Slovakia’s first president turns 85

Born in the north eastern Slovak village of Ľubiša in 1930 and eventually rising to be the first president of Slovakia, Michal Kováč today celebrates his 85^thAfter graduating from the University of Economics in Bratislava, and then working in the banking industry, he moved into politics, eventually playing a key role in preparations for the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. He was elected as president by the National Council of Slovakia in February 1993 after fighting for the position against then Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar. Kováč finished his presidency on March 2, 1998 and subsequently shied away from Slovak politics, appearing at only a few symbolic events.