Ivan Štefunko

Ivan Štefunko
Štefunko in 2017
Member of the National Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 October 2023
Chairman of Progressive Slovakia
In office 20 January 2018 – 8 May 2019
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Michal Truban
Personal details
Born	(1977-03-04) 4 March 1977 (age 47) Poprad, Czechoslovakia
Alma mater	Faculty of Political Science and International Relations, Matej Bel University[1]

Ivan Štefunko (born 4 March 1977)[2] is a Slovak politician, entrepreneur, and co-founder of multiple companies.[3] He served as chairman of Progressive Slovakia from 2018 until 2019.[4] Since 2023, he serves as an MP of the National Council of Slovakia. [5]

Early life

Štefunko was born on 4 March 1977 in Poprad.[2] He spent most of his childhood in Algeria due to his parents' job.[6] He attended Sciences Po from 2004 until 2006, majoring in European studies.[1]

Political career

Upon graduation from university, Štefunko became chairman of the now-defunct political party Young Democratic Left.[7] His political activities continued under the leadership of Milan Ftáčnik, but it also disappeared due to the merger with Direction – Social Democracy.[2] In the 2010 interview for Pravda, Štefunko criticised the policy of Direction and Robert Fico.[8]

Štefunko further stated that Direction – Social Democracy has not brought any fundamental improvement in people's lives in 10 years. Mikloš said at the time: "Štefunko wanted to continue playing different games, so he asked the great Mikloš for money. He arranged for him to contact ProPartners at the time, and they are still financing him today."[9]

In 2016, Štefunko co-founded the civil association Progressive Slovakia that aimed to offer progressive solutions to social problems in Slovakia.[10] Sociologist Slosiarik was very interested in this type of party project, but according to him, Štefunko's personality will not be enough for success.[11]

In the 2020 Slovak parliamentary election, Štefunko was the sixth candidate of the Progressive Slovakia/Democrats coalition, where he received 8,481 votes in the election.[12] Upon taking preferential votes into account, Štefunko was ranked 14th among the candidates. Due to the result of the coalition, he did not enter the parliament.[13]

He gained an MP seat in the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election.[14]

Personal life

Štefunko is married and has three children.[15]

References

1. Moravčík, Roman (28 February 2008). "Kto je Ivan Štefunko" [Who is Ivan Štefunko?]. Hospodárske noviny (in Slovak).
2. Čorná, Tina (3 August 2006). "Ľavičiar Ivan Štefunko: Proletariátom 21. storočia sú menšiny". Sme (in Slovak). Bratislava: Petit Press. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
3. "I. Štefunko: Nemám rád mikromanažment". Trend SK (in Slovak). 23 August 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
4. Mikušovič, Dušan (20 January 2018). "Štefunko povedie Progresívne Slovensko: Nie sme žiadni vítači imigrantov". Denník N (in Slovak). Bratislava: N Press. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
5. Praus, Lucia (8 May 2019). "Lúčenie Čaputovej aj Štefunka. Progresívne Slovensko na snem iných politikov nepozývalo". Sme (in Slovak). Bratislava: Petit Press.
6. Praus, Lucia (29 November 2016). "Štefunko z Progresívneho Slovenska: Mám ambíciu byť vo vláde". Sme (in Slovak). Bratislava: Petit Press.
7. Frank, Michael (19 February 2017). "Ivan Štefunko: Podnikateľ z núdze, politik z nutnosti". SME (in Slovak). Bratislava: Petit Press.
8. Čorná, Tina (20 June 2010). "Extrémisti budú mať väčší vplyv". Pravda (in Slovak). Retrieved 3 April 2017.
9. "Kritizuje vládu, no žije za štátne. Hlavne Progresívne… Kto je Ivan Štefunko?". tyzdennikkoment.sk (in Slovak). 22 February 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
10. "Predsedníctvo Progresívneho Slovenska". Official website of Progressive Slovakia (in Slovak). Archived from the original on 15 March 2018.
11. Praus, Lucia (12 September 2017). "Mená Beblavého ani Štefunka na úspech strán stačiť nebudú". Sme (in Slovak). Bratislava: Petit Press.
12. "Zoznam registrovaných kandidátov" [List of registered candidates for the 2020 Slovak parliamentary election] (PDF). Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic. 8 February 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2020.
13. "Definitívne výsledky hlasovania". Slovak Stistical Office (in Slovak). Archived from the original on 24 September 2016.
14. "Mgr. Ivan Štefunko". National Council of Slovakia (in Slovak). Retrieved 5 December 2023.
15. Frank, Michael (19 February 2019). "Ivan Štefunko: Podnikateľ z núdze, politik z nutnosti". Sme (in Slovak). Bratislava: Petit Press.