Tomáš Hellebrandt (born 7 April 1982) is a Slovak economist and politician. From 2023 to 2024, he served as a Member of the National Council.
Tomáš Hellebrandt | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Tomáš Hellebrandt in 2022 | |
| Member of the National Council | |
| In office 25 October 2023 – 6 February 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 April 1982 Žilina, Czechoslovakia |
| Political party | Progressive Slovakia |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford London School of Economics |
Biography
editEarly life and education
editTomáš Hellebrandt was born on 7 April 1982 in Žilina.[1] At the age of ten he moved with his parents to Dubai, where he grew up.[2]
Hellebrandt studied economics at University of Oxford and the London School of Economics.[3] Following graduation, he worked as an economist at the Bank of England and later at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.[4]
Between 2017 and 2022, Hellebrandt worked as an analyst at the Ministry of Finance in Slovakia. He left the ministry after criticizing the minister Igor Matovič for ignoring the evidence presented by the staff of the ministry and cooperating with extreme right politicians to push his agenda through the parliament. The president Zuzana Čaputová subsequently criticized the government for creating a hostile environment for senior civil servants.[5]
Political career
editFollowing his departure from the ministry, Hellebrandt joined the Progressive Slovakia party and became its economic expert.[6]
In the election campaign leading up to the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election, Hellebrandt became a target of fake news. The far right online influencer Daniel Bombic claimed Hellebrandt either died or was close to death after receiving the fourth dose of vaccine against COVID-19. Hellebrandt and his political party responded to the rumor by confirming Hellebrandt was in perfect health and criticizing those spreading the rumor for causing needless stress to Hellebrandt's family.[7]
After winning a mandate in the election, Hellebrandt wore a rainbow ribbon on his jacket during the swear in ceremony.[8]
On 6 February 2024, Hellebrandt resigned his MP seat after failing to disclose an infectious illness while being treated at a hospital in Žilina.[9]
Private life
editHellebrandt considers himself "a proud member of the rainbow community".[3] Together with his fellow Progressive Slovakia MP Lucia Plaváková , he is the third openly gay member of the Slovak parliament, after Edita Angyalová and Stanislav Fořt.
References
edit- ^ "Parliamentary profile of Tomáš Hellebrandt". Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Slovenský ekonóm v USA: Máme sa lepšie ako ľudia pred 20 rokmi". Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Tomáš Hellebrandt". Progresívne Slovensko (in Slovak). Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Tomas Hellebrandt | PIIE". www.piie.com. 2 March 2016.
- ^ "Špičkový analytik buchol dverami u Matoviča. Okamžite sa mu ozvala Čaputová, zverejnil jej sms". Pravda.sk (in Slovak). 13 August 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "ZÁZNAM: Odborníkom na sociálne politiky a ekonomiku strany PS sa stal Tomáš Hellebrandt". TASR.TV. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Hoax o smrti kandidáta PS. Šíri ho aj známy dezinformátor: Neverte fašistom, odkazuje politik". Pravda.sk (in Slovak). 15 September 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Poslanec PS Tomáš Hellebrandt zložil sľub s". Denník N (in Slovak). 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ Folentová, Veronika (8 February 2024). "Hellebrandt z PS sa vzdal mandátu a ospravedlnil sa nemocnici za to, že neoznámil svoje ochorenie". Denník N (in Slovak). Retrieved 13 February 2024.