France Cukjati
Encyclopedia
France Cukjati is a Slovenia
n politician
, physician
, theologian and a former Jesuit. He currently serves as the vice-chairman of the National Assembly of Slovenia
.
He was born in the village of Šentgotard
near Trojane
in central Slovenia (then part of the German Third Reich). His father fell in World War II
as a member of the Yugoslav partisan resistance, while his mother was a local schoolteacher. He studied civil engineering at the University of Ljubljana
, before being drafted to the Yugoslav People's Army
. In 1964, he entered the Jesuit order. In 1966, he enrolled at the University of Zagreb
, where he studied philosophy. After graduation, he studied theology at the University of Frankfurt in Germany
. Upon returning to Slovenia, he served as priest in Maribor
and Borovnica
. In 1971, he quit priesthood and enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine in Ljubljana, where he graduated in 1978. He worked as a physician in Ljubljana
and Vrhnika
.
In June 2000, he was named as secretary at the Ministry of Health in the short-lived center right government of Andrej Bajuk
. The same year, he was elected to the Slovenian National Assembly in the district of Vrhnika as a candidate of the Slovenian Democratic Party
. He was re-elected in 2004. The same year, he was elected as Chairman of the National Assembly. After the victory of the left wing coalition in the parliamentary elections of 2008, he was replaced by Pavle Gantar. He was however chosen as the vice-chairman of the National Assembly, representing the opposition parties.
Since December 2008, he serves as a member of Slovenia's shadow cabinet
, covering welfare.
s, civil union
s, and LGBT adoption. In a parliamentary debate, he has stated that homosexuality should not be considered as normal, but as a psychological problem that should receive treatment. Despite these opinions, Cukjati has supported the legalization of same sex civil unions that grant notably fewer rights than marriage, passed by the right wing parliamentary majority in 2005.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, theologian and a former Jesuit. He currently serves as the vice-chairman of the National Assembly of Slovenia
National Assembly (Slovenia)
The National Assembly is the general representative body of the Slovenian nation. According to the Constitution of Slovenia and the Constitutional Court of Slovenia, it is the major part of the distinctively incompletely bicameral legislative branch of the Republic of Slovenia. It is unicameral...
.
He was born in the village of Šentgotard
Šentgotard
Šentgotard is a village in the hills to the east of Trojane in central Slovenia. It lies in the Zagorje ob Savi municipality. The area is part of the traditional region of Upper Carniola...
near Trojane
Trojane
Trojane , is a settlement in the Municipality of Lukovica in central Slovenia. It lies on a hill near the border of two Slovene regions, Carniola and Styria. Until the freeway was finished in 2005, Trojane was on the main route from Ljubljana to Maribor.The Romans built a road on the route...
in central Slovenia (then part of the German Third Reich). His father fell in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a member of the Yugoslav partisan resistance, while his mother was a local schoolteacher. He studied civil engineering at the University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With 64,000 enrolled graduate and postgraduate students, it is among the largest universities in Europe.-Beginnings:...
, before being drafted to the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
. In 1964, he entered the Jesuit order. In 1966, he enrolled at the University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
, where he studied philosophy. After graduation, he studied theology at the University of Frankfurt in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Upon returning to Slovenia, he served as priest in Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
and Borovnica
Borovnica
Borovnica can refer to:*Borovnica, Slovenia*Borovnica...
. In 1971, he quit priesthood and enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine in Ljubljana, where he graduated in 1978. He worked as a physician in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
and Vrhnika
Vrhnika
Vrhnika is a town and a municipality in Slovenia. It is situated on the Ljubljanica River, 21 km from Ljubljana along the A1 motorway.-History:...
.
In June 2000, he was named as secretary at the Ministry of Health in the short-lived center right government of Andrej Bajuk
Andrej Bajuk
Andrej Bajuk, also known in Spanish as Andrés Bajuk was a Slovene politician and economist. He served shortly as Prime Minister of Slovenia in the year 2000, and Minister of Economy in the centre right government of Janez Janša between 2004 and 2008...
. The same year, he was elected to the Slovenian National Assembly in the district of Vrhnika as a candidate of the Slovenian Democratic Party
Slovenian Democratic Party
The Slovenian Democratic Party , known until 2003 as the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia is a Slovenian centre-right liberal conservative and Christian democratic party...
. He was re-elected in 2004. The same year, he was elected as Chairman of the National Assembly. After the victory of the left wing coalition in the parliamentary elections of 2008, he was replaced by Pavle Gantar. He was however chosen as the vice-chairman of the National Assembly, representing the opposition parties.
Since December 2008, he serves as a member of Slovenia's shadow cabinet
Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
, covering welfare.
Controversial remarks regarding homosexuality
Cukjati is well known for his advocacy against same-sex marriageSame-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
s, civil union
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
s, and LGBT adoption. In a parliamentary debate, he has stated that homosexuality should not be considered as normal, but as a psychological problem that should receive treatment. Despite these opinions, Cukjati has supported the legalization of same sex civil unions that grant notably fewer rights than marriage, passed by the right wing parliamentary majority in 2005.