor-General. In 1992, he briefly served as the Vice-President of the Legislative Council of Czechoslovakia. Soon after, in January 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two independent countries.

Gašparovič then returned to Comenius University. He was part of important councils there. In late 1992, he helped write the Constitution of Slovakia. This document sets out the main laws and principles for the country.

Joining a New Party

In 1992, Gašparovič joined the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS). This party was led by Vladimír Mečiar. Gašparovič became a key figure in Mečiar's government. After the HZDS won the elections in June 1992, he became the Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. This is like being the head of the parliament.

During this time, Mečiar's government faced some challenges. The country was not included in talks for joining the EU and NATO. This was because some Western countries saw the government as untrustworthy.

From 1998 to 2002, when his party was not in power, Gašparovič was a member of a parliamentary committee. This committee oversaw the Slovak Secret Service (SIS). He was also part of the Slovak parliament's delegation to the Interparliamentary Union.

In July 2002, Gašparovič left the HZDS. He and other members started a new party called the Movement for Democracy (HZD). He said he had "differences of opinion" with the HZDS leader. In the September 2002 elections, his new party did not win enough votes to get seats in parliament. After this, Gašparovič went back to teaching law at Comenius University. He wrote several textbooks and studies on criminal law.

Becoming President of Slovakia

In April 2004, Gašparovič decided to run for president. He ran against Vladimír Mečiar and another candidate, Eduard Kukan. Many people thought Kukan would easily win. However, Gašparovič surprisingly got the second-highest number of votes. This meant he would go to the second round of elections, facing Mečiar.

In the second round, voters had to choose between two politicians from the past. Many people saw Gašparovič as the "lesser evil" compared to Mečiar. In the end, Gašparovič was elected as the president of Slovakia.

President George W. Bush and Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič in Grassalkovich Palace in Bratislava

Gašparovič meets with President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych in 2011

As president, Gašparovič was known for his calm and friendly approach. This made him very popular with many voters. He was supported by the Direction – Social Democracy party and the Slovak National Party.

Private Life

In 1964, Ivan Gašparovič married Silvia Beníková. They have two children together. His favorite sport is ice hockey.

Honours and Awards

Ivan Gašparovič has received many awards and honours, both from Slovakia and other countries. These awards recognize his service and achievements.

Slovak Honours

Slovakia: Order of Andrej Hlinka (2004)
Slovakia: Order of Ľudovít Štúr (2004)
Slovakia: Milan Rastislav Štefánik Cross (2004)
Slovakia: Pribina Cross (2004)

Foreign Honours

Austria: Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (2014)
Lithuania: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great (2005)
Luxembourg: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau (2005)
Cyprus: Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III (2007)
Italy: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2007)
Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (2007)
Spain: Collar of Order of Isabella the Catholic (2007)
Croatia: Grand Order of King Tomislav (2008)
Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer (2007)
Poland: Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (2009)
Poland: Order of Polonia Restituta (2014)
Norway: Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (2010)
Latvia: Order of the Three Stars (2005)
Estonia: Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (2005)
Portugal: Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword (2008)
United Kingdom: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (2008)
Kazakhstan: Member of the Order of Friendship (2007)
Malta: Honorary Companion of Honour with Collar of the National Order of Malta (2011)
Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant (2012)
Serbia: Grand Cross of the Order of the Republic of Serbia (2013)
Czech Republic: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Lion (2013)
France: Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (2013)