Born: 1973 (Pezinok, Slovakia)
Biography:
Zuzana Čaputová, born Zuzana Strapáková on June 21, 1973, is a prominent Slovak politician, lawyer, and environmental activist. Elected as the fifth president of Slovakia on June 15, 2019, Čaputová made history by becoming the country’s first female president and the youngest president in Slovakian history, taking office at the age of 45.
Growing up in the town of Pezinok, Slovakia, Čaputová was raised in a working-class family. She spent her early years in Czechoslovakia, which was the political entity encompassing Slovakia at that time. Her upbringing in an open-minded house influenced her passion for justice and equality.
Čaputová pursued her education at the Comenius University Faculty of Law in Bratislava, graduating in 1996. To further enhance her knowledge and skills, she completed additional training courses such as General Management – Management of Change and the ARK – Mediation course, accredited by the Ministry of Education of Slovakia.
After completing her education, Čaputová began her career in the local government of her hometown, Pezinok. Starting as an assistant in the legal department, she eventually became the deputy to the town mayor. Transitioning to the non-profit sector, she worked at the Open Society Foundations, where she focused on public administration and addressing the issue of abused and exploited children. Later, at the civic association EQ Klub, Čaputová worked as a project manager, contributing to local community development efforts.
Between 2001 and 2017, Čaputová played a pivotal role at Via Iuris, a civic organization, working as a lawyer from 2010 onwards. She also collaborated with Greenpeace on campaign planning. However, it was her involvement in the fight against the authorization of a toxic landfill in Pezinok that brought her widespread recognition. For over a decade, Čaputová spearheaded a public campaign against the landfill, advocating for the protection of soil, air, and water in her city and its surroundings. Her relentless efforts were rewarded in 2013 when the Supreme Court of Slovakia ruled that the new landfill was illegal and violated environmental norms.
Throughout her career, Čaputová has also operated her own law firm, authored and co-authored several publications, and been affiliated with the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW), a network of environmental lawyers and jurists.
Čaputová’s political activities became more prominent in December 2017 when she announced her entrance into the Progressive Slovakia party. In January 2018, she was elected as a Vice-Chairwoman at the party’s first congress, working alongside Ivan Štefunko to establish a credible socially-liberal alternative to the conservative status quo in Slovakia.
In 2019, Čaputová achieved a significant milestone by winning the Slovak presidential election with 58% of the vote in the run-off. Her victory not only made her the first female president but also demonstrated her growing popularity and influence among the Slovakian population.
Awards:
– 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize: Čaputová was awarded this prestigious prize in recognition of her relentless efforts and successful struggle against the authorization of a toxic landfill in Pezinok, Slovakia. Her dedication to protecting the environment and ensuring the well-being of her community gained international acclaim and highlighted her commitment to environmental activism.