Majda Širca
Encyclopedia
Majda Širca Ravnikar is a Slovenia
n art historian, journalist
and politician
. She is currently serving as Minister of Culture
in the left-wing government of Borut Pahor
.
She was born in Postojna
, then part of the People's Republic of Slovenia of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. She spent her youth in the Karst
region in western Slovenia. She attended elementary school in Štanjel
and Dutovlje
, and high school in Postojna. She has a degree in art history from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana
. She worked as a journalist at Slovenian State Television in cultural
programming, especially dealing with art film
. During this time, she produced more than 60 short documentary films.
In 1997, she was appointed State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture under Jožef Školč
. In the 2000 parliamentary elections
, she was elected to the Slovenian National Assembly on the list of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
. She was re-elected in 2004
. During the centre-right government of Janez Janša
between 2004 and 2008, she emerged as the main opposition speaker in culture and media policy, strongly criticizing conservative Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti
. The two developed a personal animosity, which was well known to the public.
In 2007, she left the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia party and became one of the founding member of the social liberal party Zares
. After the victory of the leftist parties in the parliamentary election of 2008
, she was appointed Minister of Culture in the government of Borut Pahor
.
Majda Širca was married to the late Slovenian architect Vojteh Ravnikar
.
Slovenia
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...
n art historian, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She is currently serving as 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....
in the left-wing government of Borut Pahor
Borut Pahor
Borut Pahor is a Slovenian politician who has been Prime Minister of Slovenia since 2008. A longtime president of the Social Democrats party, Pahor served several terms as a member of the National Assembly and was its chairman from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, Pahor was elected as member of the European...
.
She was born in Postojna
Postojna
Postojna is a town and a municipality in the traditional region of Inner Carniola, from Trieste, in southwestern Slovenia. Population 14,581 .-History:...
, then part of the People's Republic of Slovenia of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. She spent her youth in the Karst
Kras
Karst ; also known as the Karst Plateau, is a limestone borderline plateau region extending in southwestern Slovenia and northeastern Italy. It lies between the Vipava Valley, the low hills surrounding the valley, the westernmost part of the Brkini Hills, northern Istria, and the Gulf of Trieste...
region in western Slovenia. She attended elementary school in Štanjel
Štanjel
Štanjel is a village in the Komen Municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia. It is located on the Kras plateau overlooking the Vipava Valley. In the 17th century it was fortificated to defend it against Ottoman raids...
and Dutovlje
Dutovlje
Dutovlje is a settlement in the Sežana Municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia close to the border with Italy.The Parish Church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint George and belongs to the Diocese of Koper.-External links:*...
, and high school in Postojna. She has a degree in art history from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With 64,000 enrolled graduate and postgraduate students, it is among the largest universities in Europe.-Beginnings:...
. She worked as a journalist at Slovenian State Television in cultural
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
programming, especially dealing with art film
Art film
An art film is the result of filmmaking which is typically a serious, independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience...
. During this time, she produced more than 60 short documentary films.
In 1997, she was appointed State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture under Jožef Školč
Jožef Školc
Jožef Školč is a Slovenian left liberal politician. He is currently serving as State Secretary for the Relations with NGOs in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Slovenia....
. In the 2000 parliamentary elections
Slovenian parliamentary election, 2000
Parliamentary elections were held in Slovenia on 15 October 2000. The result was a victory for Liberal Democracy of Slovenia, which won 34 of the 90 seats. Following the election, Liberal Democracy leader Janez Drnovšek returned to the post of Prime Minister....
, she was elected to the Slovenian National Assembly on the list of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia is a liberal political party in Slovenia. It is led by Katarina Kresal and is a member of the Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party...
. She was re-elected in 2004
Slovenian parliamentary election, 2004
-Delegation of Socialni demokrati [United List of Social Democrats]:-Delegation of Liberalna demokracija Slovenije [Liberal Democracy of Slovenia]:-Delegation of Nova Slovenija [New Slovenia]:...
. During 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, she emerged as the main opposition speaker in culture and media policy, strongly criticizing conservative Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti
Vasko Simoniti
Vasko Simoniti is a Slovenian historian and politician. Between 2004 and 2008, he served as the Minister of Culture of Slovenia...
. The two developed a personal animosity, which was well known to the public.
In 2007, she left the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia party and became one of the founding member of the social liberal party Zares
Zares
Zares – Social Liberals is a social-liberal political party in Slovenia. Its president is Gregor Golobič, former Secretary General of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia and former close advisor to the late Janez Drnovšek, who had previously abandoned active political involvement due to...
. After the victory of the leftist parties in the parliamentary election 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...
, she was appointed Minister of Culture in the government of Borut Pahor
Borut Pahor
Borut Pahor is a Slovenian politician who has been Prime Minister of Slovenia since 2008. A longtime president of the Social Democrats party, Pahor served several terms as a member of the National Assembly and was its chairman from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, Pahor was elected as member of the European...
.
Majda Širca was married to the late Slovenian architect Vojteh Ravnikar
Vojteh Ravnikar
Vojteh Ravnikar was a Slovenian architect.-Early life:Ravnikar was born in Ljubljana, in what was then the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, but spent most of his childhood years in the town of Nova Gorica in western Slovenia...
.