Andrej Bajuk
Encyclopedia
Andrej Bajuk, also known in Spanish
as Andrés Bajuk (18 October 1943 – 16 August 2011) was a Slovene politician
and economist
. He served shortly as Prime Minister of Slovenia
in the year 2000, and Minister of Economy in the centre right government of Janez Janša
between 2004 and 2008. He was founder and first president of the Christian Democratic party called New Slovenia
.
-occupied Ljubljana
. His father Bozidar Bajuk was a classical philologist
, and his grandfather Marko Bajuk was the principal of the Bežigrad Grammar School
, one of the most prestigious secondary schools in Ljubljana. The Bajuks were acquainted with the famous poet Edvard Kocbek
who lived in the same building.
The family left Slovenia in early May 1945, when the Communists took power in Yugoslavia
. They spent nearly three years in refugee camps in Lower
and Upper Austria
before leaving to Argentina
with the help of the Slovene refugee relief network set by Ivan Ahčin
and Miha Krek
. They settled in Mendoza
, where Bajuk grew up, studied and started a family.
He received his first degree in economics at Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. He received his first Master's degree in a two-year international study program organised by the University of Chicago
, receiving the second jointly with his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley
. He returned to Mendoza
, where he taught as a professor at the university. After the military coup in 1976
he was fired and soon left for Washington, D.C.
, working for the World Bank
for a year. He then switched to the Inter-American Development Bank
(IDB), where he stayed for a number of years. He held a range of positions at the IDB, from economist in charge of analysing social projects to adviser to the executive vice-president. For his last six years in Washington he was in charge of the office of the Presidency of the bank and a member of the board of executive directors of the bank. From September 1994 he was IDB representative for Europe
in Paris
.
and, following the coalition agreement between the Slovenian Christian Democrats and the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia
, assumed leadership of the expert council developing the coalition's alternative government programme. At the unification congress of the SKD and Slovene People's Party, he was elected deputy president of the unified party.
After the fall of Janez Drnovšek
's centre-left government, Andrej Bajuk became the Prime Minister
on 3 May 2000, and led the government until 16 November 2000. In July 2000, the newly merged SLS+SKD - Slovenian People's Party
- contrary to previously agreed policy and government stance - voted in favour of an electoral system based on proportional representation
. This led Prime Minister
Bajuk to leave the Slovene People's Party. In August 2000, he and his supporters founded a new political party called New Slovenia
(Nova Slovenija, N.Si).
In the elections of 2000, he was elected to the National Assembly, but Janez Drnovšek returned to power as prime minister. Bajuk’s party stayed in the opposition and formed a shadow cabinet
jointly with Janez Janša
's Social Democratic Party of Slovenia
.
In the 2004 national elections, he was again elected to the Slovenian parliament. He did not stay an MP for long, as he soon took on the role of the finance minister
in the newly elected government, led by Janez Janša
. For his actions and work during his time in office, he was declared (the) "finance minister of the year in Europe" by the Financial Times
Business magazine, "The Banker
" in 2005.
In the parliamentary elections of 2008
, the "New Slovenia" party suffered a severe defeat and did not secure the entry in the Slovenian National Assembly. Bajuk resigned as president of the party and was replaced by Ljudmila Novak
. At that time, he completely retired from public life.
He was fluent in Slovene, Spanish
, English
and French
. Bajuk was the father-in-law of the Slovenian diplomat and essayist Igor Senčar.
Bajuk died of a stroke on 16 August 2011.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
as Andrés Bajuk (18 October 1943 – 16 August 2011) was a Slovene politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
. He served shortly as Prime Minister of Slovenia
Prime Minister of Slovenia
There have been six Prime Ministers of Slovenia since that country gained its independence in the breakup of Yugoslavia. Unlike the President of Slovenia, who is directly elected, the Prime Minister is appointed by the National Assembly, and must control a majority there in order to...
in the year 2000, and Minister of Economy in the centre right government of Janez Janša
Janez Janša
Janez Janša is a Slovenian politician who was Prime Minister of Slovenia from November 2004 to November 2008. He has also been President of the Slovenian Democratic Party since 1993...
between 2004 and 2008. He was founder and first president of the Christian Democratic party called New Slovenia
New Slovenia
The New Slovenia – Christian People's Party or simply New Slovenia, NSi is a Christian democratic political party in Slovenia...
.
Life in exile
Bajuk was born in a Slovene intellectual family in NaziNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
-occupied Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
. His father Bozidar Bajuk was a classical philologist
Classical philology
Classical philology is the study of ancient Greek and classical Latin. Classical philology has been defined as "the careful study of the literary and philosophical texts of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds." Greek and Latin literature and civilization have traditionally been considered...
, and his grandfather Marko Bajuk was the principal of the Bežigrad Grammar School
Bežigrad Grammar School
Bežigrad Gymnasium is a selective coeducational state secondary school for students aged between 15 to 20. It is named after the Bežigrad district in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where it is located...
, one of the most prestigious secondary schools in Ljubljana. The Bajuks were acquainted with the famous poet Edvard Kocbek
Edvard Kocbek
Edvard Kocbek was a Slovenian poet, writer, essayist, translator, political activist, and resistance fighter. He is considered as one of the best authors who have written in Slovene, and one of the best Slovene poets after Prešeren...
who lived in the same building.
The family left Slovenia in early May 1945, when the Communists took power in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. They spent nearly three years in refugee camps in Lower
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
and Upper Austria
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
before leaving to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
with the help of the Slovene refugee relief network set by Ivan Ahčin
Ivan Ahcin
Ivan Ahčin was a Slovene sociologist, publicist, journalist, author and politician.He studied theology at the University of Ljubljana, where he graduated in 1925. He later worked as a professor of sociology at the University of Ljubljana...
and Miha Krek
Miha Krek
Miha Krek was a Slovenian lawyer and conservative politician. Between 1941 and 1969, he was the informal leader of the Slovenian anti-Communist emigration....
. They settled in Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
, where Bajuk grew up, studied and started a family.
He received his first degree in economics at Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. He received his first Master's degree in a two-year international study program organised by the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, receiving the second jointly with his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. He returned to Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
, where he taught as a professor at the university. After the military coup in 1976
1976 Argentine coup d'état
The 1976 Argentine coup was a right-wing coup d'état that overthrew Isabel Perón on 24 March 1976, in Argentina. In her place, a military junta was installed, which was headed by General Jorge Rafael Videla, Admiral Emilio Eduardo Massera and Brigadier Orlando Ramón Agosti...
he was fired and soon left for Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, working for the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
for a year. He then switched to the Inter-American Development Bank
Inter-American Development Bank
The Inter-American Development Bank is the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean...
(IDB), where he stayed for a number of years. He held a range of positions at the IDB, from economist in charge of analysing social projects to adviser to the executive vice-president. For his last six years in Washington he was in charge of the office of the Presidency of the bank and a member of the board of executive directors of the bank. From September 1994 he was IDB representative for Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Return to Slovenia
From the second half of 1999 Bajuk spent a considerable amount of time in SloveniaSlovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and, following the coalition agreement between the Slovenian Christian Democrats and the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia
Slovenian Democratic Party
The Slovenian Democratic Party , known until 2003 as the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia is a Slovenian centre-right liberal conservative and Christian democratic party...
, assumed leadership of the expert council developing the coalition's alternative government programme. At the unification congress of the SKD and Slovene People's Party, he was elected deputy president of the unified party.
After the fall of Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek was a Slovenian liberal politician, President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Prime Minister of Slovenia and President of Slovenia . He was born in Celje, Slovenia, then the Socialist Republic of Slovenia...
's centre-left government, Andrej Bajuk became the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
on 3 May 2000, and led the government until 16 November 2000. In July 2000, the newly merged SLS+SKD - Slovenian People's Party
Slovenian People's Party
The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000...
- contrary to previously agreed policy and government stance - voted in favour of an electoral system based on proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. This led Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Bajuk to leave the Slovene People's Party. In August 2000, he and his supporters founded a new political party called New Slovenia
New Slovenia
The New Slovenia – Christian People's Party or simply New Slovenia, NSi is a Christian democratic political party in Slovenia...
(Nova Slovenija, N.Si).
In the elections of 2000, he was elected to the National Assembly, but Janez Drnovšek returned to power as prime minister. Bajuk’s party stayed in the opposition and formed a shadow cabinet
Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
jointly with Janez Janša
Janez Janša
Janez Janša is a Slovenian politician who was Prime Minister of Slovenia from November 2004 to November 2008. He has also been President of the Slovenian Democratic Party since 1993...
's Social Democratic Party of Slovenia
Slovenian Democratic Party
The Slovenian Democratic Party , known until 2003 as the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia is a Slovenian centre-right liberal conservative and Christian democratic party...
.
In the 2004 national elections, he was again elected to the Slovenian parliament. He did not stay an MP for long, as he soon took on the role of the finance minister
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
in the newly elected government, led by Janez Janša
Janez Janša
Janez Janša is a Slovenian politician who was Prime Minister of Slovenia from November 2004 to November 2008. He has also been President of the Slovenian Democratic Party since 1993...
. For his actions and work during his time in office, he was declared (the) "finance minister of the year in Europe" by the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
Business magazine, "The Banker
The Banker
The Banker is an English-language monthly international financial affairs publication owned by The Financial Times Ltd. and edited in London...
" in 2005.
In the parliamentary elections of 2008
Slovenian parliamentary election, 2008
Parliamentary elections for the 90 deputies to the National Assembly of Slovenia were held on 21 September 2008. 17 parties filed to run in the election, including all nine parliamentary parties...
, the "New Slovenia" party suffered a severe defeat and did not secure the entry in the Slovenian National Assembly. Bajuk resigned as president of the party and was replaced by Ljudmila Novak
Ljudmila Novak
Ljudmila Novak is a Slovenian politician and former Member of the European Parliament. She is the president of the New Slovenia Christian People's Party....
. At that time, he completely retired from public life.
He was fluent in Slovene, Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. Bajuk was the father-in-law of the Slovenian diplomat and essayist Igor Senčar.
Bajuk died of a stroke on 16 August 2011.
Bajuk's Government 2000
| Prime Minister Prime Minister of Slovenia There have been six Prime Ministers of Slovenia since that country gained its independence in the breakup of Yugoslavia. Unlike the President of Slovenia, who is directly elected, the Prime Minister is appointed by the National Assembly, and must control a majority there in order to... |
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| Minister of Foreign Affairs |
Lojze Peterle Alojz "Lojze" Peterle is a Slovenian politician. He was the leader of the Slovene Christian Democrats from the founding of the party in 1990 until it merged with the Slovenian People's Party in 2000. Between 1990 and 1992, he was the president of the first freely elected Slovenian government, and... (Slovenian People's Party - Slovene Christian Democrats Slovenian People's Party The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000... , New Slovenia New Slovenia The New Slovenia – Christian People's Party or simply New Slovenia, NSi is a Christian democratic political party in Slovenia... ) |
| Minister of Justice |
Barbara Brezigar Barbara Brezigar is a Slovenian lawyer and politician. She currently serves as State Prosecutor General of the Republic of Slovenia.She was born in a middle class family in Ljubljana as Barbara Gregorin... (Independent) |
| Minister of Defence |
Janez Janša Janez Janša is a Slovenian politician who was Prime Minister of Slovenia from November 2004 to November 2008. He has also been President of the Slovenian Democratic Party since 1993... (Slovenian Social Democratic Party) |
| Minister of Finance |
Slovenian People's Party The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000... ) |
| Minister of Interior |
Peter Jambrek Peter Jambrek is a Slovenian sociologist, jurist, politician and intellectual. He is considered among the fathers of the current Slovenian Constitution and among the most influential public intellectuals in Slovenia.... (Independent) |
| Minister of Education |
Lovro Šturm Lovro Šturm is a Slovenian jurist and politician. Between 2004 and 2008, he served as the Minister of Justice of Slovenia. He was succeeded by Aleš Zalar.- Biography :... (Independent) |
| Minister of Culture Minister of culture A culture minister is a Cabinet position in some governments responsible for protecting the national heritage of a country and promoting cultural expression.... |
Rudi Šeligo Rudi Šeligo was a Slovenian writer, playwright, essayist and politician. Together with Lojze Kovačič and Drago Jančar, he is considered as one of the foremost Slovenian modernist writers of the post-World War II period.- Life :... (Slovenian Social Democratic Party) |
| Minister of Social Affairs |
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| Minister of Health |
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| Minister of Economy |
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| Minister of Agriculture |
Slovenian People's Party The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000... ) |
| Minister of Environment |
Slovenian People's Party The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000... ) |
| Minister of Transport |
Slovenian People's Party The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000... ) |
| Minister of Economic Relations and Development |
Slovenian People's Party The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000... ) |
| Minister of Research |
Slovenian People's Party The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000... ) |
| Minister of Legislation |
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