Milan Kučan Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Milan Kučan
Kučan in 2000

1st President of Slovenia
In office 23 December 1991 – 22 December 2002
Prime Minister	Lojze Peterle Janez Drnovšek Andrej Bajuk Janez Drnovšek Anton Rop
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Janez Drnovšek
13th President of the Presidency of Slovenia
In office 10 May 1990 – 23 December 1991
Prime Minister	Dušan Šinigoj Lojze Peterle
Preceded by	Janez Stanovnik
Succeeded by	Himself (as President of Slovenia)
7th President of the League of Communists of Slovenia
In office 19 April 1986 – 23 December 1989
Preceded by	Andrej Marinc
Succeeded by	Ciril Ribičič

Personal details
Born	(1941-01-14) 14 January 1941 (age 84) Križevci, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (now Slovenia)
Political party	Social Democratic
Other political affiliations	League of Communists of Yugoslavia (until 1991)
Spouse	Štefka Kučan (m. 1964)
Children	2

Milan Kučan, born on January 14, 1941, is a Slovenian politician. He was the very first President of Slovenia, serving from 1991 to 2002. Before that, he was the President of the Presidency of Slovenia from 1990 to 1991. He also led the League of Communists of Slovenia from 1986 to 1989.

Early Life and Political Beginnings
- Leading the League of Communists
Political Career and Slovenia's Independence
Personal Life
Honours and Awards
See also

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Milan Kučan grew up in the village of Križevci in what is now Slovenia. His family had five children. During World War II, his father passed away. Milan's family spent the war in occupied Serbia. Many Slovenians were moved there by the Nazis during that time.

He later studied law at the University of Ljubljana. Soon, he became involved in political groups. In 1968, he became the head of the Slovenian Youth Association. From 1974 to 1978, he was a secretary for the Socialist Alliance of Working People of Slovenia. This group brought together many different civil society organizations.

In 1978, he became the speaker of the National Assembly of Slovenia. By 1982, he was a representative for the Slovenian Communists in the main committee of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia in Belgrade.

Leading the League of Communists

In May 1986, Milan Kučan became the leader of the League of Communists of Slovenia. At this time, people in Slovenia wanted more freedom and democracy. This was different from the political ideas in Belgrade and Serbia.

Kučan and his party supported human rights and European democratic values. This led to more disagreements with Belgrade and Serbia. On January 23, 1990, Kučan and the Slovenian group left the Party Congress. This event helped lead to the end of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia. This party was a key part of the political system in Socialist Yugoslavia.

Political Career and Slovenia's Independence

Kučan greeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2002.

Slovenia was the first part of Yugoslavia to allow many political parties. The first elections with multiple parties happened in April 1990. Kučan was elected president of the presidency in 1990. He won against Jože Pučnik.

Kučan did not want Yugoslavia to stay together through violence. He wanted a peaceful way for the different parts of Yugoslavia to separate. He hoped they could still work together in new ways.

Slovenia Declares Independence

Slovenia declared its independence on June 25, 1991. In his speech that day, Kučan said, "Today dreams are allowed, tomorrow is a new day." The next day, the Yugoslav People's Army began to move troops. This led to the Ten-Day War.

Peace talks started at Brioni, with the European Community helping. The army then began to leave Slovenia. Kučan represented Slovenia at peace conferences about former Yugoslavia. These meetings decided that the former Yugoslav nations could become independent states. On May 22, 1992, Kučan represented Slovenia as it joined the United Nations.

Kučan at the 2010 state celebration of Reformation Day with Danilo Türk (left) and Borut Pahor (center).

President of Independent Slovenia

After Slovenia became independent and was recognized by other countries, Kučan was elected as its first President in 1992. He ran as an independent candidate and won. He was re-elected for another five-year term in 1997, again winning in the first round. His time as president ended in December 2002. Janez Drnovšek became the next president.

In March 2003, Slovenia held two votes. These votes were about joining the European Union and NATO. Milan Kučan actively supported joining these groups. This helped Slovenia achieve the goals it had set when it became independent. In May 2004, Slovenia became a full member of both the EU and NATO.

After the Presidency

Since November 2004, Kučan has been a member of the Club of Madrid. This group is made up of former democratic leaders. They work to make democratic governments stronger around the world. He also leads the International Collegium with Michel Rocard, a former French Prime Minister. Since 2004, he has been the chairman of Forum 21. This is a Slovenian left-wing think-tank that discusses Slovenia's future.

Kučan is also a member of the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation. This group was started in 2008. It watches how tolerant Europe is and suggests ways to fight against hatred and intolerance.

Personal Life

Milan Kučan married Štefka Kučan in 1964. They have two daughters. Ana is a landscape architect and a professor at the University of Ljubljana. Špela is an anthropologist and ethnologist. In 1991, Kučan said that every Slovene should climb Mount Triglav.