Rudolf Schuster
Rudolf Schuster (born 4 January 1934) is a Slovak politician who served as the second president of Slovakia from 1999 to 2004. He was elected on 29 May 1999 and inaugurated on 15 June. In the presidential elections of April 2004, in which he sought re-election, Schuster was defeated.
Rudolf Schuster

Marián Gladiš · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Rudolf Schuster
- Born
- 4 January 1934
- Birthplace
- Košice, Czechoslovakia
- Nationality
- Slovakia
- Occupation
- politician · writer · diplomat
- Honours
- Order of the White Eagle · Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania · Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia · Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic · honorary citizen of Miskolc · Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
- Languages
- Slovak · English · German
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Documentary summary
Rudolf Schuster (born 4 January 1934) is a Slovak politician who served as the second president of Slovakia from 1999 to 2004. He was elected on 29 May 1999 and inaugurated on 15 June. In the presidential elections of April 2004, in which he sought re-election, Schuster was defeated.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q163813 · wikipedia · Rudolf Schuster
In this article
Biography
Biography
Schuster worked across politician, writer and diplomat. This article rests on 6 published texts and 16 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.
The recorded working language is Slovak, English and German. Positions recorded include Member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic and President of Slovakia. Distinctions recorded are Order of the White Eagle, Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania, Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia and Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

Rudolf Schuster, President of Slovakia at a visit to the Pentagon in 2002.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Rudolf Schuster • Office — 2nd President of Slovakia • Term Start — 15 June 1999 • Term End — 15 June 2004 • Prime Minister — Mikuláš Dzurinda • Predecessor — Michal Kováč Mikuláš Dzurinda (Acting) Jozef Migaš (Acting) • Successor — Ivan Gašparovič • Office2 — Member of the National Council • Term Start2 — 30 October 1998 • Term End2 — 15 June 1999 • Office3 — Mayor of Košice • Term Start3 — 1994 • Term End3 — 1999 • Term Start4 — 1983 • Term End4 — 1986 • Office5 — Czechoslovakia Ambassador to Canada • Term Start5 — 28 August 1990 • Term End5 — 3 May 1992 • Predecessor5 — Ján Janovic • Successor5 — Position abolished • Order6 — Speaker of the National Council • Term Start6 — 30 November 1989 • Term End6 — 26 June 1990 • Predecessor6 — Viliam Šalgovič • Successor6 — František Mikloško • Born — 4 January 1934 • Birthplace — Košice, Czechoslovakia • Party — Independent (1990–1998, 1999–present) • Other Party — Communist Party (1964–1990) Party of Civic Understanding (1998–1999) • Alma Mater — Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava
Life and career
Life and career
Schuster was born in Košice. From 1964 to 1990, he was a member of the Communist Party of Slovakia. Before becoming president, he was mayor of Košice in 1983–1986 and 1994–1999 respectively. He was also the last Communist president of the Slovak National Council (1989–1990), Ambassador of Czechoslovakia to Canada (1990–1992) and a leader of the Party of Civic Understanding (SOP – Strana občianskeho porozumenia, 1998–1999). Schuster speaks German (including Mantak dialect), Slovak, Czech, Russian, English and Hungarian fluently. Schuster's father's family is of Carpathian German origin, while his mother's family is of Hungarian origin. Rudolf Schuster was married in 1961 to Irena Trojáková (died 2008) and he has two children (son Peter and daughter Ingrid) and two granddaughters. In his private life, he is a sports fan, a traveller and a writer. He is also a camera fan. In 1998, Schuster founded the centre-left Party of Civic Understanding. In 1999, he received honorary citizenship from Miskolc, as recognition of the good cooperation between the city and Košice during his mayorship. • Illustration — Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld meets with President of Slovakia Rudolf Schuster at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava on 22 November 2002. In 2004, Schuster sought re-election in the 2004 presidential election and received 7.4% of the votes.
Writing
Writing
Rudolf Schuster is a member of the Association of Slovak Writers. He has been the author of film scripts for various television films. His most famous works are detective novels and travelogues mainly about Brazil and Canada.
Identity
Identity
Rudolf Schuster is recorded with the occupation politician. Established in IdRef (French universities) under 13546904X. Rudolf Schuster is established in Library of Congress under n98008124. Recorded as politician, writer and diplomat. Established in FAST under 411917.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1934–2025
The full dated record · 27 entries
1934
Rudolf Schuster was born on 4 January 1934.
1983
Recorded as position held: mayor of Košice.
1994
Recorded as position held: mayor of Košice.
1998
Recorded as position held: Member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic.
1999
Recorded as position held: President of Slovakia.
2000
Receives honorary citizen of Miskolc.
2000
Rudolf Schuster received honorary citizen of Miskolc in 2000.
2001
Receives Masaryk University Gold Medal.
2001
Rudolf Schuster received Masaryk University Gold Medal in 2001.
2002
Receives Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
2002
Receives Egon Erwin Kisch Award.
2002
Rudolf Schuster received Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in 2002.
2006
Receives honorary doctor of the Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra.
2007
Receives Egon Erwin Kisch Award.
2014
Receives honorary doctorate of the University of Prešov in Prešov.
2019
Receives Andrej Hlinka Order Class I.
2019
Receives Ľudovít Štúr Order 1st class.
2019
Receives Milan Rastislav Štefánik Cross, First Class.
2019
Receives Order of the White Lion.
2019
Receives honorary doctorate of the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice.
2019
Rudolf Schuster received honorary doctorate of the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice in 2019.
2019
Rudolf Schuster received Milan Rastislav Štefánik Cross, First Class in 2019.
2019
Rudolf Schuster received Ľudovít Štúr Order 1st class in 2019.
2019
Rudolf Schuster received Order of the White Lion in 2019.
2024
Receives Gratitude Medal.
2024
Receives Egon Erwin Kisch Award.
2025
Receives Crystal Wing.
Reception
How Rudolf Schuster was received and recognised. Schuster received Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (civil). Schuster received Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. Schuster received honorary doctorate of the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice in 2019. Schuster received Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria. Schuster received Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in 2002. Schuster received Milan Rastislav Štefánik Cross, First Class in 2019. Schuster received honorary doctor of the University of Wuppertal. Schuster received Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class. Schuster received Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia. Schuster received Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania. Schuster received Masaryk University Gold Medal in 2001. Schuster received Ľudovít Štúr Order 1st class in 2019. Schuster received honorary citizen of Miskolc in 2000. Schuster received Order of the White Lion in 2019. Schuster received Grand Order of King Tomislav.
Recognition and collections
Where the work is held
Recognition and collections
Rudolf Schuster received Order of the White Eagle, Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania, Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia, Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, honorary citizen of Miskolc and Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Rudolf Schuster”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q163813: Rudolf Schuster
Unverified · Wikidata
National honours
National honours
• Ribbon bar — Country — Honours — Date • — Czechoslovakia — Honour for Services to the Building — 1983 • — Czechoslovakia — Czechoslovak Order of Labour — 1989 • — Slovakia — First Class of the Pribina Cross — 1998 • — Slovakia — First Class of the Order of Andrej Hlinka — 2019 • — Slovakia — First Class of the Order of Ľudovít Štúr — 2019 • — Slovakia — First Class of the Milan Rastislav Štefánik Cross — 2019 • — Slovakia — Medal for Services to Slovak Diplomacy — 2023 • — Slovakia — Gratitude Medal — 2024
Foreign honours
Foreign honours
• Ribbon bar — Country — Honours — Date • — Algeria — Collar of the National Order of Merit — 2003 • — Argentina — Collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín — 2001 • — Austria — Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria — 2004 • — Brazil — Grand Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross — 2001 • — Brazil — Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco — 2024 • — Chile — Collar of the Order of Merit — 2001 • — Croatia — Grand Order of King Tomislav with Sash and Great Morning Star — 2001 • — Czech Republic — Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion — 2019 • — Germany — Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 2001 • — Greece — Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer — 2000 • — Holy See — Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Pope Pius IX — 2002 • — Hungary — Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary — 2003 • — Italy — Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic — 2002 • — Lebanon — Extraordinary Class of the Order of Merit — 2001 • — Luxembourg — Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau — 2002 • — Poland — Knight of the Order of the White Eagle — 2002 • — Portugal — Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry — 2003 • — Romania — Grand Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania — 2000 • — Sweden — Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim — 2002 • — Slovenia — Gold Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia — 2003 • — SMOM — Collar of the Order pro Merito Melitensi — 1999 • — Spain — Collar of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic — 2002 • — Ukraine — First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise — 2004
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
39,078 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Rudolf PannwitzAuthor
- Rudolf PečjakAuthor
- Rudolf ReimanAuthor
- Rudolf RoesslerAuthor
- Rudolf SlobodaAuthor
- Rudolf SpielmannAuthor
- Rudolf TěsnohlídekAuthor
- Rudolf von EmsAuthor
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