Former education minister and former mayor of Bratislava Milan Ftacnik has died at the age of 64, his daughter Lucia Celovska confirmed for TASR on Friday. MPs observed a minute of silence on Friday in memory of the former education minister and ex-mayor of Bratislava Milan Ftacnik, who has died at the age of 64. Parliamentary Vice-chair Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) made a speech, highlighting Ftacnik's contribution to Slovak statehood. "A figure has died who was very important to Slovakia, a former Member of Parliament's leadership, a co-founder of our statehood, an MP, education minister and mayor of the Slovak capital... He was a great and wise man, whom we want to honour in this way and keep in our memories," said Blanar.
Incumbent Education Minister Branislav Groehling (SaS) on Friday expressed his deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Milan Ftacnik, whose death was confirmed on the same day, expressing appreciation for the work he did in the education sector and in politics. "The Education Ministry has had many ministers since 1989, but only a few of them have left a mark like Milan Ftacnik. Unfortunately, this sad news came too soon," posted Groehling on a social network. He noted he met Ftacnik during discussions on the Learning Slovakia document. "I also knew him as a member of the Bratislava-based Slovak Technical University's board of directors, where I respected him very much for his serious and reasonable approach," stated Groehling.
During his professional career Ftacnik served as executive coordinator of the Culture 2000 Virtual Heart of Central Europe project. The final post that he held was chairman of the Slovak Information Society. He was a member of the Government Council for the Digitisation of Public Administration and Single Digital Market and also the education minister's advisor for preparing the National Education Development Programme.
Source: TASR
