Ivan Gašparovič facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ivan Gašparovič
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Gašparovič in 2008
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| 3rd President of Slovakia | |
| In office 15 June 2004 – 15 June 2014 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Preceded by | František Mikloško |
| Succeeded by | Jozef Migaš |
| Member of the National Council | |
| In office 23 June 1992 – 15 October 2002 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 March 1941 Poltár, Slovak Republic |
| Political party | Communist Party (1968) People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (1992–2002) Movement for Democracy (2002–2004) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Comenius University |
| Signature |  |
Ivan Gašparovič (born 27 March 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.
Life and Early Career
Ivan Gašparovič was born in Poltár, a town in present-day south-central Slovakia. His father, Vladimir Gašparović, moved to Czechoslovakia from Rijeka in modern-day Croatia. He was a teacher and even a headmaster at a school in Bratislava.
Education and Legal Work
Gašparovič studied law at the Comenius University in Bratislava from 1959 to 1964. This is the main university in Slovakia. After graduating, he worked as a prosecutor in different cities.
In 1968, he joined the Communist Party of Slovakia. He was trying to support some important reforms happening at the time. However, he was later removed from the party. This happened after the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968.
Teaching and Public Service
Even after leaving the party, Gašparovič continued his legal career. From 1968 to 1990, he taught law at Comenius University. In 1990, he became a deputy vice-chancellor at the university.
After the Velvet Revolution, which ended the Communist rule, Gašparovič was chosen for a big role. The new president, Václav Havel, made him the country's federal Prosecutor-General. This meant he was the top lawyer for the government.
In 1992, he briefly served as the Vice-President of the Legislative Council of Czechoslovakia. Soon after, Czechoslovakia split into two independent countries in 1993. Gašparovič then went back to teaching law at Comenius University. He also helped write the Constitution of Slovakia.
Joining Politics and Parliament
In 1992, Gašparovič joined a political party called the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS). This party was led by Vladimír Mečiar. Gašparovič became a key figure in Mečiar's government.
After his party won the elections in June 1992, he became the Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. This is like being the leader of the parliament.
During this time, there were some disagreements and tensions between the government and the country's President, Michal Kováč. The government was also seen by some as not fully trustworthy by countries in the West. This meant Slovakia was not included in early talks to join the European Union and NATO.
Leaving the HZDS Party
From 1998 to 2002, when his party was not in power, Gašparovič was a member of a special committee. This committee watched over the Slovak Secret Service (SIS).
In 2002, Gašparovič left the HZDS party. This happened because of disagreements with the party leader, Vladimír Mečiar. Gašparovič and other members then started a new party called the Movement for Democracy.
In the elections that year, his new party did not win enough votes to get seats in parliament. After this, Gašparovič returned to teaching law at Comenius University. He also wrote several textbooks about criminal law.
Becoming President
In April 2004, Gašparovič decided to run for president. He was seen as an underdog, meaning not many people expected him to win. However, he surprised everyone by getting the second-highest number of votes. This meant he would face Vladimír Mečiar in the second round of the election.
Many voters who didn't want Mečiar to win chose Gašparovič. They saw him as the "lesser evil" compared to Mečiar. In the end, Gašparovič was elected as the president of Slovakia.
President of Slovakia
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As president, Gašparovič took a calm and less confrontational approach. This made him popular with many voters. He was supported by the party of Prime Minister Robert Fico and the Slovak National Party.
Challenges and Public Discussions
During his presidency, Gašparovič was involved in some public discussions.
Disagreement over Historical Figures
In 2011, Gašparovič spoke against putting up a statue for a Hungarian politician named János Esterházy. He said that Esterházy had supported certain controversial ideas in the past. However, the Hungarian President at the time, Pál Schmitt, said that Esterházy had actually opposed both fascism and communism. This showed different views on historical figures.
Public Speaking Moments
Gašparovič also became known for occasional slips of the tongue during his speeches. These moments sometimes became topics for jokes among the Slovak public.
Political Disagreement on Appointments
Another political discussion happened in 2013. The Slovak parliament had chosen a new attorney general, a top legal official. However, President Gašparovič did not agree with their choice and refused to appoint the person. This led to a political problem in Slovakia at the time.
Personal Life
In 1964, Gašparovič married Silvia Beníková. They have two children together. His favorite sport is ice hockey.
Awards and Recognition
Ivan Gašparovič has received many awards and honors from Slovakia and other countries. These awards recognize his service and contributions.
Slovak Honours
Slovakia: Order of Andrej Hlinka (2004)- Slovakia: Order of Ľudovít Štúr (2004)
- Slovakia: Milan Rastislav Štefánik Cross (2004)
- Slovakia: Pribina Cross (2004)
International 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)
See also
In Spanish: Ivan Gašparovič para niños
- List of political parties in Slovakia
- List of presidents of Slovakia
- List of leaders of Slovak parliaments
- 2004 Slovakia presidential election
- Silvia Gašparovičová
