Michal Šimečka (born 10 May 1984) is a Slovak politician, journalist, and researcher, who served as a Vice-President of the European Parliament between 2022 and 2023. He also became a Member of the European Parliament between 2019 and 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22130284/ep-election-in-slovakia-official-results-confirm-pro-eu-forces-prevailed.html|title=EP election in Slovakia: Official results confirm the victory of pro-EU forces|website=The Slovak Spectator|date=26 May 2019}} In 2020, Šimečka was elected vice-president of the European political group Renew Europe.{{Cite web |url=https://reneweuropegroup.eu/en/news/1571-renew-europe-rapporteur-presents-draft-report-for-an-eu-mechanism-on-democracy-the-rule-of-law-and-fundamental-rights/ |title=Renew Europe rapporteur presents draft report for an EU Mechanism on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights|website=Renew Europe|publisher=Renew Europe Group|access-date=2020-12-16 |archive-date=2020-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126172330/https://reneweuropegroup.eu/en/news/1571-renew-europe-rapporteur-presents-draft-report-for-an-eu-mechanism-on-democracy-the-rule-of-law-and-fundamental-rights/ |url-status=dead }} He is a co-founder of the social-liberal Progressive Slovakia party, leading it from 2022.

Early life and education

Šimečka earned a bachelor's degree in political sciences and international relations from the Charles University in Prague in 2006. He obtained an MPhil in Russian and East European Studies at St Antony's College at the University of Oxford in 2008, before moving to Nuffield College, where he received a DPhil in Politics and International Relations in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.iir.cz/static/michal-simecka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106023428/https://www.iir.cz/static/michal-simecka|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 January 2018|title=M.Phil Michal Šimečka, PhD. (Oxon)|website=IIR.cz|language=cs|access-date=1 June 2019}}

Political career

=Member of the European Parliament (2019–2023)=

Šimečka is a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights{{Cite web|title=European Parliament Intergroup on LGBTI Rights|url=https://lgbti-ep.eu/who-we-are/members/|website=LGBTI-EP.eu|access-date=12 August 2024}} and European Parliament Intergroup on Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages.{{Cite web|title=Intergroups at the European Parliament|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/about/groupings|website=European Parliament|access-date=12 August 2024}}

During the European Parliament elections in May 2019, Šimečka was the leader of the coalition candidate Progressive Slovakia and Democrats, which won with a profit of 20.11%.{{Cite news|first=Zuzana|last=Gabrižová|title=Konečné výsledky eurovolieb 2019 na Slovensku|url=https://euractiv.sk/section/buducnost-eu/infographic/konecne-vysledky-eurovolieb-2019-na-slovensku/|website=euractiv.sk|date=27 May 2019|access-date=10 June 2019|language=sk}} He was elected MEP with 81,735 preferential votes.{{Cite news|title=Eurovoľby vyhrala koalícia PS/Spolu, pred Smerom a ĽSNS|url=https://spravy.pravda.sk/eurovolby-2019/clanok/513584-volby-do-europarlamentu-vyhral-ps-spolu-potvrdil-predseda-volebnej-komisie-eduard-barany/|website=Pravda|date=26 May 2019|access-date=27 May 2019|language=sk}} Later that November, Šimečka was elected rapporteur on the establishment of an EU Mechanism on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights.{{Cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/11/10/mr-rule-of-law-seeks-to-fix-europes-crisis-in-values/|title=Mr Rule of Law Seeks to Fix Europe's Crisis in Values|website=Balkan Insight|date=10 November 2020}}

In October 2020, Šimečka presented his proposal for a mechanism combining several tools which monitor the respect of rule of law and European values, which received majority support in the European Parliament.{{Cite news|first=Ester|last=Zalan|title=Massive MEP majority for better rule-of-law mechanism|url=https://euobserver.com/political/149680|website=EU Observer|date=8 October 2020}} He explained that the EU should do more to address the abuse of EU funding, writing that "an implicit bargain between net contributors and net recipients" should end.{{Cite news|first=Michal|last=Šimečka|title=How to break the taboo about EU funding and the rule of law|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/opinion/how-to-break-the-taboo-about-eu-funding-and-the-rule-of-law/|website=Euractiv|date=24 September 2020}}

From 2020 until 2021, Šimečka served as deputy chair of the Renew Europe parliamentary group, under the leadership of chair Dacian Cioloș.{{Cite news|first=Nisa|last=Khan|date=22 October 2021|title=Movers and Shakers|url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/movers-and-shakers-22-october-2021|url-status=dead|website=The Parliament Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203035309/https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/movers-and-shakers-22-october-2021|archive-date=3 December 2021}}

=Member of the National Council of Slovakia (2023–present)=

In the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election, Šimečka ran as the leader of the Progressive Slovakia list, which won 32 mandates in the National Council. He personally received over 300,000 preferential votes, the third highest number after Robert Fico and Peter Pellegrini.{{cite web |title=Ktorí kandidáti dostali najviac hlasov? 10 poslancov s najviac krúžkami |url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/23220706/volby-2023-poslanci-s-najviac-kruzkami.html|website=Sme|publisher=Petit Press|access-date=24 September 2024|language=sk}} Immediately after the election, he gave up vice-presidency of the EP as well as his MEP mandate to focus on leading the opposition in Slovakia.{{cite web|title=Michal Simecka gives up his job in Brussels to lead the opposition in Slovakia|url=https://enrsi.rtvs.sk/articles/news/341065/michal-simecka-gives-up-his-job-in-brussels-to-lead-the-opposition-in-slovakia|website=Radio and Television of Slovakia|date=13 October 2023|access-date=25 October 2023}}

As the leader of the second strongest faction, Šimečka unsuccessfully tried to prevent the SMER party from coming back to power by forming a coalition government with Voice – Social Democracy, Freedom and Solidarity and Christian Democratic Movement.{{cite web |title=Prezidentka sa v utorok stretne s P. Pellegrinim aj M. Majerským |url=https://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/prezidentka-sa-v-utorok-stretne-s-p-pel/744810-clanok.html |website=Teraz.sk|date=2 October 2023|access-date=24 September 2024 |language=sk}} Nonetheless, this effort failed because Peter Pellegrini, the leader of Voice, decided to form a coalition government with SMER and the Slovak National Party instead.{{cite web |title=Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, SNS podpísali memorandum, rozdelili si rezorty |url=https://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/smer-hlas-sns-podpisali-memorandum-r/746777-clanok.html|website=Teraz.sk|date=11 October 2023|access-date=24 September 2024|language=sk}}

On 25 October 2023, Šimečka was elected vice-president of the National Council. He received 92 votes, 29 MPs voted against and 21 abstained.{{Cite news|title=Poznáme podpredsedov NR SR: Sú nimi Blaha, Žiga, Danko a Šimečka|url=https://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/brief-nrsr-poslanci-volia-tajnou-volb/750156-clanok.html|website=Teraz.sk|date=25 October 2023|language=sk}} Nonetheless, in September 2024, the prime minister Robert Fico demanded his removal, accousing Šimečka's family of profiting from over a million euro in public subsidy.{{Cite web|title=Návrh na odvolanie Šimečku podpíše Smer a SNS, potvrdil premiér Fico. Postoj Hlasu nechcel komentovať|url=https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/722605-navrh-na-odvolanie-simecku-podpise-smer-a-sns-potvrdil-premier-fico-postoj-hlasu-nechcel-komentovat/|website=Pravda|date=3 September 2024|access-date=24 September 2024|language=sk}} Šimečka rejected the allegations, arguing his relatives active in cultural and NGO sphere legitimately applied for grant funding which he could no influence in any way because Progressive Slovakia was never a part of government. Moreover, a major part of the funding was approved during previous governments of Robert Fico. Progressive Slovakia published a list of dozens of coalition MPs, whose relatives received public subsidies, arguing its a common and legitimate situation.{{cite web|first=Dušan|last=Mikušovič |title=PS bráni Šimečku zoznamom dotácií a zákaziek pre vládnych politikov a ich rodiny, našli ich za milióny |url=https://dennikn.sk/4190528/ps-brani-simecku-zoznamom-dotacii-a-zakaziek-pre-vladnych-politikov-a-ich-rodiny-nasli-ich-za-miliony/ |website=Denník N |access-date=24 September 2024 |language=sk|date=12 September 2024}} Nonetheless, on 17 September 2024, Šimečka lost a non-confidence vote with the slightest possible majority of 76, with three government MPs, all from the Voice party, rebelling and not voting for Šimečka's removal.{{cite web |title=Koalícia odvolala Michala Šimečku z vedenia parlamentu. Robert Fico hovorí o ďalších krokoch v prípade dotácií |url=https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/WqfpjAr/koalicia-odvolala-michala-simecku-z-vedenia-parlamentu-robert-fico-hovori-o-dalsich-krokoch-v-pripade-dotacii/ |website=Aktuality.sk|date=17 September 2024|access-date=24 September 2024 |language=sk}}

Following the vote, Šimečka stated the vote was an "unprecedented political revenge" targeting him as the leader of the opposition.{{Cite web|title=Je to prvý raz v dejinách. To neurobil ani Mečiar, reagoval na svoje odvolanie z postu podpredsedu parlamentu Michal Šimečka |url=https://dennikn.sk/minuta/4199850/ |website=Denník N |access-date=24 September 2024 |language=sk|date=17 September 2024}} The vote resulted in international condemnation as well. Valérie Hayer, the leader of Renew Europe fraction in the European Parliament strongly condemned the removal of Šimečka at a plenary meeting of the European Parliament, stating its was "another step towards undermining democracy in Slovakia by the regime of Robert Fico".{{Cite web|title=Tvrdé slová v europarlamente: Odvolanie Šimečku rozprúdilo debaty, Metsolová chce reagovať|url=https://spravy.pravda.sk/svet/clanok/724260-tvrde-slova-v-europarlamente-odvolanie-simecku-rozprudilo-debaty-metsolova-chce-reagovat/ |website=Pravda.sk |access-date=24 September 2024 |language=sk|date=18 September 2024}} 20 Czech prominent personalities, including the former PM of Czechia Petr Pithart called for the speaker of the Czech Parliament Markéta Pekarová Adamová to suspend any contacts with the Slovak parliament.{{Cite web|first=Tomáš|last=Kačmár|title=Přeruší Pekarová Adamová vztahy se Slováky? České osobnosti ji vyzývají kvůli Šimečkovi|url=https://cnn.iprima.cz/prerusi-pekarova-adamova-vztahy-se-slovaky-ceske-osobnosti-ji-vyzyvaji-kvuli-simeckovi-447395|website=CNN Prima News|access-date=24 September 2024|language=cs}}

In January 2025, large anti-government protests organised by a protest group Mier Ukrajine ({{Lit|Peace to Ukraine}}) broke out in Slovakia.{{Cite web|first=Rob|last=Cameron|title=Tens of thousands protest in Slovakia against PM Fico|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17ew2lzkyvo|website=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=24 January 2025|access-date=31 January 2025}} The same year on 31 January, prime minister of Slovakia Robert Fico together with Slovak Information Service showed photographs of Mamuka Mamulashvili, a leader of the Georgian National Legion (designated as a terrorist group by the Russian government){{Cite web|first=Jan|last=Lopatka|title=Moscow Brands Georgian National Legion ‘Terrorist Organization’|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/06/14/moscow-brands-georgian-national-legion-terrorist-organization-a85407|website=The Moscow Times|date=14 June 2024|access-date=7 February 2025}} with opposition activist Lucia Štasselová (2023 photograph from public debate in Bratislava) and online news commentator Martin M. Šimečka, the father of opposition leader Michal Šimečka (photo from the handover of humanitarian aid purchased from a fundraising for Mamulashvili's unit in November 2023{{cite web |last1=Čorej |first1=Tomáš |title=Veliteľ Gruzínskej légie reaguje na Smer: To je zábavné, že robím prevrat už aj na Slovensku |url=https://dennikn.sk/4437425/velitel-gruzinskej-legie-reaguje-na-smer-to-je-zabavne-ze-robim-prevrat-uz-aj-na-slovensku/ |website=Denník N |language=sk-SK |date=30 January 2025}}). Despite the age and circumstances of both photos, Fico used them to accuse the activists and the government opposition of plotting a coup d'état in the country, which they denied.{{Cite web|first=Jan|last=Lopatka|title=Slovakia bans Georgian volunteer, 9 others, from entry as Fico ramps up coup plot accusations|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakis-bans-georgian-volunteer-9-others-entry-fico-ramps-up-coup-plot-2025-01-31/|website=Reuters|date=31 January 2025|access-date=2 February 2025}}

Political views

Šimečka supports the LGBT community, voicing support for the Rainbow Ribbon campaign in 2021.{{Cite news|first=Michal|last=Šimečka|title=Michal Šimečka: Až 77% LGBT+ ľudí sa na verejnosti nedrží za ruky, pretože sa obávajú napadnutia|url=https://europske.noviny.sk/2021/05/15/michal-simecka-az-77-lgbt-ludi-sa-na-verejnosti-nedrzi-za-ruky-pretoze-sa-obavaju-napadnutia/|website=europske.noviny.sk|date=15 May 2021|language=sk}}

Personal life

Šimečka is the son of journalists Martin Milan Šimečka and Marta Šimečková (née Frišová).{{Cite news|first=Tomáš|last=Kyseľ|title=Kto je Michal Šimečka: Má krv starých národovcov a diplom z Oxfordu. Začínal u poslanca Smeru, dnes môže poraziť Fica|url=https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/ZVwSjzA/kto-je-michal-simecka-ma-krv-starych-narodovcov-a-diplom-z-oxfordu-zacinal-u-poslanca-smeru-dnes-moze-porazit-fica/|website=Aktuality.sk|date=4 September 2023|language=sk}} He lives in Bratislava with his partner Soňa Ferienčíková and their daughter Táňa (b. 2020).{{Cite news|title=Michal Šimečka: Bol to strašný rok, pre mnohých asi najťažší, aký sme zažili. Mal však tri momenty, za ktoré budem navždy vďačný|url=https://europske.noviny.sk/2021/01/03/michal-simecka-bol-to-strasny-rok-pre-mnohych-asi-najtazsi-aky-sme-zazili-mal-vsak-tri-momenty-za-ktore-budem-navzdy-vdacny/|website=europske.noviny.sk|date=3 January 2021|language=sk}}

References

External links

[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/103746/MICHAL_SIMECKA/home European Parliament Profile]

Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Bratislava

Category:Charles University alumni

Category:Alumni of St Antony's College, Oxford

Category:Alumni of Nuffield College, Oxford

Category:Slovak journalists

Category:Progressive Slovakia politicians

Category:MEPs for Slovakia 2019–2024

Category:Slovak LGBTQ rights activists

Category:Members of the National Council (Slovakia) 2023–2027