Ľudovít Ódor | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ódor in 2024 | |
| Member of the European Parliament forSlovakia | |
| Assumed office 16 July 2024 | |
| Prime Minister of Slovakia | |
| In office 15 May 2023 – 25 October 2023 | |
| President | Zuzana Čaputová |
| Deputy | Lívia Vašáková |
| Preceded by | Eduard Heger |
| Succeeded by | Robert Fico |
| Minister of Interior | |
| Acting 19 July 2023 – 25 October 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Ivan Šimko |
| Succeeded by | Matúš Šutaj Eštok |
| Deputy Governor of theNational Bank of Slovakia | |
| In office 20 February 2018 – 14 May 2023 | |
| Governor | |
| Preceded by | Ján Tóth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1976-07-02)2 July 1976 (age 49) |
| Political party | Independent[1] |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Comenius University (Mgr.) |
| Occupation |
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| Website | www |
Ľudovít Ódor (Hungarian:Ódor Lajos; born 2 July 1976) is a Slovak economist and politician who served asPrime Minister of Slovakia from May to October 2023, heading a technocratic cabinet. From July to October 2023, he also served asMinister of the Interior. Prior to his appointment as prime minister, Ódor served as Deputy Governor of theNational Bank of Slovakia, from 2018 to 2023.[2] He was the first Slovak prime-minister from theethnic Hungarian minority in Slovakia.[3]
Ódor led theliberalProgressive Slovakia's list for the2024 European parliament election.[4]
Ľudovít Ódor was born into an ethnically Hungarian family in the village ofVeľké Kosihy (Hungarian:Nagykeszi), nearKomárno, on 2 July 1976.[5][6] He finished his secondary studies at the Hungarian-language Selye János Gymnasium in his hometown.[7] He attendedComenius University inBratislava, graduating in 1999 with a master's degree in mathematics and management.[8] In addition to his native Hungarian,[9] he speaks Slovak and English fluently.[5]
After completing his studies at Comenius University, Ódor became an analyst forČeskoslovenská obchodní banka in April 1999, leaving his position in 2001 to work for the Slovak Rating Agency; after two years, Ódor became the chief economist of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic. In January 2006, he became a board member of theNational Bank of Slovakia and advised then-prime ministerIveta Radičová and then-finance ministerIvan Mikloš from 2010 to 2012. In September 2015, Ódor was appointed vice-chairman of theEuropean Union's Network of Independent Fiscal Institutions, serving until October 2017, when he became a member of the supervisory board ofSlovenská sporiteľňa and a member of the Council for Budget Responsibility until February 2018.[10]
In February 2018 Ódor became vice-governor of the National Bank of Slovakia,[11] following a nomination byMost–Híd.[12] He is a co-founder of the Institute for Financial Policy, which he managed from 2003 to 2005,[12] and the Value for Money Department at the Ministry of Finance as well as the independent Council for Budget Responsibility. In addition, Ódor has been a visiting professor at theCentral European University since 2016.[10] He is also a member of the study council of the Hungarian College for Advanced Studies in Bratislava (PMSZ).[13]
During his career Ódor co-authored the introduction of a 19%flat tax as part ofMikuláš Dzurinda's 2004 tax reform, which improved Slovakia's image among foreign investors and set the country on course to become a Europeantiger economy. He also played a role in the reform of the pension system, theadoption of the euro, and the creation of budget rules.[12]
On 7 May 2023, caretaker prime ministerEduard Heger—who led a majority in parliament until September 2022—resigned after a series of resignations by ministers who could not be replaced during a caretaker government. Heger asked the president to appoint a technocratic government.[10][11] Ódor and hiscabinet, picked by PresidentZuzana Čaputová, were inaugurated on 15 May.[2] On 19 July Interior MinisterIvan Šimko's mandate was revoked following disagreements between him and the leadership of the police, after which Ódor took over Šimko's ministerial duties.[14]A snap parliamentary election was held on 30 September 2023, which resulted in a new coalition government helmed byRobert Fico. Fico succeeded Ódor as prime minister on 25 October 2023.
According to his website, Ódor believes in pragmatism and evidence-based economics.[10]
Ódor is married and the father of two children.[15]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Slovakia 2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of the Interior 2023 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
