Prime Minister of Slovakia

Updated on Sep 24, 2024

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Appointer President Formation 2 January 1969		Inaugural holder Štefan Sádovský

Residence Summer Archbishop's Palace Term length The Prime minister's term of office depends on support of the National Council. Website http://www.vlada.gov.sk/

The Chairman of the Government of the Slovak Republic (Slovak: Predseda vlády Slovenskej republiky), also known as the Prime Minister (Slovak: Premiér), is the head of the Government of Slovakia. On paper he is the third highest constitutional official in Slovakia after the President of Slovakia and the Speaker of the National Council. In practice, he is the country's leading political figure.

The office itself was created in 1969 and since then there has been 14 prime ministers serving in the office. Since 1993, when independent Slovakia emerged, seven prime ministers (five individuals only) have been serving in the office. On April 4, 2012, Robert Fico became the 7th and current prime minister.

History

The office of Prime Minister was established in 1969 by the Constitutional Law of Federation. However, a similar office had existed from 1918 when various officials were presiding over executive bodies governing the Slovak part of Czechoslovakia or the Slovak state respectively. From 1993, when the independent Slovak Republic was established, there have been five persons to hold the office. From 2012 the current Prime Minister is Robert Fico.

Powers and role

Since Slovakia is a parliamentary republic the Prime Minister is accountable to the National Council. The Slovak Constitution provides that upon the accession to the office each Prime Minister must gain and thereafter maintain the confidence of the Parliament. As soon as the Prime Minister loses the confidence, the President is obliged to dismiss him and designate a new Prime Minister or entrust the dismissed Prime Minister to act as a caretaker with limited powers.

The Prime Minister is the most powerful office in state, since he commands and presides over the Government. Although it is not the Prime Minister but the President who appoints Ministers in Cabinet, the President appoints Ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Designated Prime Minister of Slovakia

Designated Prime Minister of Slovakia (Slovak: designovaný predseda vlády) is an unofficial title for a person who has been entrusted by the President of the Slovak Republic with forming a new government and replacing the outgoing Prime Minister. This title, as well as the authorization of the president to entrust the designated PM, is not set by an act but is a legal or, more precisely, constitutional tradition. According to this tradition, the President designates a person who has support of the majority of deputies in the National Council.

First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938)

Minister plenipotentiary for administration of Slovakia

Vavro Šrobár (4 November 1918 – 14 November 1918)

Land President of Slovakia

Ján Drobný (1 July 1928 – 1929)

Jozef Országh (1929–1938)

Julián Šimko (1938–1939)

Second Czechoslovak Republic (1938–1939)

Prime Ministers of the Autonomy Government of Slovakia

Jozef Tiso (7 October 1938 – 9 March 1939)

Jozef Sivák (9 March 1939 – 11 March 1939)

Karol Sidor (11 March 1939 – 14 March 1939)

First Slovak Republic (1939–1945)

Prime Ministers of the first Slovak Republic

Jozef Tiso (14 March 1939 – 17 October 1939)

Vojtech Tuka (27 October 1939 – 5 September 1944)

Štefan Tiso (5 September 1944 – 4 April 1945)

Third Czechoslovak Republic (1945–1948)

Chairman of the Board of Commissioners

Karol Šmidke (18 September 1945 – 14 August 1946)

Gustáv Husák (14 August 1946 – 4 May 1950)

Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1948–1989)

1 January 1969 – 5 March 1990: called "Slovak Socialist Republic" within Czechoslovakia.

Chairman of the Board of Commissioners

Gustáv Husák (14 August 1946 – 4 May 1950)

Karol Bacílek (4 May 1950 – 7 September 1951)

Július Ďuriš (7 September 1951 – 31 January 1953)

Rudolf Strechaj (31 January 1953 – 11 July 1960)

Chairman of the Slovak National Council

Rudolf Strechaj (14 July 1960 – 28 July 1962)

Jozef Lenárt (31 October 1962 – 20 March 1963)

Michal Chudík (23 March 1963 – 29 December 1968)

Prime Ministers of the Slovak Socialist Republic

Štefan Sádovský: 2 January 1969 – 5 May 1969
Peter Colotka: 5 May 1969 – 12 October 1988
Ivan Knotek: 13 October 1988 – 22 June 1989
Pavel Hrivnák: 23 June 1989 – 8 December 1989

Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (1990–1992)

6 March 1990 – 31 December 1992: called "Slovak Republic" within Czechoslovakia.

Prime Ministers of the Slovak Republic

Parties

KSČ VPN KDH

Slovak Republic (1993–present)

From 1 January 1993 after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.