Janez Podobnik
Encyclopedia
Janez Podobnik is a Slovenia
n conservative politician
.
He was born in the small town of Cerkno
in western Slovenia, in what was then the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
. He studied medicine at the University of Ljubljana
, where he graduated in 1984. Between 1984 and 1990, he worked as a general phyisician in Idrija
.
He entered politics during the period of democratization known as the Slovenian spring. In 1990, he joined the Slovenian People's Party
and became elected as first non-Communist mayor of Idrija after World War II. In 1992, he was elected to the Slovenian National Assembly. During the coalition government between the Slovenian People's Party and the left liberal
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
, Podobnik served as chairman of the National Assembly (1996–2000). In 1997, he unsuccessfully ran as president of Slovenia
, but was defeated in a run off
by the incumbent Milan Kučan
.
He was re-elected to the Parliament in 2000, and served as the head of the parliament group of the Slovenian People's Party between 2000 and 2004. In 2003, he was elected as president of the Slovenian People's Party. In 2004, the party entered the centre-right government led by Janez Janša
and Podobnik became Minister for Environment. In November 2007, Podobnik resigned as president of the Slovenian People's Party, which was defeated in the parliamentary election in September 2008.
Podobnik is a devout Roman Catholic. He is married and has two children. His brother, Marjan Podobnik, also a politician, was the president of the Slovenian People's Party between 1992 and 2000, and vice-president of the Slovenian Government between 1997 and 2000.
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 conservative politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
He was born in the small town of Cerkno
Cerkno
Cerkno is a small town and a municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia.It has around 2,000 inhabitants and is the administrative centre of the Cerkno hills...
in western Slovenia, in what was then the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
. He studied medicine 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:...
, where he graduated in 1984. Between 1984 and 1990, he worked as a general phyisician in Idrija
Idrija
Idrija is a small town and municipality in the Goriška region of Slovenia. It is known for its mercury mine and lace....
.
He entered politics during the period of democratization known as the Slovenian spring. In 1990, he joined the Slovenian People's Party
Slovenian People's Party
The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000...
and became elected as first non-Communist mayor of Idrija after World War II. In 1992, he was elected to the Slovenian National Assembly. During the coalition government between the Slovenian People's Party and the left liberal
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia is a liberal political party in Slovenia. It is led by Katarina Kresal and is a member of the Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party...
, Podobnik served as chairman of the National Assembly (1996–2000). In 1997, he unsuccessfully ran as president of Slovenia
President of Slovenia
The function of President of the Republic of Slovenia was established on 23 December 1991, when the National Assembly of Slovenia passed a new constitution as a result of independence from Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
, but was defeated in a run off
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
by the incumbent Milan Kučan
Milan Kucan
Milan Kučan is a Slovenian politician and statesman. He was the first President of Slovenia.-Early life and political beginnings:...
.
He was re-elected to the Parliament in 2000, and served as the head of the parliament group of the Slovenian People's Party between 2000 and 2004. In 2003, he was elected as president of the Slovenian People's Party. In 2004, the party entered the centre-right government led by Janez Janša
Janez Janša
Janez Janša is a Slovenian politician who was Prime Minister of Slovenia from November 2004 to November 2008. He has also been President of the Slovenian Democratic Party since 1993...
and Podobnik became Minister for Environment. In November 2007, Podobnik resigned as president of the Slovenian People's Party, which was defeated in the parliamentary election in September 2008.
Podobnik is a devout Roman Catholic. He is married and has two children. His brother, Marjan Podobnik, also a politician, was the president of the Slovenian People's Party between 1992 and 2000, and vice-president of the Slovenian Government between 1997 and 2000.