Michal Kováč facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michal Kováč
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| 1st President of Slovakia | |
| In office 2 March 1993 – 2 March 1998 |
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| Prime Minister | Vladimír Mečiar Jozef Moravčík Vladimír Mečiar |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Rudolf Schuster |
| 7th Chairman of the Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia | |
| In office 25 June 1992 – 31 December 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Alexander Dubček |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Finance Minister of Slovak Federal Republic | |
| In office 12 December 1989 – 17 May 1991 |
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| Preceded by | František Mišeje |
| Succeeded by | Anton Vavro (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 August 1930 Ľubiša, Czechoslovakia |
| Died | 5 October 2016 (aged 86) Bratislava, Slovakia |
| Political party | Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (1948–1970) Public Against Violence (1990–1991) Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (1991–1993) |
| Spouse | Emília Kováčová (?–2016; his death) |
Michal Kováč (born August 3, 1930 – died October 5, 2016) was a very important person in the history of Slovakia. He became the first president of Slovakia after the country became independent. He served as president from 1993 to 1998.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michal Kováč was born in 1930 in a village called Ľubiša in what was then Czechoslovakia. He went to the University of Economics in Bratislava. After finishing his studies, he worked in banks.
Working in Banking
As a bank employee, Kováč spent some time living and working in other countries. In the 1960s, he lived in London, England, and also in Cuba. During a difficult time in Czechoslovakia, known as the "Normalization," he faced some challenges.
Political Journey
Michal Kováč became involved in politics during a big change in his country. This change was called the Velvet Revolution. It happened in 1989 and led to the end of communist rule.
Becoming a Minister
From December 1989 to May 1991, Kováč served as the Finance Minister for the Slovak part of Czechoslovakia. This meant he was in charge of the country's money matters.
Role in Forming Slovakia
In 1991, he helped start a political group called the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia. He became a leader in this group. He was then chosen to be a member of the Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia, which was like the country's parliament.
After the elections in 1992, he became the head of the Federal Assembly. This was a very important job. He played a key role in the peaceful separation of Czechoslovakia into two new countries: Slovakia and the Czech Republic. This event is known as the Dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
Serving as President (1993–1998)
Michal Kováč was chosen to be the first president of Slovakia in February 1993. He officially started his job on March 2, 1993. He was a candidate from the largest political party at the time.
Challenges as President
Soon after becoming president, Kováč had disagreements with the Prime Minister, Vladimír Mečiar. In March 1994, President Kováč gave a speech to the parliament where he spoke about his concerns. This speech helped lead to a change in government. A new government was formed under Jozef Moravčík, but it did not last long.
The disagreements between President Kováč and Prime Minister Mečiar grew stronger in 1995. Kováč's political party even removed his membership.
Personal Challenges
In August 1995, President Kováč's son was taken to Austria. Many people, including the president and other political groups, believed that the Slovak intelligence service was involved in this event. Later investigations confirmed that the intelligence service had participated.
Kováč's term as president ended on March 2, 1998. He tried to become president again in 1999, but he was not successful. After this, he mostly stayed out of politics. He only appeared at a few special events.
Later Life and Passing
In 2008, news reports said that Michal Kováč might have Parkinson's disease. He did not fully confirm this but admitted he had some health issues.
Michal Kováč passed away on October 5, 2016, in Bratislava. He was 86 years old. He died from problems related to Parkinson's disease.
Awards and Honors
Michal Kováč received several important awards during his life:
Slovakia: He was given the highest award in Slovakia, the Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross.
Poland: He received the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland in 1994. He also received the Order of the White Eagle in 1997.
Italy: He was awarded the Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1997.- In 1993, Kováč was the first person to win the Golden Biatec Award. This is a top award from Slovakia's Economic Club.
See also
- In Spanish: Michal Kováč para niños
