Andrej Durkovský
Encyclopedia
Andrej Ďurkovský is a Slovak
politician and former member of the Christian Democratic Movement
(KDH). After being elected the Mayor of Bratislava
twice – from 2002 to 2010 – he was elected into the National Council of the Slovak Republic
(NR SR) in the Slovak parliamentary election, 2010
. In the Slovak capital, he remains a controversial figure because of construction activities lowering the quality of life in the city, but many of his scandals resonated also on a nationwide level and culminated in Ďurkovský being forced to voluntarily leave his political party KDH in 2011.
and continued his studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Slovak University of Technology
in 1982, both in Bratislava. In 1988 he took part in the Candle demonstration in Bratislava
.
From 1983 to 1990 he was employed in Hydroconsult, š.p. Bratislava as the main project leader (pojektant). In 1990 he worked as a project manager in Project office Vasko in Wien
.
and became a member of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) in 1990. In 1994, he became mayor of the Old Town
in Bratislava
and remained there until 2002, when he was elected as the Mayor of Bratislava
. He was reelected, having won municipal election in 2006, and served his second term until 2010. Afterwards, he decided to not run for the office the third time.
among others), it was in his position as the Mayor of Bratislava where Ďurkovský generated most controversy.
Among his scandals are: (source: Trend 48, December 2, 2010)
In the Slovak municipal election, 2010 his latest scandal concerning the demolishing of Park kultúry a oddychu
in Bratislava became one of the key points in that election that contributed to the shifting of political power from the right to left (Ďurkovský being a politician leaning towards right
).
In January 2011, the police started investigation in the Bratislava water company , which was one of the reasons for Ďurkovský's forced departure from his political party KDH, which he co-founded in 1990. Former Prime minister of Slovakia Robert Fico
described Ďurkovský's acitivities in the company as "robbery of the century".
Andrej Ďurkovský is married since 1986 with his wife Františka and has three children - sons Filip and Michal and daughter Mária. His wife is active in NGOs aimed at helping people with autism
, since one of the Ďurkovský children suffers from autism. Ďurkovský speaks fluently English and German. He enjoys bicycling, sport diving and photography.
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
politician and former member of the Christian Democratic Movement
Christian Democratic Movement
The Christian Democratic Movement is a political party in Slovakia.It is represented in the parliament. It was also member of the government coalition, but it left that coalition on 7 February 2006 due to disputes over an international treaty between Slovakia and the Holy See dealing with the...
(KDH). After being elected the Mayor of Bratislava
Mayor of Bratislava
Mayor of Bratislava is the highest political representative of the Slovak capital Bratislava. The Mayor's office is located at Primate's Square inside Primate's Palace, on the 3rd floor...
twice – from 2002 to 2010 – he was elected into the National Council of the Slovak Republic
National Council of the Slovak Republic
The National Council of the Slovak Republic , abbreviated to NR SR, is the national parliament of Slovakia. It is unicameral, and consists of 150 MPs, who are elected by universal suffrage under proportional representation every four years....
(NR SR) in the Slovak parliamentary election, 2010
Slovak parliamentary election, 2010
A parliamentary election took place in Slovakia on 12 June 2010. The elections were contested by eighteen parties, six of which passed the 5% threshold for sitting in parliament...
. In the Slovak capital, he remains a controversial figure because of construction activities lowering the quality of life in the city, but many of his scandals resonated also on a nationwide level and culminated in Ďurkovský being forced to voluntarily leave his political party KDH in 2011.
Early career
Ďurkovský attended the I. Horváth gymnasium in RužinovRužinov
Ružinov is a borough of eastern Bratislava. It is the city's second most populated borough, housing over 70,000 inhabitants.-History:In place of today's Ružinov there were originally meadows, pastures, grasslands and woodland, interspersed with islands and channels of the Danube. The people living...
and continued his studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Slovak University of Technology
Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava
Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava is the most significant university of technology in Slovakia.- University structure :* Faculty of Civil Engineering* Faculty of Mechanical Engineering...
in 1982, both in Bratislava. In 1988 he took part in the Candle demonstration in Bratislava
Candle demonstration in Bratislava
The Candle Demonstration on 25 March 1988 in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, was the first mass demonstration since 1969 against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia....
.
From 1983 to 1990 he was employed in Hydroconsult, š.p. Bratislava as the main project leader (pojektant). In 1990 he worked as a project manager in Project office Vasko in Wien
Wien
Wien is the German language name for Vienna, the city and federal state in Austria.* Wien , in Vienna, Austria* Theater an der Wien, a theater in Vienna located at the former river WienWien may also refer to:...
.
Political career
He entered politics after the Velvet RevolutionVelvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
and became a member of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) in 1990. In 1994, he became mayor of the Old Town
Old Town, Bratislava
The Old Town of Bratislava is the historic center and one of the boroughs of Bratislava, in the Bratislava Region of Slovakia. It is coextensive with the smallest Slovak administrative district by area, Bratislava I. It contains the small, but preserved medieval city center, Bratislava Castle and...
in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
and remained there until 2002, when he was elected as the Mayor of Bratislava
Mayor of Bratislava
Mayor of Bratislava is the highest political representative of the Slovak capital Bratislava. The Mayor's office is located at Primate's Square inside Primate's Palace, on the 3rd floor...
. He was reelected, having won municipal election in 2006, and served his second term until 2010. Afterwards, he decided to not run for the office the third time.
Controversy
Despite making suspicious political decisions even as the Mayor of the Old Town borough of Bratislava (for example the scandal with giving out city flats, where Ďurkovský sold a 4-room flat in the historical city center for 1813 € to the current head of his political party Ján FigeľJán Figel
Ján Figeľ is a Slovakian politician, previously European Commissioner for Education, Training & Culture. His area of responsibility also covered sport, youth, and relations with civil society.-Early career:...
among others), it was in his position as the Mayor of Bratislava where Ďurkovský generated most controversy.
Among his scandals are: (source: Trend 48, December 2, 2010)
- the unanswered question why the city sold land under and next to Park kultúry a oddychuPark kultúry a oddychuPark kultúry a oddychu abbreviated PKO and in the past commonly referred to as Pekáč is a complex of buildings in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia by the Danube riverbank, built from 1943 to 1948...
for one third of the price of similar land where the EuroveaEuroveaEurovea is the name of the new business, retail and residential center in Bratislava, Slovakia, located near the Apollo bridge and Tower 115 building. Eurovea connects the Danube riverbank with the city center and offers many new stores and leisure time facilities. The project covers also offices,...
development now stands - numerous parcels of lucrative land in the city sold without public competition
- purposefully kept the rules for the development of Bratislava unclear and vague
- numerous non-residential estates belonging to the city of Bratislava that ended up in the hands of local "tough boys" and mafia, converted into gambling parlors or pubs
In the Slovak municipal election, 2010 his latest scandal concerning the demolishing of Park kultúry a oddychu
Park kultúry a oddychu
Park kultúry a oddychu abbreviated PKO and in the past commonly referred to as Pekáč is a complex of buildings in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia by the Danube riverbank, built from 1943 to 1948...
in Bratislava became one of the key points in that election that contributed to the shifting of political power from the right to left (Ďurkovský being a politician leaning towards right
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
).
In January 2011, the police started investigation in the Bratislava water company , which was one of the reasons for Ďurkovský's forced departure from his political party KDH, which he co-founded in 1990. Former Prime minister of Slovakia Robert Fico
Robert Fico
Robert Fico served as the Prime Minister of Slovakia from July 4, 2006 to July 8, 2010.He is the leader of the left-wing party Direction – Social Democracy . The party won the parliamentary elections in 2006, receiving approximately 30 percent of the cast votes...
described Ďurkovský's acitivities in the company as "robbery of the century".
Other activities and personal life
- Foundation Prameň - Member of the Board of Administrators
- Nadácia Bratislava - Director of the Board of Administrators
- Slovak University of Technology (STU), Faculty of construction - Honorary member of the Science Council
- Academy of Performing Arts in BratislavaAcademy of Performing Arts in BratislavaThe Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava is a university founded on June 9, 1949.The university consists of three faculties:*Theatre Faculty...
(VŠMU) - Member of the Board of Administrators - Bratislava High School of Law, Faculty of Masmedia - Member of the Science Council
Andrej Ďurkovský is married since 1986 with his wife Františka and has three children - sons Filip and Michal and daughter Mária. His wife is active in NGOs aimed at helping people with autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
, since one of the Ďurkovský children suffers from autism. Ďurkovský speaks fluently English and German. He enjoys bicycling, sport diving and photography.