Janez Stanovnik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Janez Stanovnik
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Janez Stanovnik in October 2007
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| President of the Presidency of Slovenia | |
| In office 6 May 1988 – 10 May 1990 |
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| Prime Minister | Dušan Šinigoj |
| Preceded by | France Popit |
| Succeeded by | Milan Kučan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 August 1922 Ljubljana, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes |
| Died | 31 January 2020 (aged 97) Slovenia |
| Political party | League of Communists of Slovenia (until 1990) |
| Other political affiliations |
Party of Democratic Renewal (from 1990) |
| Relations | Aleš Stanovnik (cousin) Tine Velikonja (cousin) |
Janez Stanovnik (born August 4, 1922 – died January 31, 2020) was an important Slovenian economist and politician. He was also a Partisan, which means he was part of a resistance group during World War II. He is best known for being the last President of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia from 1988 to 1990. Later, he led the Slovenian Partisan Veterans' Association for many years.
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Early Life and Education
Janez Stanovnik was born in Ljubljana, which was then part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. He came from a Roman Catholic family. His father, Ivan Stanovnik, was a well-known politician in Ljubljana.
Janez went to a classical high school in Ljubljana. As a student, he joined a Christian Socialist group called Zarja (Dawn). Here, he met important thinkers like Edvard Kocbek.
World War II and Resistance
When the Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia, Janez Stanovnik joined the Liberation Front of the Slovenian People. This group fought against the occupation. He was arrested by the Italian forces in 1941 but was released in 1942. Soon after, he joined the Yugoslav Partisans, who were fighting the invaders.
In 1944, he became a member of the Communist Party of Slovenia. From 1944 to 1945, he helped organize the Partisan resistance in the Slovenian Littoral region.
Post-War Career and International Work
After World War II ended, Janez Stanovnik became the personal secretary to Edvard Kardelj, a top Yugoslav Communist leader. He also studied law and graduated from the University of Belgrade's Law School.
From 1952 to 1956, he worked with the Yugoslav team at the United Nations. After returning to Yugoslavia, he started studying economics. He became a professor at the Institute of Social Sciences in Belgrade and at the University of Ljubljana.
Janez Stanovnik also had a big role in international organizations. From 1965 to 1966, he advised the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Then, from 1968 to 1983, he worked for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. He was the executive secretary of this commission for many years, from 1968 to 1982.
President of Slovenia
In 1988, Janez Stanovnik became the President of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia. This was a time of big political changes in the country. Even though his position was mostly ceremonial, he used it to talk with different opposition groups. He worked especially with the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights during a period known as the Slovenian Spring.
He supported a peaceful move towards a democratic government. Because of his efforts, the media sometimes called him the "father of the nation."
Later Years
In 2003, Janez Stanovnik was chosen to lead the Association of Slovenian Partisan Veterans. He held this position until 2013, when he was named the honorary president of the Association.
Personal Life
Janez Stanovnik was married twice and had four children. He received several awards for his work, including the Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941. He was also made an honorary citizen of Ljubljana.
He spent his last years in a retirement home and passed away on January 31, 2020, at the age of 97.
His cousin, Aleš Stanovnik, was also a Christian Socialist activist who was executed during the Italian occupation in 1942. Another cousin, Tine Velikonja, was involved with a different group after 1990.
