Marián Calfa
Encyclopedia
Marián Čalfa was a Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia during and after the Velvet Revolution
, as well as acting President for 19 days, and was a key facilitator of smooth power transfer from the Communists to a new democratic representation.
An ethnic Slovak
, he was a member of KSČ, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
. From 1985, he worked as the head of a legislative department of the Czechoslovak federal government. In April 1988, he became a minister - the chairman of the legislative committee. During the Velvet Revolution, on 10 December 1989, he was appointed Prime Minister
of Czechoslovakia in place of discredited Ladislav Adamec
. As President
Gustáv Husák
resigned from his office on the same day, Čalfa also assumed the power of acting President until the election of Václav Havel
on 29 December.
He was the last Communist Prime Minister
, on 18 January 1990 leaving the KSČ to join the Public Against Violence
(VPN) party and, when it dissolved in April 1991, became a leading member of the Civic Democratic Union (ODU-VPN).
Both cabinets headed by Čalfa succeeded in introducing key reform laws, facilitating the transition from Communism to a free capitalist society. He had a strong support of all relevant political powers, including both President Václav Havel and increasingly confident Finance Minister Václav Klaus
.
Čalfa resigned from the Federal Government after a defeat of Public Against Violence in elections of 1992. He was succeeded by caretaker Jan Stráský
, whose major task was the execution of Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
. Since then, Čalfa has been working as a lawyer
in Prague
, Czech Republic
, heading law firm
Čalfa, Bartošík a Partneři.
During his tenure as Prime Minister, Čalfa was, occasionally, a target of criticism for his Communist past. Some considered it as a proof, that the Velvet Revolution was unfinished or even "stolen" by members of the past nomenklatura
. Presently, historians consider him as a "power behind the throne
", who greatly contributed to the smoothness and speed of Velvet Revolution and election of Václav Havel as President. Even though he was a Communist, he used his negotiation skills in the critical moments against his comrades and talked them into compromises, which were more radical that even those the representatives of Civic Forum thought of.
Many politicians of the subsequent democratic era, including Václav Klaus and perhaps Václav Havel, said that they learned many things about real politics from Čalfa.
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
, as well as acting President for 19 days, and was a key facilitator of smooth power transfer from the Communists to a new democratic representation.
An ethnic Slovak
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
, he was a member of KSČ, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
. From 1985, he worked as the head of a legislative department of the Czechoslovak federal government. In April 1988, he became a minister - the chairman of the legislative committee. During the Velvet Revolution, on 10 December 1989, he was appointed 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...
of Czechoslovakia in place of discredited Ladislav Adamec
Ladislav Adamec
Ladislav Adamec was a Czechoslovak Communist political figure. Upon the retirement of Prime Minister Lubomír Štrougal in October 1988, Adamec assumed the role, thus serving as the last Communist leader of Czechoslovakia. He served from October 12, 1988 to December 7, 1989...
. As President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Gustáv Husák
Gustáv Husák
Gustáv Husák was a Slovak politician, president of Czechoslovakia and a long-term Communist leader of Czechoslovakia and of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia...
resigned from his office on the same day, Čalfa also assumed the power of acting President until the election of Václav Havel
Václav Havel
Václav Havel is a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician. He was the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic . He has written over twenty plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally...
on 29 December.
He was the last Communist 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 18 January 1990 leaving the KSČ to join 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 ....
(VPN) party and, when it dissolved in April 1991, became a leading member of the Civic Democratic Union (ODU-VPN).
Both cabinets headed by Čalfa succeeded in introducing key reform laws, facilitating the transition from Communism to a free capitalist society. He had a strong support of all relevant political powers, including both President Václav Havel and increasingly confident Finance Minister Václav Klaus
Václav Klaus
Václav Klaus is the second President of the Czech Republic and a former Prime Minister .An economist, he is co-founder of the Civic Democratic Party, the Czech Republic's largest center-right political party. Klaus is a eurosceptic, but he reluctantly endorsed the Lisbon treaty as president of...
.
Čalfa resigned from the Federal Government after a defeat of Public Against Violence in elections of 1992. He was succeeded by caretaker Jan Stráský
Jan Stráský
Jan Stráský is a Czech politician.Stráský studied philosophy and political economy at the Charles University in Prague. During the 1960s-'80s he worked at the Central bank of Czechoslovakia...
, whose major task was the execution of Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
The dissolution of Czechoslovakia, which took effect on 1 January 1993, was an event that saw the self-determined separation of the federal state of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia, entities which had arisen in 1969 within the framework of Czechoslovak federalisation, became...
. Since then, Čalfa has been working as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, heading law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
Čalfa, Bartošík a Partneři.
During his tenure as Prime Minister, Čalfa was, occasionally, a target of criticism for his Communist past. Some considered it as a proof, that the Velvet Revolution was unfinished or even "stolen" by members of the past nomenklatura
Nomenklatura
The nomenklatura were a category of people within the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries who held various key administrative positions in all spheres of those countries' activity: government, industry, agriculture, education, etc., whose positions were granted only with approval by the...
. Presently, historians consider him as a "power behind the throne
Power behind the throne
The phrase power behind the throne refers to a person or group that informally exercises the real power of an office. In politics, it most commonly refers to a spouse, aide, or advisor of a political leader who serves as de facto leader, setting policy through influence or manipulation.The...
", who greatly contributed to the smoothness and speed of Velvet Revolution and election of Václav Havel as President. Even though he was a Communist, he used his negotiation skills in the critical moments against his comrades and talked them into compromises, which were more radical that even those the representatives of Civic Forum thought of.
Many politicians of the subsequent democratic era, including Václav Klaus and perhaps Václav Havel, said that they learned many things about real politics from Čalfa.