Miro Cerar (born 25 February 1963) is a Slovenian lawyer, academic, and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Slovenia from 18 September 2014 to 13 September 2018. He is the founder and former leader of the Modern Centre Party (Slovene: Stranka modernega centra, SMC).
Early life and education
Miro Cerar was born in Ljubljana, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He attended the University of Ljubljana, where he earned a diploma in law in 1987. He subsequently completed a doctoral dissertation in constitutional law, receiving his Ph.D. in 1994.
Academic career
Following his doctorate, Cerar pursued an academic career at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Law. He attained the rank of associate professor in 2002 and was promoted to full professor of constitutional law in 2009. His scholarly work focuses on constitutional theory, the rule of law, and the protection of fundamental rights. Cerar has published numerous articles in Slovenian and international legal journals and has contributed to the drafting of legislative texts in Slovenia.
Political career
In 2014, Cerar entered politics by establishing the Party of Miro Cerar (Stranka Mira Cerarja), which was later renamed the Modern Centre Party (SMC). In the parliamentary elections held on 13 July 2014, the party won 34 of the 90 seats in the National Assembly, becoming the largest single party. Subsequently, Cerar was appointed Prime Minister, leading a coalition government that included the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia (DeSUS), and the Civic List (GS). His government pursued reforms in public administration, fiscal policy, and the judiciary, as well as efforts to reduce the public debt.
In the 2018 parliamentary elections, the SMC’s parliamentary representation fell to 10 seats, and the coalition lost its majority. Cerar announced his resignation as prime minister on 14 August 2018 and formally handed over the premiership to Marjan Šarec on 13 September 2018. He remained the leader of the SMC until 2020, when he stepped down and was succeeded by other party officials.
Personal life
Miro Cerar is married to Tanja Cerar, a former civil servant; the couple has two children. He comes from a family with a background in public service: his father, Ljubo Cerar, was a prominent physicist and academic administrator.
Selected publications
- Constitutional Law of Slovenia (co‑author, 2005)
- The Rule of Law in Transitional Democracies (journal article, 2010)
Honours and awards
Cerar has received several recognitions for his contributions to law and public service, including the Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia (2015).
References
- Official website of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia.
- "Miro Cerar," Encyclopedia of World Politics.
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law – Staff Profiles.
This entry reflects information available from reliable public sources up to 2024.