Zuzana Čaputová facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zuzana Čaputová
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Čaputová in 2023
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| 5th President of Slovakia | |
| In office 15 June 2019 – 15 June 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Peter Pellegrini Igor Matovič Eduard Heger Ľudovít Ódor Robert Fico |
| Preceded by | Andrej Kiska |
| Succeeded by | Peter Pellegrini |
| Deputy Chair of Progressive Slovakia | |
| In office 20 January 2018 – 19 March 2019 |
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| Leader | Ivan Štefunko |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Zuzana Strapáková
21 June 1973 Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) |
| Political party | Progressive Slovakia (2017–2019) |
| Spouse |
Ivan Čaputa
(divorced) |
| Domestic partner | Juraj Rizman (2020–present) |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Alma mater | Comenius University (Mgr.) |
| Signature |  |
Zuzana Čaputová (born 21 June 1973) is a Slovak politician, lawyer, and environmental activist. She served as the fifth president of Slovakia from 2019 to 2024. Čaputová was the first woman to become president of Slovakia. She was also the youngest president in Slovakia's history, elected at 45 years old.
Čaputová first became well-known for her long fight against a toxic landfill in her hometown of Pezinok. For this important work, she received the 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize. She won the 2019 Slovak presidential election with 58% of the votes. She decided not to run for re-election in 2024.
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Early Life and Education
Zuzana Čaputová was born in Bratislava in 1973. She grew up in the nearby town of Pezinok. For the first 20 years of her life, this area was part of Czechoslovakia. Čaputová said her family home was "open-minded."
She studied law at Comenius University in Bratislava. She graduated in 1996.
Early Career and Environmental Work
After finishing her studies, Čaputová worked for the local government in Pezinok. She started as a legal assistant. Later, she became a deputy to the town mayor.
She then worked for non-profit groups. At the Open Society Foundations, she helped with public administration and issues affecting children. She also managed projects for a group called EQ Klub, focusing on community development.
From 2001 to 2017, Čaputová worked as a lawyer for Via Iuris, a civic organization. She also helped Greenpeace with planning campaigns.
The Pezinok Landfill Fight
For over ten years, Čaputová led a public campaign in Pezinok. She fought against a new landfill that would have made pollution worse. This landfill would have harmed the soil, air, and water in the city. The fight ended in 2013 when the Supreme Court of Slovakia ruled. The court said the new landfill was illegal and broke environmental rules.
Čaputová has also run her own law firm. She has written several publications about law. She is part of the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW). This is a group of environmental lawyers from around the world.
Political Journey
Čaputová was a founding member of Progressive Slovakia. This is a liberal political party. She served as its deputy chair until March 2019. She then stepped down to run for president.
She became the party's candidate in the 2019 Slovak presidential election. She was elected president in the second round of voting. She received over 58% of the votes. She beat her opponent, Maroš Šefčovič.
Becoming President
On March 29, 2018, Čaputová announced she would run for president. She said she felt she had to run after the murder of Ján Kuciak. He was an investigative journalist.
Another strong candidate, Robert Mistrík, later left the race. He supported Čaputová on February 26, 2019.
Čaputová won the first round of the election on March 16, 2019. She received 40.57% of the votes. She then won the second round on March 30, 2019. She beat Maroš Šefčovič with about 58% of the votes.
Her inauguration as president took place on June 15, 2019. This was during a special meeting of the National Council in Bratislava.
Public Trust and Decision Not to Seek Re-election
Čaputová was seen as the most trusted politician in Slovakia in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, 83% of people trusted her. In 2021, 58% did.
In June 2023, Čaputová announced she would not run for re-election. She said her term was very stressful. She faced four major crises: the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, an energy crisis, and high inflation.
Political Views
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Fairness and Justice
Čaputová believes that "justice in Slovakia does not always apply equally to everyone." She wants to make changes to Slovakia's police and court systems. She believes the police should be independent and not influenced by politics. She also thinks the prosecutor's office should be more open to the public.
Protecting the Environment
Čaputová is a strong supporter of environmental protection. She has been compared to the American activist Erin Brockovich. Fighting climate change is one of her top goals. She wants to stop government money from going to coal and other fossil fuels.
Čaputová promised to stop coal mining and power generation by 2023. She also brought Slovakia into the Powering Past Coal Alliance. She believes that environmental protection means stopping illegal cutting down of trees. She also thinks 5% of the most valuable natural areas should be strictly protected.
LGBT Rights
Čaputová supports legal partnerships for same-sex couples. She also believes in educating people about these relationships. She has said that if a child cannot be with their biological parents, they would be better off with "two loving beings, even if they were of the same sex," rather than in institutional care.
Personal Life
Zuzana Čaputová is divorced and has two daughters. She practices Zen yoga. During her time as president, she continued to live in Pezinok.
Awards and Recognition
For her strong leadership in the Pezinok landfill case, Čaputová received the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2016. This award is given to people who have made a big difference in protecting the environment. The award text said she was recognized for her "relentless campaigning against the opening of a landfill in the town of Pezinok." This landfill would have made health problems and pollution worse. Her fight has been compared to that of the American activist Erin Brockovich.
In August 2019, Čaputová also received the European Prize for Political Culture. This was for her efforts to support European democracy.
In 2023, she was ranked 84th on Forbes magazine's list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women.
Honours
National Honours
Slovakia: Order of Andrej Hlinka- Slovakia: Order of Ľudovít Štúr
- Slovakia: Milan Rastislav Štefánik Cross
- Slovakia: Pribina Cross
Foreign Honours
Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer (2022)
Netherlands: Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (2023)
Ukraine: Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (2024)
Poland: Recipient of the Order of the White Eagle (2024)
Austria: Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (2024)
Czech Republic: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Lion (2024)
Photo Gallery
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Čaputová with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, 2019
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Čaputová with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw, 2019
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Čaputová with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, 2022
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Čaputová with the First Lady of the United States Jill Biden in the Grassalkovich Palace, 2022
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Čaputová with U.S. President Joe Biden, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, 2023
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Family photo of the NATO Summit in Vilnius with Zuzana Čaputová, 2023
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See also
In Spanish: Zuzana Čaputová para niños
- List of elected and appointed female heads of state and government
- List of international trips made by Zuzana Čaputová
