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{{short description|7th Prime Minister of Slovakia}}
{{short description|7th Prime Minister of Slovakia}}
{{distinguish|Igor Mirović}}
{{distinguish|Igor Mirović}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Igor Matovič
| name = Igor Matovič
| image = File:Igor Matovič after an interview (2020).jpg
| image = Igor Matovič after an interview (2020).jpg
| office2 = Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia
| caption = Matovič in 2020
| alongside2 = [[Štefan Holý]], [[Veronika Remišová]] and [[Richard Sulík]]
| office = [[Prime Minister of Slovakia]]
| primeminister2 = [[Eduard Heger]]
| president = [[Zuzana Čaputová]]
| termstart2 = 1 April 2021
| deputy = {{List collapsed|title={{nobold|''See list''}}
⚫
| 1 = Eduard Heger
⚫
| termend2 = 23 December 2022
⚫
| 2 = [[Štefan Holý]]
⚫
| office3 = [[List of Ministers of Finance of Slovakia|Minister of Finance]]
⚫
| 3 = [[Veronika Remišová]]
⚫
| 4 = [[Richard Sulík]]
⚫
}}
⚫
| termstart = 21 March 2020
⚫
| termend = 1 April 2021
⚫
| predecessor = [[Peter Pellegrini]]
| successor = [[Eduard Heger]]
⚫
| office5 = Member of the [[National Council of Slovakia|National Council]]
⚫
| termstart5 = 23 December 2022
⚫
| termend1 =
⚫
| termstart6 = 8 July 2010
⚫
| termend6 = 21 March 2020
⚫
| office3 = Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia
| alongside3 = Štefan Holý, Veronika Remišová, and Richard Sulík
| primeminister3 = Eduard Heger
| primeminister3 = Eduard Heger
| termstart3 = 1 April 2021
| termstart3 = 1 April 2021
| termend3 = 23 December 2022
| termend3 = 23 December 2022
| predecessor3 = Eduard Heger
| office4 = Minister of Finance
| successor3 = Eduard Heger
| primeminister4 = Eduard Heger
| office4 = [[Prime Minister of Slovakia]]
| termstart4 = 1 April 2021
| president4 = [[Zuzana Čaputová]]
| termend4 = 23 December 2022
| termstart4 = 21 March 2020
| predecessor4 = Eduard Heger
⚫
| termend4 = 1 April 2021
⚫
| predecessor4 = [[Peter Pellegrini]]
| successor4 = Eduard Heger
| successor4 = Eduard Heger
| office1 =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|05|11|df=y}}
⚫
| termstart1 = 8 July 2010
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|5|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Trnava]], [[Czechoslovak Socialist Republic|Czechoslovakia]]<br>(now [[Slovakia]])
| birth_place = [[Trnava]], [[Czechoslovak Socialist Republic|Czechoslovakia]]<br>(now [[Slovakia]])
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|Pavlína Matovičová|1999}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Pavlína Matovičová|1999}}
| children = 2 daughters
| children = 2 daughters
| education =
| education =
| party = [[Ordinary People and Independent Personalities]] {{nowrap|(2011–present)}}
| party = [[Slovakia (political party)|Slovakia]] (since 2011)
| otherparty =
| otherparty = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (2010–2011)
| signature =
| signature =
⚫
| termend1 = 21 March 2021
| alma_mater = [[Comenius University]] ([[Magister degree#German-speaking Europe and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe|Mgr.]])
| alma_mater = [[Comenius University]] ([[Magister degree#German-speaking Europe and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe|Mgr.]])
| deputy4 = {{List collapsed|title=''See list''
| office6 =
| office7 = Leader of [[Slovakia (political party)|Slovakia]]
⚫
|1=Eduard Heger
| termstart7 = 28 October 2011
⚫
|2=Štefan Holý
| predecessor7 = Office established
⚫
|3=Veronika Remišová
⚫
|4=Richard Sulík
}}
}}
⚫
'''Igor Matovič''' (born 11 May 1973) is a Slovak politician and former businessman. He previously served as Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia and [[List of Ministers of Finance of Slovakia|Minister of Finance]] from April 2021 to December 2022 and prime minister from March 2020 to March 2021.
⚫
| caption = Matovič in 2020
⚫
| office = Member of the [[National Council (Slovakia)|National Council]]
⚫
| termstart = 23 December 2022
⚫
}}
⚫
'''Igor Matovič''' (born May 11, 1973) is a Slovak politician and former businessman. He previously served as Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia and [[List of Ministers of Finance of Slovakia|Minister of Finance]] from April 2021 to December 2022 and Prime Minister from March 2020 to March 2021.


Born in [[Trnava]], he studied at [[Comenius University]] and went into the publishing business. Elected to the [[National Council (Slovakia)|National Council]] in [[2010 Slovak parliamentary election|2010]] on the [[Freedom and Solidarity]] party list, Matovič founded the [[Ordinary People (Slovakia)|Ordinary People]] (Obyčajní ľudia) movement in 2011, which ran on an [[anti-corruption]] platform and was politically aligned with the [[Centre-right politics|centre right]]. His anti-corruption campaigning has been marked by "publicity stunts to shine a light on alleged graft",<ref>{{Cite news|agency=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/21/slovakia-president-appoints-centre-right-coalition-government|title=Slovakia president appoints centre-right coalition government|date=21 March 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 March 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> particularly focusing on [[parliamentary privilege]]s and [[bribery]].
Born in [[Trnava]], Matovič studied at [[Comenius University]] and went into the publishing business. Elected to the [[National Council (Slovakia)|National Council]] in the [[2010 Slovak parliamentary election]] on the [[Freedom and Solidarity]] party list, Matovič founded the [[Ordinary People (Slovakia)|Ordinary People]] (''Obyčajní ľudia'') movement in 2011, which ran on an [[anti-corruption]] platform and was politically aligned with the [[centre-right]]. His anti-corruption campaigning has been marked by "publicity stunts to shine a light on alleged graft",<ref>{{Cite news|title=Slovakia president appoints centre-right coalition government|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/21/slovakia-president-appoints-centre-right-coalition-government|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=21 March 2020|access-date=24 March 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> particularly focusing on [[parliamentary privilege]]s and [[bribery]].


In the [[2020 Slovak parliamentary election|2020 election]], his party obtained a sufficient number of seats to form a coalition government with three other centrist and right-wing parties. Matovič's choices for his [[Matovič's Cabinet|Cabinet]] were accepted by President [[Zuzana Čaputová]] and he was appointed Prime Minister on 21 March 2020. He resigned on 1 April 2021 to be appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the [[Heger's Cabinet|Cabinet]] of [[Eduard Heger]].
In the [[2020 Slovak parliamentary election]], his party obtained a sufficient number of seats to form a coalition government with three other centrist and right-wing parties. The choices for [[Matovič's Cabinet]] were accepted by the then Slovak president [[Zuzana Čaputová]] and he was appointed prime minister on 21 March 2020. He resigned on 1 April 2021 to be appointed deputy prime minister and Minister of Finance in the [[cabinet of Eduard Heger]].


As of 2022, Igor Matovič is the most distrusted Slovak political figure in the Slovak public, with a 91% distrust score.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Petit Press a.s|date=2022-10-16 |title=Poll: Sulík's approval rating has fallen to a record low |url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/23035023/prieskum-focus-doveryhodnost-pellegrini-caputova-fico-sulik.html |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=domov.sme.sk |language=sk}}</ref>
As of 2022, Matovič is the most distrusted Slovak political figure in the Slovak public, with a 91% distrust score.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Poll: Sulík's approval rating has fallen to a record low |url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/23035023/prieskum-focus-doveryhodnost-pellegrini-caputova-fico-sulik.html|date=16 October 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|website=Sme|publisher=Petit Press|language=sk}}</ref>


==Early life and business career==
==Early life and business career==
Igor Matovič was born in Trnava on May 11, 1973. In 1993, he began to study at the Faculty of Management at [[Comenius University]], graduating in 1998.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kirschbaum |first1=Stanislav J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wzefAgAAQBAJ&q=Igor+Matovi%C4%8D+1973&pg=PA213 |title=Historical Dictionary of Slovakia |date=2013 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-8030-6 |page=213}}</ref> However, as Matovič admitted in 2021, he plagiarized his diploma thesis.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prime Minister publicly admits plagiarizing his diploma thesis |url=https://enrsi.rtvs.sk/articles/economics-and-politics/229885/prime-minister-publicly-admits-plagiarizing-his-diploma-thesis |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=rtvs.sk}}</ref>
Igor Matovič was born in Trnava on 11 May 1973. In 1993, he began to study at the Faculty of Management at [[Comenius University]], graduating in 1998.<ref>{{cite book|first=Stanislav|last=Kirschbaum|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wzefAgAAQBAJ&q=Igor+Matovi%C4%8D+1973&pg=PA213 |title=Historical Dictionary of Slovakia|date=2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-8030-6|page=213}}</ref> However, as Matovič admitted in 2021, he plagiarized his diploma thesis.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Prime Minister publicly admits plagiarizing his diploma thesis|url=https://enrsi.rtvs.sk/articles/economics-and-politics/229885/prime-minister-publicly-admits-plagiarizing-his-diploma-thesis|website=RTVS|date=1 November 2022}}</ref>


He founded a business in 1997 and worked as the chief executive of a local media publishing house from 2002 to 2010. Matovič later signed over his assets to his wife, Pavlína (née Repaska).{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} [[Agence France-Presse]] described him as an "eccentric self-made millionaire and former media boss" who had become "a media-savvy but unpredictable politician".<ref name="AFP" />
He founded a business in 1997 and worked as the chief executive of a local media publishing house from 2002 to 2010. Matovič later signed over his assets to his wife, Pavlína (née Repaska).{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} [[Agence France-Presse]] described him as an "eccentric self-made millionaire and former media boss" who had become "a media-savvy but unpredictable politician".<ref name="AFP"/>


==Political career==
==Political career==
In 2010, Matovič founded the [[Ordinary People (Slovakia)|Ordinary People]] (Obyčajní ľudia) civic movement, which was generally [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] and emphasized [[anti-corruption]]. Matovič advertised the civic movement using free leaflets distributed by his family's press company.<ref name="noviny">{{cite news |title=Igor Matovič |work=Webnoviny.sk |url=https://www.webnoviny.sk/osobnosti/igor-matovic/ |access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> Along with three other OĽaNO MPs, he first won election at the [[2010 Slovak parliamentary election|2010 election]] on the [[Freedom and Solidarity]] (SaS) list. He sat in the SaS [[caucus]] until February the following year, when he supported the opposition [[Direction – Social Democracy|Smer]]'s proposed restrictions on [[Multiple citizenship]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Coalition loses another MP |author=Michaela Terenzani-Stanková |url=http://spectator.sme.sk/articles/view/41611/2/coalition_loses_another_mp.html |newspaper=[[The Slovak Spectator]] |date=10 February 2011 |access-date=20 March 2011}}</ref> Matovič's opposition to the government's position led to SaS being dropped from the coalition. In 2011, [[Iveta Radičová]]'s government fell apart, which led to [[2012 Slovak parliamentary election|new elections in 2012]]. Led by Matovič, Ordinary People was reconstituted into OĽaNO (Ordinary People and Independent Personalities), an independent political party. OĽaNO won 8.55% and 16 seats. He stayed in the opposition as he was unwilling to work with [[Smer-SD]].<ref name="noviny" />
In 2010, Matovič founded the [[Ordinary People (Slovakia)|Ordinary People]] (Obyčajní ľudia) civic movement, which was generally [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] and emphasized [[anti-corruption]]. Matovič advertised the civic movement using free leaflets distributed by his family's press company.<ref name="noviny">{{cite news|title=Igor Matovič|url=https://www.webnoviny.sk/osobnosti/igor-matovic/|website=Web noviny|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> Along with three other OĽaNO MPs, he first won election at the [[2010 Slovak parliamentary election|2010 election]] on the [[Freedom and Solidarity]] (SaS) list. He sat in the SaS [[caucus]] until February the following year, when he supported the opposition [[Direction – Social Democracy|Smer]]'s proposed restrictions on [[Multiple citizenship]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Michaela|last=Terenzani-Stanková|title=Coalition loses another MP|url=http://spectator.sme.sk/articles/view/41611/2/coalition_loses_another_mp.html|newspaper=[[The Slovak Spectator]]|date=10 February 2011|access-date=20 March 2011}}</ref> Matovič's opposition to the government's position led to SaS being dropped from the coalition. In 2011, [[Iveta Radičová]]'s government fell apart, which led to [[2012 Slovak parliamentary election|new elections in 2012]]. Led by Matovič, Ordinary People was reconstituted into OĽaNO (Ordinary People and Independent Personalities), an independent political party. OĽaNO won 8.55% and 16 seats. He stayed in the opposition as he was unwilling to work with [[Smer-SD]].<ref name="noviny"/>


As leader of OĽaNO, Matovič attracted attention by campaigning against corruption. To oppose [[parliamentary immunity]], he parked his car on a pedestrian crossing and showed his parliamentary pass to police who tried to tow it;<ref name=parking>{{cite news |title= Matovič zaparkoval na priechode, mobilizoval pred referendom |url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/5551364/matovic-zaparkoval-na-priechode-mobilizoval-pred-referendom.html |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=SME |date=16 September 2010}}</ref> to oppose corruption, he took a [[polygraph]] test stating that he had never accepted bribes.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news |last1=Cameron |first1=Rob |title=Europe's Mr Ordinary prepares for power |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51718395 |access-date=14 March 2020 |work=BBC News |date=4 March 2020}}</ref> However, [[Robert Fico]] accused Matovič of impropriety in effecting a fictitious sale of the regionPRESS business for 122&nbsp;million [[Slovak koruna]] to employee Pavel Vandák, who supposedly got the money from an internal account. Matovič denies this.<ref name="noviny" />
As leader of OĽaNO, Matovič attracted attention by campaigning against corruption. To oppose [[parliamentary immunity]], he parked his car on a pedestrian crossing and showed his parliamentary pass to police who tried to tow it;<ref name=parking>{{cite news|title=Matovič zaparkoval na priechode, mobilizoval pred referendom|url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/5551364/matovic-zaparkoval-na-priechode-mobilizoval-pred-referendom.html |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=Sme|date=16 September 2010}}</ref> to oppose corruption, he took a [[polygraph]] test stating that he had never accepted bribes.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|first=Rob|last=Cameron|title=Europe's Mr Ordinary prepares for power |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51718395 |access-date=14 March 2020 |work=BBC News |date=4 March 2020}}</ref> However, [[Robert Fico]] accused Matovič of impropriety in effecting a fictitious sale of the regionPRESS business for 122&nbsp;million [[Slovak koruna]] to employee Pavel Vandák, who supposedly got the money from an internal account. Matovič denies this.<ref name="noviny" />


==Prime Minister of Slovakia==
==Prime Minister of Slovakia==
Matovič's party OĽaNO got the plurality of votes in the [[2020 Slovak parliamentary election]] on February 29, 2020, winning 53 seats in the 150-member National Council with 25.02% of the vote.<ref name=AFP>{{cite news |title=Slovakia election: seismic shift as public anger ousts dominant Smer-SD party |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/01/slovakia-election-centre-right-olano-wins-poll-on-anti-graft-platform |access-date=20 March 2020 |work=The Guardian |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=1 March 2020}}</ref> Corruption was a major issue in the election, which helped Matovič, who had long positioned himself as an anti-corruption activist.<ref>{{cite news |title=Slovakia: the end of Smer's rule, the triumph of Igor Matovič |url=https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2020-03-02/slovakia-end-smers-rule-triumph-igor-matovic |access-date=20 March 2020 |work=OSW Centre for Eastern Studies |date=2 March 2020}}</ref> On 13 March, Matovič announced he had reached an agreement for a governing coalition with the other centrist and right-wing parties [[We Are Family (Slovakia)|We Are Family]], [[Freedom and Solidarity]] and [[For the People (Slovakia)|For the People]], though they had not agreed upon a common governing program. He did not disclose his picks for the new cabinet.<ref>{{cite news |title=Slovak election winner secures four-party coalition with cabinet deal |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-slovakia-politics/slovak-election-winner-secures-four-party-coalition-with-cabinet-deal-idUSKBN21031O |access-date=14 March 2020 |work=Reuters |date=13 March 2020}}</ref> Matovič submitted his cabinet selection to President [[Zuzana Čaputová]] on 16 March; she accepted all of the appointments. The [[Cabinet of Igor Matovič|new cabinet's composition]] was revealed on 18 March and was sworn in on 21 March.<ref>{{cite news |title=Matovič predstaví ministrov zrejme až v stredu |url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/22360981/matovic-zrejme-v-utorok-ministrov-nepredstavi.html |access-date=20 March 2020 |work=[[Denník SME]] |agency=[[TASR]] |date=17 March 2020 |language=sk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Nie Grendel, ministrom vnútra bude Mikulec. Matovič predstavil svoju vládu |url=https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/2114415-novi-ministri-vlada-igor-matovic |access-date=20 March 2020 |work=HNonline |agency=[[TASR]] |date=18 March 2020 |language=sk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Brokaw |first1=Sommer |title=Igor Matovic sworn in as Slovakia's prime minister |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/03/21/Igor-Matovic-sworn-in-as-Slovakias-prime-minister/4591584810212/ |website=UPI |access-date=21 March 2020}}</ref>
Matovič's party OĽaNO got the plurality of votes in the [[2020 Slovak parliamentary election]] on 29 February 2020, winning 53 seats in the 150-member National Council with 25.02% of the vote.<ref name=AFP>{{cite news |title=Slovakia election: seismic shift as public anger ousts dominant Smer-SD party |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/01/slovakia-election-centre-right-olano-wins-poll-on-anti-graft-platform |access-date=20 March 2020 |work=The Guardian |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=1 March 2020}}</ref> Corruption was a major issue in the election, which helped Matovič, who had long positioned himself as an anti-corruption activist.<ref>{{cite news |title=Slovakia: the end of Smer's rule, the triumph of Igor Matovič |url=https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2020-03-02/slovakia-end-smers-rule-triumph-igor-matovic|work=OSW Centre for Eastern Studies |date=2 March 2020|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> On 13 March, Matovič announced he had reached an agreement for a governing coalition with the other centrist and right-wing parties [[We Are Family (Slovakia)|We Are Family]], [[Freedom and Solidarity]] and [[For the People (Slovakia)|For the People]], though they had not agreed upon a common governing program. He did not disclose his picks for the new cabinet.<ref>{{cite news |title=Slovak election winner secures four-party coalition with cabinet deal |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-slovakia-politics/slovak-election-winner-secures-four-party-coalition-with-cabinet-deal-idUSKBN21031O |access-date=14 March 2020 |work=Reuters |date=13 March 2020}}</ref> Matovič submitted his cabinet selection to President [[Zuzana Čaputová]] on 16 March; she accepted all of the appointments. The [[Cabinet of Igor Matovič|new cabinet's composition]] was revealed on 18 March and was sworn in on 21 March.<ref>{{cite news |title=Matovič predstaví ministrov zrejme až v stredu |url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/22360981/matovic-zrejme-v-utorok-ministrov-nepredstavi.html |access-date=20 March 2020 |work=Sme|agency=[[TASR]] |date=17 March 2020 |language=sk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Nie Grendel, ministrom vnútra bude Mikulec. Matovič predstavil svoju vládu |url=https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/2114415-novi-ministri-vlada-igor-matovic |access-date=20 March 2020 |work=Hospodárské noviny|agency=[[TASR]] |date=18 March 2020 |language=sk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Sommer|last=Brokaw|title=Igor Matovic sworn in as Slovakia's prime minister |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/03/21/Igor-Matovic-sworn-in-as-Slovakias-prime-minister/4591584810212/ |website=UPI |access-date=21 March 2020}}</ref>


Sociologist of the Bratislava Policy Institute, Michal Vašečka, stated that "Matovič has started to transform the anger of the society into a [[Class conflict|class war]]: city vs. countryside, educated vs. uneducated, common people vs. the elites." He suggested that it would result in [[political polarization]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sirotnikova |first1=Miroslava German |title=Jan Kuciak: A Murder That Changed Slovakia |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/05/jan-kuciak-a-murder-that-changed-slovakia/ |access-date=5 August 2020 |work=Balkan Insight |date=5 August 2020}}</ref>
Sociologist of the Bratislava Policy Institute, Michal Vašečka, stated that "Matovič has started to transform the anger of the society into a [[Class conflict|class war]]: city vs. countryside, educated vs. uneducated, common people vs. the elites." He suggested that it would result in [[political polarization]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Miroslava German|last=Sirotnikova|title=Jan Kuciak: A Murder That Changed Slovakia |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/05/jan-kuciak-a-murder-that-changed-slovakia/|work=Balkan Insight |date=5 August 2020}}</ref>


=== Plagiarism controversy ===
===Plagiarism controversy===
In July 2020, Matovič admitted to plagiarizing his masters' thesis after an investigation from ''[[Denník N]]'' found that entire pages and charts were lifted from the sources. He said he would step down after all his election promises were fulfilled.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prime Minister Matovič is a plagiarist too |url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22448506/prime-minister-matovic-is-a-plagiarist-too.html |access-date=18 July 2020 |work=[[The Slovak Spectator]] |date=16 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Comenius University in Bratislava confirmed the plagiarism of the master's thesis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aj škola si prezrela Matovičovu diplomovku. Verdikt - doslovne odpísaná |url=https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/558437-matovicova-diplomovka-nesplna-kriteria-ani-teraz-ani-predtym/ |access-date=28 July 2020 |work=[[Pravda]] |date=27 July 2020 |language=sk}}</ref>
In July 2020, Matovič admitted to plagiarizing his masters' thesis after an investigation from ''[[Denník N]]'' found that entire pages and charts were lifted from the sources. He said he would step down after all his election promises were fulfilled.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prime Minister Matovič is a plagiarist too |url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22448506/prime-minister-matovic-is-a-plagiarist-too.html|work=[[The Slovak Spectator]] |date=16 July 2020 |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref> Comenius University in Bratislava confirmed the plagiarism of the master's thesis.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aj škola si prezrela Matovičovu diplomovku. Verdikt - doslovne odpísaná |url=https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/558437-matovicova-diplomovka-nesplna-kriteria-ani-teraz-ani-predtym/|website=[[Pravda (Slovakia)|Pravda]] |date=27 July 2020|access-date=28 July 2020|language=sk}}</ref>


=== Government crisis and resignation ===
===Government crisis and resignation===
In March 2021, MP and chair of the parliamentary European affairs committee [[Tomáš Valášek]] announced his quitting from the government coalition and the [[For the People (Slovakia)|For the People]] party in reaction to the purchase and subsequent arrival of the first 200,000 doses of the [[Sputnik V]] vaccine which Matovič and Minister of Health [[Marek Krajčí]] welcomed at the [[Košice International Airport|Košice airport]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Another MP quits coalition after Sputnik landing |url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22607981/another-mp-quits-the-coalition-after-sputnik-landing.html |access-date=7 April 2021 |work=[[The Slovak Spectator]] |date=1 March 2021}}</ref> Following weeks of negotiations during the government crisis which ensued, Matovič resigned as Prime Minister on 30 March 2021. A new government was appointed with former Minister of Finance [[Eduard Heger]] of [[Ordinary People and Independent Personalities|OĽANO]] becoming Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite news |title=Slovak president appoints Eduard Heger as prime minister |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-slovakia-government/slovak-president-appoints-eduard-heger-as-prime-minister-idUSKBN2BO4PS |access-date=7 April 2021 |date=1 April 2021 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>
In March 2021, MP and chair of the parliamentary European affairs committee [[Tomáš Valášek]] announced his quitting from the government coalition and the [[For the People (Slovakia)|For the People]] party in reaction to the purchase and subsequent arrival of the first 200,000 doses of the [[Sputnik V]] vaccine which Matovič and Minister of Health [[Marek Krajčí]] welcomed at the [[Košice International Airport|Košice airport]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Another MP quits coalition after Sputnik landing |url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22607981/another-mp-quits-the-coalition-after-sputnik-landing.html|website=[[The Slovak Spectator]]|date=1 March 2021|access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref> Following weeks of negotiations during the government crisis which ensued, Matovič resigned as prime minister on 30 March 2021. A new government was appointed with former Minister of Finance [[Eduard Heger]] of [[Ordinary People and Independent Personalities|OĽANO]] becoming prime minister.<ref>{{cite news |title=Slovak president appoints Eduard Heger as prime minister |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-slovakia-government/slovak-president-appoints-eduard-heger-as-prime-minister-idUSKBN2BO4PS|website=[[Reuters]]|date=1 April 2021|access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref>


As a result of the plagiarism scandal and government crisis, Matovič's approval rating tanked from 64% in April 2020<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-04-22|title=President Zuzana Caputova most trusted politician in Slovakia|url=https://kafkadesk.org/2020/04/22/president-zuzana-caputova-most-trusted-politician-in-slovakia/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-04|website=Kafkadesk}}</ref> to 15% in April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-04-21|title=President Caputova most trusted politician in Slovakia, poll shows|url=https://kafkadesk.org/2021/04/21/president-caputova-most-trusted-politician-in-slovakia-poll-shows/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-04|website=Kafkadesk}}</ref>
As a result of the plagiarism scandal and government crisis, Matovič's approval rating tanked from 64% in April 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=President Zuzana Caputova most trusted politician in Slovakia|url=https://kafkadesk.org/2020/04/22/president-zuzana-caputova-most-trusted-politician-in-slovakia/|date=22 April 2020|access-date=4 November 2021|website=Kafkadesk}}</ref> to 15% in April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=President Caputova most trusted politician in Slovakia, poll shows|url=https://kafkadesk.org/2021/04/21/president-caputova-most-trusted-politician-in-slovakia-poll-shows/|website=Kafkadesk|date=21 April 2021|access-date=4 November 2021}}</ref>


== Minister of finance ==
==Minister of finance==
Following the government crisis and his resignation as PM, Matovič was appointed Minister of Finance in the newly-formed [[Heger's Cabinet|Cabinet of Eduard Heger]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=1 April 2021|title=Who will stay and who will be replaced in the new government?|work=The Slovak Spectator|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22628742/who-will-stay-and-who-will-be-replaced-in-the-new-government.html?ref=tab|access-date=30 June 2021}}</ref>
Following the government crisis and his resignation as PM, Matovič was appointed Minister of Finance in the newly-formed [[Heger's Cabinet|Cabinet of Eduard Heger]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Who will stay and who will be replaced in the new government?|work=The Slovak Spectator|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22628742/who-will-stay-and-who-will-be-replaced-in-the-new-government.html?ref=tab|date=1 April 2021|access-date=30 June 2021}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
==Personal life==
Matovič is married to Pavlína Matovičová, with whom he has two daughters.
Matovič is married to Pavlína Matovičová, with whom he has two daughters.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Video: gor Matovič hlasoval v Trnave s manželkou a deťmi|url=https://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/igor-matovic-hlasoval-referendum/119021-clanok.html|website=Teraz|date=7 February 2015|language=sk}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Politicians from Trnava]]
[[Category:Politicians from Trnava]]
[[Category:OĽaNO politicians]]
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[[Category:Prime ministers of Slovakia]]
[[Category:Finance ministers of Slovakia]]
[[Category:Members of the National Council (Slovakia) 2010-2012]]
[[Category:Members of the National Council (Slovakia) 2010-2012]]
[[Category:Members of the National Council (Slovakia) 2012-2016]]
[[Category:Members of the National Council (Slovakia) 2012-2016]]
[[Category:Members of the National Council (Slovakia) 2016-2020]]
[[Category:Members of the National Council (Slovakia) 2016–2020]]
[[Category:OĽaNO politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the National Council (Slovakia) 2020–2023]]
[[Category:Prime Ministers of Slovakia]]
[[Category:Members of the National Council (Slovakia) 2023–2027]]
[[Category:Comenius University alumni]]
[[Category:Candidates for President of Slovakia]]
[[Category:People involved in plagiarism controversies]]
[[Category:Members of the National Council (Slovakia) 2020-present]]
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[[Category:Finance ministers of Slovakia]]
[[Category:Slovakian political party founders]]
[[Category:Slovakian political party founders]]
[[Category:Leaders of political parties in Slovakia]]
[[Category:Leaders of political parties in Slovakia]]
[[Category:Comenius University alumni]]

Latest revision as of 18:26, 5 September 2024

Not to be confused with Igor Mirović.

Igor Matovič
Matovič in 2020
Prime Minister of Slovakia
In office
21 March 2020 – 1 April 2021
PresidentZuzana Čaputová
Deputy
See list
Preceded byPeter Pellegrini
Succeeded byEduard Heger
Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia
In office
1 April 2021 – 23 December 2022
Serving with Štefan Holý, Veronika Remišová, and Richard Sulík
Prime MinisterEduard Heger
Minister of Finance
In office
1 April 2021 – 23 December 2022
Prime MinisterEduard Heger
Preceded byEduard Heger
Succeeded byEduard Heger
Member of the National Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
23 December 2022
In office
8 July 2010 – 21 March 2020
Leader of Slovakia
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 October 2011
Preceded byOffice established
Personal details
Born (1973-05-11) 11 May 1973 (age 51)
Trnava, Czechoslovakia
(now Slovakia)
Political partySlovakia (since 2011)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (2010–2011)
Spouse
Pavlína Matovičová
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2 daughters
Alma materComenius University (Mgr.)

Igor Matovič (born 11 May 1973) is a Slovak politician and former businessman. He previously served as Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia and Minister of Finance from April 2021 to December 2022 and prime minister from March 2020 to March 2021.

Born in Trnava, Matovič studied at Comenius University and went into the publishing business. Elected to the National Council in the 2010 Slovak parliamentary election on the Freedom and Solidarity party list, Matovič founded the Ordinary People (Obyčajní ľudia) movement in 2011, which ran on an anti-corruption platform and was politically aligned with the centre-right. His anti-corruption campaigning has been marked by "publicity stunts to shine a light on alleged graft",[1] particularly focusing on parliamentary privileges and bribery.

In the 2020 Slovak parliamentary election, his party obtained a sufficient number of seats to form a coalition government with three other centrist and right-wing parties. The choices for Matovič's Cabinet were accepted by the then Slovak president Zuzana Čaputová and he was appointed prime minister on 21 March 2020. He resigned on 1 April 2021 to be appointed deputy prime minister and Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Eduard Heger.

As of 2022, Matovič is the most distrusted Slovak political figure in the Slovak public, with a 91% distrust score.[2]

Early life and business career

[edit]

Igor Matovič was born in Trnava on 11 May 1973. In 1993, he began to study at the Faculty of Management at Comenius University, graduating in 1998.[3] However, as Matovič admitted in 2021, he plagiarized his diploma thesis.[4]

He founded a business in 1997 and worked as the chief executive of a local media publishing house from 2002 to 2010. Matovič later signed over his assets to his wife, Pavlína (née Repaska).[citation needed] Agence France-Presse described him as an "eccentric self-made millionaire and former media boss" who had become "a media-savvy but unpredictable politician".[5]

Political career

[edit]

In 2010, Matovič founded the Ordinary People (Obyčajní ľudia) civic movement, which was generally centre-right and emphasized anti-corruption. Matovič advertised the civic movement using free leaflets distributed by his family's press company.[6] Along with three other OĽaNO MPs, he first won election at the 2010 election on the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) list. He sat in the SaS caucus until February the following year, when he supported the opposition Smer's proposed restrictions on Multiple citizenship.[7] Matovič's opposition to the government's position led to SaS being dropped from the coalition. In 2011, Iveta Radičová's government fell apart, which led to new elections in 2012. Led by Matovič, Ordinary People was reconstituted into OĽaNO (Ordinary People and Independent Personalities), an independent political party. OĽaNO won 8.55% and 16 seats. He stayed in the opposition as he was unwilling to work with Smer-SD.[6]

As leader of OĽaNO, Matovič attracted attention by campaigning against corruption. To oppose parliamentary immunity, he parked his car on a pedestrian crossing and showed his parliamentary pass to police who tried to tow it;[8] to oppose corruption, he took a polygraph test stating that he had never accepted bribes.[9] However, Robert Fico accused Matovič of impropriety in effecting a fictitious sale of the regionPRESS business for 122 million Slovak koruna to employee Pavel Vandák, who supposedly got the money from an internal account. Matovič denies this.[6]

Prime Minister of Slovakia

[edit]

Matovič's party OĽaNO got the plurality of votes in the 2020 Slovak parliamentary election on 29 February 2020, winning 53 seats in the 150-member National Council with 25.02% of the vote.[5] Corruption was a major issue in the election, which helped Matovič, who had long positioned himself as an anti-corruption activist.[10] On 13 March, Matovič announced he had reached an agreement for a governing coalition with the other centrist and right-wing parties We Are Family, Freedom and Solidarity and For the People, though they had not agreed upon a common governing program. He did not disclose his picks for the new cabinet.[11] Matovič submitted his cabinet selection to President Zuzana Čaputová on 16 March; she accepted all of the appointments. The new cabinet's composition was revealed on 18 March and was sworn in on 21 March.[12][13][14]

Sociologist of the Bratislava Policy Institute, Michal Vašečka, stated that "Matovič has started to transform the anger of the society into a class war: city vs. countryside, educated vs. uneducated, common people vs. the elites." He suggested that it would result in political polarization.[15]

Plagiarism controversy

[edit]

In July 2020, Matovič admitted to plagiarizing his masters' thesis after an investigation from Denník N found that entire pages and charts were lifted from the sources. He said he would step down after all his election promises were fulfilled.[16] Comenius University in Bratislava confirmed the plagiarism of the master's thesis.[17]

Government crisis and resignation

[edit]

In March 2021, MP and chair of the parliamentary European affairs committee Tomáš Valášek announced his quitting from the government coalition and the For the People party in reaction to the purchase and subsequent arrival of the first 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine which Matovič and Minister of Health Marek Krajčí welcomed at the Košice airport.[18] Following weeks of negotiations during the government crisis which ensued, Matovič resigned as prime minister on 30 March 2021. A new government was appointed with former Minister of Finance Eduard Heger of OĽANO becoming prime minister.[19]

As a result of the plagiarism scandal and government crisis, Matovič's approval rating tanked from 64% in April 2020[20] to 15% in April 2021.[21]

Minister of finance

[edit]

Following the government crisis and his resignation as PM, Matovič was appointed Minister of Finance in the newly-formed Cabinet of Eduard Heger.[22]

Personal life

[edit]

Matovič is married to Pavlína Matovičová, with whom he has two daughters.[23]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Slovakia president appoints centre-right coalition government". The Guardian. 21 March 2020. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Poll: Sulík's approval rating has fallen to a record low". Sme (in Slovak). Petit Press. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  3. ^ Kirschbaum, Stanislav (2013). Historical Dictionary of Slovakia. Scarecrow Press. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-8108-8030-6.
  4. ^ "Prime Minister publicly admits plagiarizing his diploma thesis". RTVS. 1 November 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Slovakia election: seismic shift as public anger ousts dominant Smer-SD party". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Igor Matovič". Web noviny. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  7. ^ Terenzani-Stanková, Michaela (10 February 2011). "Coalition loses another MP". The Slovak Spectator. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  8. ^ "Matovič zaparkoval na priechode, mobilizoval pred referendom". Sme. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. ^ Cameron, Rob (4 March 2020). "Europe's Mr Ordinary prepares for power". BBC News. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Slovakia: the end of Smer's rule, the triumph of Igor Matovič". OSW Centre for Eastern Studies. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Slovak election winner secures four-party coalition with cabinet deal". Reuters. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Matovič predstaví ministrov zrejme až v stredu". Sme (in Slovak). TASR. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Nie Grendel, ministrom vnútra bude Mikulec. Matovič predstavil svoju vládu". Hospodárské noviny (in Slovak). TASR. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  14. ^ Brokaw, Sommer. "Igor Matovic sworn in as Slovakia's prime minister". UPI. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  15. ^ Sirotnikova, Miroslava German (5 August 2020). "Jan Kuciak: A Murder That Changed Slovakia". Balkan Insight.
  16. ^ "Prime Minister Matovič is a plagiarist too". The Slovak Spectator. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Aj škola si prezrela Matovičovu diplomovku. Verdikt - doslovne odpísaná". Pravda (in Slovak). 27 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Another MP quits coalition after Sputnik landing". The Slovak Spectator. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Slovak president appoints Eduard Heger as prime minister". Reuters. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  20. ^ "President Zuzana Caputova most trusted politician in Slovakia". Kafkadesk. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  21. ^ "President Caputova most trusted politician in Slovakia, poll shows". Kafkadesk. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Who will stay and who will be replaced in the new government?". The Slovak Spectator. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Video: gor Matovič hlasoval v Trnave s manželkou a deťmi". Teraz (in Slovak). 7 February 2015.
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