Silvia Gašparovičová

Silvia Gašparovičová née Beníková (born 13 January 1941) was the First Lady of Slovakia from 2004 to 2014 as wife of former President Ivan Gašparovič.[1]

Silvia Gašparovičová
Gašparovičová in 2011
First Lady of Slovakia
In role
15 June 2004 – 15 June 2014
PresidentIvan Gašparovič
Preceded byIrena Schusterová
Succeeded byMartina Kisková
Personal details
Born
Silvia Beníková

(1941-01-13) 13 January 1941
Bratislava, Slovakia
Political partyMovement for Democracy (2002–present)
SpouseIvan Gašparovič (m. 1964)
ChildrenTwo

Early life

Gašparovičová attended the Slovak Technical University from 1960 until 1965 where she studied civil engineering and also from 1971 to 1973 she studied economical law at Comenius University. She worked at the Ministry of Construction from 1971 until 1991.

In 1992 she was appointed to a position of expert real estate appraiser at the Bratislava Municipal Court, which she did not hold for long. She was a private construction company's executive before her husband was elected national president.

First Lady of Slovakia

As first lady, Mrs Gašparovičová has a role representing her country at official events at home and abroad.

In October 2010, she received a state visit from King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway. She accompanied the Queen on visits to the art center Danubiana Meulensteen; the Gaudeamus Centre for disabled children; and the ÚĽUV arts center for the preservation of Slovak crafts.[2]

After she became first lady, she founded the Silvia Gašparovičová Foundation which focuses on education and health. She also supports projects supporting women entrepreneurs, and parents.

Honours

Foreign honours

References
  1. "Silvia Gašparovičová - životopis" (in Slovak). Kancelária prezidenta SR. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  2. Norwegian: "Kongehuset.no - Statsbesøk til Republikken Slovakia". Archived from the original on 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  3. Photo Archived 2014-06-04 at the Wayback Machine of Presidential couple with Danish Royal couple
  4. Boletín Oficial de Estado
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