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Robert Kaliňák (born 11 May 1971) is a Slovak politician who has been serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia and Minister of Defence in the Fourth cabinet of Robert Fico since 25 October 2023.
Robert Kaliňák | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kaliňák in 2023 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia | |
| Assumed office 25 October 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Robert Fico |
| In office 4 April 2012 – 22 March 2018 Serving with Peter Kažimír, Miroslav Lajčák, Ľubomír Vážny, Peter Pellegrini, Lucia Žitňanská and Gabriela Matečná | |
| Prime Minister | Robert Fico |
| In office 4 July 2006 – 8 July 2010 | |
| Prime Minister | Robert Fico |
| Minister of Defence | |
| Assumed office 25 October 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Robert Fico |
| Preceded by | Martin Sklenár |
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office 4 April 2012 – 22 March 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Robert Fico |
| Preceded by | Daniel Lipšic |
| Succeeded by | Tomáš Drucker |
| In office 4 July 2006 – 8 July 2010 | |
| Prime Minister | Robert Fico |
| Preceded by | Martin Pado |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Lipšic |
| Member of the National Council | |
| In office 22 March 2018 – 31 December 2018 | |
| In office 8 July 2010 – 4 April 2012 | |
| In office 15 October 2002 – 4 July 2006 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 May 1971 Bratislava, Czechoslovakia |
| Political party | Direction – Social Democracy (1999–present) |
| Spouse | Zuzana Kaliňáková |
| Alma mater | Comenius University (JUDr.) |
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Kaliňák previously served as Minister of the Interior from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2018. He is the longest serving minister in the history of modern Slovakia.[1] He is a member of the Direction – Social Democracy party. On 31 December 2018, Kaliňák resigned his seat in the National Council, effectively retiring from politics until the 2023 parliamentary election.
Early life and education
editKaliňák was born on 11 May 1971 in Bratislava. His father was a sailor and his mother, who originated from the Bulgarian minority in Odesa, worked as a teacher.[2] Kaliňák's brother Milan is a member of the Taktici rock band, with whom Robert also played occasionally in the past.[3]
Whilst studying, Kaliňák successfully entered the world of entrepreneurship in 1990 by opening a student restaurant, a publishing house and printing office of scholarly literature. During his studies, he also started his career in a law office in 1992. Kaliňák and his partners established a chain of restaurants called Steam & Coffee in 1999, while he engaged also in other lines of business. After entering politics, he retired as an executive from all business activities.[4]
Political career
editWhilst Kaliňák was holding the post of Minister of Interior, he faced several criticisms from the side of opposition regarding his purchase of shares from shareholder, who was later investigated for tax fraud. Kaliňák resigned as an interior minister as well as the PM deputy on 22 March 2018 after the murder of an investigative reporter Ján Kuciak.[5]
References
edit- ^ Baran, Michal (7 June 2016). "Fico: Hatred is Bad Political Platform, Kalinak Has Our Full Support". News Now. News Agency of the Slovak Republic.
- ^ Murajdová, Alexandra (25 March 2022). "Z Ukrajiny utiekla aj rodina exministra vnútra Roberta Kaliňáka. Časť tam však ešte zostala". Startitup.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Nehanbím sa k nemu priznať". Plus jeden deň (in Slovak). News and Media Holding. 5 December 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Šándorová, Eliška (14 June 2016). "Robert "Feši" Kaliňák: Syn námorníka, ktorý pláva v politických vodách už takmer 20 rokov". Dnes24.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Slovakian minister resigns after protests at journalist's murder". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.