Ján Carnogurský
Encyclopedia
Ján Čarnogurský is a former Slovak
politician, a former Prime Minister of Slovakia (1991–1992) and the former chairman of the Christian Democratic Movement
(1990–2000).
He is married and has 4 children.
, on August 14, 1989, he was imprisoned and released only after the collapse of the Communist regime through a presidential amnesty on November 25, 1989. From December 1989 to April 1990 he was the first vice-prime minister, since April to June 1990 the vice-prime minister of Czechoslovakia. He was a co-founder and, since February 1990, the chairman of the Christian Democratic Movement
of Slovakia. Since the Christian Democratic Movement was Slovakia's second largest party after the Slovak parliamentary election, 1990
, Čarnogurský became the vice-prime minister of Slovakia and in June 1990. After the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia split from the Public against Violence
, i.e. from the party that had won the 1990 elections, Čarnogurský took over the post of the prime minister of Slovakia in April 1991.
During this period characterized by quarrels between Czechs and Slovaks concerning the future of their co-existence he became famous by his statement that in the future Slovakia should have its own "little [European] star" in Europe, which at the time of existence of Czechoslovakia was a shocking statement.
he ceased to be prime minister and was a deputy to the National Council of the Slovak Republic
(Slovak parliament) as an opposition member and strong Mečiar
opponent from 1992 to 1998.
After the 1998 election
he was the Minister of Justice of Slovakia from 1998 to 2002.
became the new chairman of the Christian Democratic Movement
.
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
politician, a former Prime Minister of Slovakia (1991–1992) and the former chairman of the Christian Democratic Movement
Christian Democratic Movement
The Christian Democratic Movement is a political party in Slovakia.It is represented in the parliament. It was also member of the government coalition, but it left that coalition on 7 February 2006 due to disputes over an international treaty between Slovakia and the Holy See dealing with the...
(1990–2000).
He is married and has 4 children.
Before 1989
He studied Law at the Charles University in Prague (graduation in 1969) and at the Comenius University in Bratislava (Doctor's title in 1971). From 1970 to 1981, first he was active as a junior attorney-at-law, then as an attorney-at-law in Bratislava, and was member of a section of the Center of Czech and Slovak attorneys-at-law. In 1981, he was deprived of his attorney-at-law licence by the Communist authorities, because he had defended a person in a political process. However, he continued to provide legal advice to opposition (Charta 77) and religious activists. Between 1982 and 1986 first he was active as a driver, then as a company lawyer. In 1987 he was fired and remained unemployed. He was an important figure in the secret church in Slovakia and, between 1987 and 1989, he published illegally the magazine Bratislavské listy (Bratislava Papers). He represented the Christian Democratic wing within the Anti-Communist opposition in Czechoslovakia.1989–1992
Shortly before the Velvet RevolutionVelvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
, on August 14, 1989, he was imprisoned and released only after the collapse of the Communist regime through a presidential amnesty on November 25, 1989. From December 1989 to April 1990 he was the first vice-prime minister, since April to June 1990 the vice-prime minister of Czechoslovakia. He was a co-founder and, since February 1990, the chairman of the Christian Democratic Movement
Christian Democratic Movement
The Christian Democratic Movement is a political party in Slovakia.It is represented in the parliament. It was also member of the government coalition, but it left that coalition on 7 February 2006 due to disputes over an international treaty between Slovakia and the Holy See dealing with the...
of Slovakia. Since the Christian Democratic Movement was Slovakia's second largest party after the Slovak parliamentary election, 1990
Slovak parliamentary election, 1990
The 1990 parliamentary elections in Slovakia took place on 8 and 9 June 1990.These elections were the first elections after the Velvet Revolution, i.e. the first free elections since 1946. They took place within the Czechoslovak parliamentary election, 1990, i.e...
, Čarnogurský became the vice-prime minister of Slovakia and in June 1990. After the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia split from the Public against Violence
Public Against Violence
The Public Against Violence was a political movement that was established in Bratislava, Slovakia on 20 November 1989. It was the Slovak counterpart of the Czech Civic Forum ....
, i.e. from the party that had won the 1990 elections, Čarnogurský took over the post of the prime minister of Slovakia in April 1991.
During this period characterized by quarrels between Czechs and Slovaks concerning the future of their co-existence he became famous by his statement that in the future Slovakia should have its own "little [European] star" in Europe, which at the time of existence of Czechoslovakia was a shocking statement.
1992–2002
After the 1992 electionSlovak parliamentary election, 1992
The 1992 parliamentary elections in Slovakia took place on 5 and 6 June 1992.These elections were the second elections after the Velvet Revolution. They took place within the Czechoslovak parliamentary election, 1992, i.e...
he ceased to be prime minister and was a deputy to the National Council of the Slovak Republic
National Council of the Slovak Republic
The National Council of the Slovak Republic , abbreviated to NR SR, is the national parliament of Slovakia. It is unicameral, and consists of 150 MPs, who are elected by universal suffrage under proportional representation every four years....
(Slovak parliament) as an opposition member and strong Mečiar
Vladimír Meciar
Vladimír Mečiar is a Slovak politician who was Prime Minister of Slovakia from 1990 to 1991, from 1992 to 1994, and from 1994 to 1998. He is the leader of the People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia...
opponent from 1992 to 1998.
After the 1998 election
Slovak parliamentary election, 1998
The 1998 parliamentary elections in Slovakia took place on 25 and 26 September 1998. Elections are regarded as a pivotal point in Slovak history after the fall of communism by bringing the government of Vladimír Mečiar to end.- Results :...
he was the Minister of Justice of Slovakia from 1998 to 2002.
After 2002
In 2002, he retired from politics altogether and has been working as an attorney-at-law since. Pavol HrušovskýPavol Hrušovský
Pavol Hrušovský was the Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic from 15 October 2002 to 7 February 2006 and party leader of the Christian Democratic Movement....
became the new chairman of the Christian Democratic Movement
Christian Democratic Movement
The Christian Democratic Movement is a political party in Slovakia.It is represented in the parliament. It was also member of the government coalition, but it left that coalition on 7 February 2006 due to disputes over an international treaty between Slovakia and the Holy See dealing with the...
.
Secondary functions
- February 1990 – August 1990: chairman of the Legislative Council of the Czechoslovak government
- November 2 – November 22, 1990: temporary leader of the Ministry of the Interior of Slovakia
- 1990–1991: chairman of the Slovak government Council for Information Policy and Mass media and chairman of the Slovak government Council for Nationalities and Ethnic Groups
- 1993–1994: vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CSCECommission on Security and Cooperation in EuropeThe Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe , also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent U.S. Government agency created by Congress in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE commitments. It was established in 1976 pursuant to...
- December 1994 – October 1998: member of the Permanent Delegation of the National Council of the Slovak Republic at the Parliamentary Assembly of the CSCE
- 1991–(?)1998: member of the Permanent Delegation of the National Council of the Slovak Republic at the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCEOrganization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeThe Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
- 1997 – ? (1998?/2002?): vice-president of the European Union of Christian Democrats (EUCD)
Works
- Trpeli za vieru (They suffered for the faith; 1991)
- Videné od Dunaja (Seen from the Danube; 1997): his speeches and articles
- The Fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia