Andrej Kiska
Who was Andrej Kiska?
Slovak entrepreneur and philanthropist who served as the 4th President of Slovakia from 2014 to 2019. He founded the Good Angel foundation, one of Slovakia's largest charitable organizations.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Andrej Kiska (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Andrej Kiska was born on February 2, 1963, in Poprad, a city in northern Slovakia. He went to the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava to study technology but later focused on business and entrepreneurship. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he was involved in consumer finance and direct sales, which brought him significant success in Slovakia's economy during that time. Kiska was married twice, first to Martina Kisková and then to Mária Kisková, and they were both known for their charitable work.
Kiska started the Good Angel foundation, which became one of Slovakia's largest charitable organizations. It mainly helped families with seriously ill children, offering them financial and emotional support. Kiska's work in this area built his reputation on civic involvement and social responsibility, setting him apart from typical political figures and boosting his credibility as a presidential candidate.
In the 2014 Slovak presidential election, Kiska ran as an independent candidate without any party ties. He advanced to the second round, facing the incumbent Prime Minister Robert Fico of the SMER party. Kiska won decisively, becoming Slovakia's fourth president, marking a significant moment as an independent civic figure defeated a sitting prime minister. He was inaugurated in June 2014 and served a single five-year term.
As president, Kiska was known for promoting transparency, the rule of law, and close ties with the European Union and NATO. He criticized corruption and often called for judicial independence and government accountability. His term saw events like mass protests following the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée in 2018, which led Kiska to push harder for political reform. He chose not to run for a second presidential term in 2019.
After his presidency, Kiska returned to politics by starting the Za ľudí (For the People) party in 2019, showing his dedication to liberal democratic values and fighting corruption. He also wrote two books about happiness, personal success, and his own experiences. Throughout his career, he received many honors from Slovakia and allied nations, including the Ľudovít Štúr Order 1st class in 2014, the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana in 2015, the Order of the Star of Romania in 2016, the Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2017, and the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav in 2018.
Before Fame
Growing up in Poprad during the communist era in Czechoslovakia, Kiska lived in a society where private business was banned and the government controlled civic life. He studied technical subjects at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, which was a common path for ambitious young people at the time. The fall of communism in 1989 brought new economic opportunities to Central Europe, and Kiska was quick to take advantage of the new market economy.
In the 1990s, he built businesses in consumer lending and direct sales, gaining wealth during a time of fast and often chaotic economic change in Slovakia. This success in business allowed him to focus on philanthropy. By founding the Good Angel foundation, he became known for his charitable work, paving the way for his surprising but successful run for the presidency.
Key Achievements
- Served as the fourth President of Slovakia from 2014 to 2019, winning election as an independent candidate over Prime Minister Robert Fico
- Founded the Good Angel foundation, one of Slovakia's most prominent charitable organizations supporting families with seriously ill children
- Received the Ľudovít Štúr Order 1st class in 2014, Slovakia's highest state honor, along with major decorations from Germany, Austria, Norway, Romania, and Estonia
- Founded the Za ľudí political party in 2019 to continue advocating for anti-corruption reform and democratic values after leaving the presidency
- Used the presidential platform to call for judicial independence and government accountability during a period of significant political crisis in Slovakia
Did You Know?
- 01.Kiska won the 2014 presidential election as a fully independent candidate, defeating sitting Prime Minister Robert Fico without the backing of any political party.
- 02.His Good Angel foundation, which he founded as a philanthropist, became one of the largest charitable organizations in Slovakia, specializing in aid for families with critically ill children.
- 03.Following the 2018 murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, Kiska publicly demanded the resignation of government officials and supported the largest public protests Slovakia had seen since 1989.
- 04.After his presidential term ended, Kiska founded a new political party called Za ľudí, meaning 'For the People,' in 2019, transitioning from a non-partisan head of state to an active party leader.
- 05.Kiska has written two books on the subjects of happiness and personal success, drawing on his experiences as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and public figure.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Order of Andrej Hlinka | — | — |
| Ľudovít Štúr Order 1st class | 2014 | — |
| Cross of Pribina | — | — |
| Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana | 2015 | — |
| Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany | 2017 | — |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav | 2018 | — |
| Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria | — | — |
| Order of the Star of Romania | 2016 | — |