Miroslav Lajčák
Miroslav Lajčák | |
|---|---|
Lajčák in 2020 | |
| President of the United Nations General Assembly | |
| In office 12 September 2017 – 19 September 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Thomson |
| Succeeded by | María Fernanda Espinosa |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 4 April 2012 – 20 March 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Robert Fico Peter Pellegrini |
| Preceded by | Mikuláš Dzurinda |
| Succeeded by | Ivan Korčok |
| In office 26 January 2009 – 8 July 2010 | |
| Prime Minister | Robert Fico |
| Preceded by | Ján Kubiš |
| Succeeded by | Mikuláš Dzurinda |
| Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe | |
| In office 1 January 2019 – 1 January 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Enzo Moavero Milanesi |
| Succeeded by | Edi Rama |
| High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| In office 1 July 2007 – 25 March 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Christian Schwarz-Schilling |
| Succeeded by | Valentin Inzko |
| European Union Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| In office 1 July 2007 – 28 February 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Christian Schwarz-Schilling |
| Succeeded by | Valentin Inzko |
| EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues | |
| In office 2 April 2020 – 31 January 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Peter Sørensen |
| Advisor to the Prime Minister on the Western Balkans and National Security | |
| In office 1 April 2025 – 31 January 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 March 1963 |
| Party | Communist Party (1983–1990) Direction - Social Democracy (associated non-member) |
| Spouse | Jarmila Lajčáková-Hargašová |
| Children | 3, including Vanesa |
| Alma mater | Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Law Moscow State Institute of International Relations |
Miroslav Lajčák (born 20 March 1963) is a Slovak politician and diplomat who held the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic from 2009 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2020, serving across three different governments led by Robert Fico and one government led by Peter Pellegrini. In addition, Lajčák also served as President of the United Nations General Assembly for the 72nd session from 2017 until 2018.
A key figure in the mediation of the post-conflict crises in the Western Balkans, Lajčák acted as Executive Assistant to the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Balkans from 1999 to 2001. He negotiated, organized and supervised the referendum on the independence of Montenegro in 2006 on behalf of the European Union.
From 2007 to 2009, Lajčák led the mission as High Representative of the International Community and European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During his tenure, Bosnia and Herzegovina signed the landmark Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union.
From 2020 to 2025, Lajčák oversaw the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues as the EU Special Representative. Since 2025, he acted as advisor to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for foreign affairs and national security.
In late 2025 and early 2026, the release of the "Epstein files" by the U.S. Department of Justice triggered a major political scandal in Slovakia. Documents revealed extensive correspondence between Lajčák and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from 2017 to 2019, including reports that Lajčák wanted to be introduced to "young girls", expressed a desire to participate in Epstein’s private "games" and discussed strategic political interests with Epstein’s network. While photographs confirmed their personal connection, Lajčák maintained that the interactions were strictly professional and routine for his diplomatic duties.
On 31 January 2026, following a joint statement from opposition politicians calling for his departure, and mounting pressure from the media, Lajčák submitted his resignation, which Fico accepted.