Peter Žiga (born 27 July 1972 in Košice, Czechoslovakia) is a Slovak politician and businessman, a member of the National Council for Voice – Social Democracy (Hlas-SD), and previously Direction – Social Democracy (SMER-SD). He was formerly Minister of the Environment (2012–2016) and Minister of the Economy (2016–2020) of Slovakia.
Peter Žiga | |
---|---|
Speaker of the National Council | |
Assumed office 7 April 2024 | |
President | Zuzana Čaputová Peter Pellegrini |
Preceded by | Peter Pellegrini |
Deputy Speaker of the National Council | |
Assumed office 25 October 2023 | |
Speaker | Peter Pellegrini Himself (acting) |
Member of the National Council | |
Assumed office 21 March 2020 | |
In office 8 July 2010 – 4 April 2012 | |
Minister of Economy | |
In office 23 March 2016 – 21 March 2020 | |
Prime Minister | Robert Fico Peter Pellegrini |
Preceded by | Vazil Hudák |
Succeeded by | Richard Sulík |
Minister of Environment | |
In office 4 April 2012 – 23 March 2016 | |
Prime Minister | Robert Fico |
Preceded by | József Nagy |
Succeeded by | László Sólymos |
Undersecretary of Economy | |
In office 19 July 2006 – 8 July 2010 | |
Minister | Ľubomír Jahnátek |
Personal details | |
Born | Košice, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) | 27 July 1972
Political party | Voice – Social Democracy (since 2020) |
Other political affiliations | Direction – Social Democracy (until 2020) |
Spouse | Renáta Žigová |
Children | 2 |
Education | University of Economics in Bratislava |
Political career
editŽiga served as a state secretary for the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic from 2006 to 2010. He was a SMER-SD Member of Parliament from 2010 to 2012, returning in 2012 to be Minister of the Environment. In 2016, he moved to become Minister of Economy.
In June 2020, Žiga left SMER-SD with 10 fellow MPs and former prime minister Peter Pellegrini, to establish a new political party, Voice – Social Democracy (Hlas-SD).
Corruption allegations
editSince the beginning of his term as Minister of the Environment, Žiga has been investigated for corruption related to state-owned forests, from which his own private company is alleged to have benefited.[1][2] The current government, elected in 2020, has launched investigations into several cases dating from during Žiga's tenure at the Ministry of the Environment, including alleged theft of public funds and Eurofunds, signing of unfavorable contracts for the export of timber, and channelling of millions in European Union subsidies to companies connected with SMER-SD.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Staronovému ministrovi Žigovi sype jeho biznis s drevom stále viac". Trend.sk. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 4 Jun 2020.
- ^ "Do vyšetrovania Žigovej firmy sa zapojil Kováčik". Sme.sk. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 4 Jun 2020.
- ^ "Polícia obvinila z korupcie bývalého manažéra štátnych lesov". Sme.sk. Retrieved 4 Jun 2020.