Peter Colotka (10 January 1925–20 April 2019) was a Slovak academic, lawyer and politician. He was the Prime Minister of the

Slovak Socialist Republic The Slovak Socialist Republic ( sk, Slovenská socialistická republika, SSR) was from 1969 to 1990 a republic within the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, when previously unitary Czechoslovak state changed into a federation. The name was used fr ...

from 1969 to 1988.

Early life and education

Colotka was born in

Sedliacka Dubová Sedliacka Dubová ( hu, Parasztdubova) is a village and municipality in Dolný Kubín District in the Žilina Region of northern Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), ...

Dolný Kubín district Dolný Kubín District (''okres Dolný Kubín'') is a district in the Žilina Region of central Slovakia. District is located in a hilly area north of Malá Fatra mountain range. Core of the district economy represent engineering, electrical engine ...

, on 10 January 1925. He studied law at

Comenius University Comenius University in Bratislava ( sk, Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave) is the largest university in Slovakia, with most of its faculties located in Bratislava. It was founded in 1919, shortly after the creation of Czechoslovakia. It is name ...

in Bratislava and graduated in 1950.

Career

Following his graduation Colotka joined the University of Bratislava and taught civil and family law. He was the prorector of the university from 1959 to 1961. He served at the

International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice (ICJ; french: Cour internationale de justice, links=no; ), sometimes known as the World Court, is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN). It settles disputes between states in accordanc ...

the Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital o ...

from 1963 to 1968. He became a professor of civil law in 1964. He was a member of both the

Communist Party of Czechoslovakia The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia ( Czech and Slovak: ''Komunistická strana Československa'', KSČ) was a communist and Marxist–Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992. It was a member of the Comint ...

and the Slovak Communist Party. He was made deputy prime minister of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and was appointed president of the Czechoslovak Federal Assembly in the meeting of the Czech communist party held on 16–17 January 1969, replacing

Josef Smrkovský Josef Smrkovský (26 February 1911 – 15 January 1974) was a Czechoslovak politician and a member of the Communist Party reform wing during the 1968 Prague Spring The Prague Spring ( cs, Pražské jaro, sk, Pražská jar) was a perio ...

in the post. And Colotka was a deputy at the Assembly from 1969 to 1989. He became a member of the Czechoslovak Communist Party's presidium in April 1969 and of its central committee in May 1971. He was elected to the Slovak Communist Party's presidium in May 1969 and to the central committee in May 1971. He was appointed prime minister of the Slovak Socialist Republic on 4 May 1969, replacing Stefan Sádovský in the post. He also served as deputy prime minister of Czechoslovakia from 1969 to 1988. He resigned from premiership on 12 October 1988 and was replaced by

Ivan Knotek Ivan Knotek (26 August 1936–11 March 2020) was a Slovak politician who served as Politburo member and prime minister from 1988 to 1989 of the Slovak Socialist Republic. Biography Knotek was born in Senica on 26 August 1936. He was a member o ...

in the post. Colotka also resigned from the Czechoslovak Communist Party's presidium in October 1988. He was appointed Czechoslovak ambassador to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

in late 1988 and served in the post until 19 January 1990.

Controversy

Colotka was among the communist leaders who were interrogated about their role in the 1968 Soviet invasion. On 11 July 1990, Colotka was arrested and accused of embezzlement, abuse of power and theft.

Death

Peter Colotka died at age 94 on 20 April 2019.Profile of Peter Colotka
''Pravda''.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colotka, Peter 1925 births 2019 deaths Ambassadors of Czechoslovakia to France Comenius University alumni Communist Party of Slovakia (1939) politicians Czechoslovak judges of United Nations courts and tribunals Czechoslovak lawyers Government ministers of Czechoslovakia International Court of Justice judges Members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia Members of the Chamber of the Nations of Czechoslovakia (1969–1971) Members of the Chamber of the Nations of Czechoslovakia (1971–1976) Members of the Chamber of the Nations of Czechoslovakia (1976–1981) Members of the Chamber of the Nations of Czechoslovakia (1981–1986) Members of the Chamber of the Nations of Czechoslovakia (1986–1990) People from Dolný Kubín District People of the Cold War Prime Ministers of Slovakia