The position of the head of state corresponds to the designation of the highest constitutional official in many aspects. It involves duties, responsibilities, and powers as defined by the Constitution of Slovakia, as well as rich rewards for representing the state. Since the president must constantly be a dignified representation of the country, their behavior, appearance, and every step must strictly adhere to diplomatic protocol.
For instance, protocol dictates rules that the presidential team must adapt personally to the head of state: personality, stature, age, and hair styling. Every move, whether it involves receptions, visits, or communication with the media, must be finely tuned to the smallest detail. For women, rules regarding dress length apply. The length should be just above the knees or below the knees, definitely not mid-calf, as it slightly distorts the figure.
„It must wear pumps, no other type of shoes is acceptable. But by having one-color and minimalist dresses, with pumps, one can win. For example, wearing nude pumps, powder-pink, blue, or even gold and silver. Minimalism and dress color then imply that jewelry can also be worn. With this type of clothing, one can even afford a slightly more extravagant hairstyle,“ explained Zuzana Čaputová’s protocolist Mária Holubová, detailing the intricacies of the president’s life.
Former President Rudolf Schuster bought his suits, shirts, ties, and shoes himself. „I always chose things myself. Even my wife didn’t advise me in this regard,“ Schuster noted in the past. Before taking office as president, he had experience in politics, so he knew what was appropriate and what was not, and he did not need an advisor. „I didn’t have to learn the protocol; I had it in me. Besides being the mayor of Košice, chairman of the regional national committee, and the Slovak National Council, I knew what was appropriate,“ Schuster stated, adding that he would never wear a light suit in his life. „For example, no one would ever see me in a light suit,“ the president, who served in this role from 1999 to 2004, pointed out. He also mentioned that he did not remember anyone ever criticizing him for dressing inappropriately.
To make managing the rules smoother, the president is entitled to a wide team of assistants and advisors. Although the Presidential Palace does not have a permanent chef, there is a fully equipped kitchen on the premises, which is staffed by the best domestic chefs according to the president’s office’s wishes for foreign visits.
Many benefits come with the presidential function. The most lucrative of these is the salary, which represents 12 times the average salary of an ordinary employee. In addition to the salary, the president receives lump-sum allowances of €1,327.76 per month. From these, the highest constitutional official pays, for example, a personal assistant. The winner of the second round will receive a gross monthly salary of €18,500 upon taking office.
During trips abroad related to the president’s duties, allowances are provided. Their amount is determined at 1.5 times the travel allowances of the Speaker of the National Council, as agreed upon by parliament. The head of state also has a car and state security. These entitlements are lifelong, meaning the president has a service car with a full tank even after leaving office. They also have the right to use a suitably equipped apartment free of charge. For example, former President Andrej Kiska took advantage of this option, living in an apartment building near the center of Bratislava, which is owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to diplomatic protocol, former heads of state retain the title and address of president for life. Former presidents also maintain a high protocol order. They rank fifth in the protocol, right after the current president, the Speaker of the National Council, the Prime Minister, and the President of the Constitutional Court of Slovakia.
After leaving the palace, former presidents also receive a regular income. Upon the end of their term, the president receives a lifelong salary equal to the salary of a member of the National Council. This represents three times the average employee’s salary in the economy for the previous year. In 2023, the basic salary of a member of the National Council was €3,912 gross, to which National Council members add lump-sum allowances. However, former heads of state receive a monthly salary without lump-sum allowances and supplements. If after leaving office, a former president takes on another function as a constitutional official, the payment of this lifelong salary is suspended for the duration of that function.
Living in the castle or the palace is not possible. The Presidential Palace, Grassalkovičov Palace, serves mainly as a workplace and for representative purposes. Similarly, this is the case with Bratislava Castle. However, the real estate portfolio of the presidential office also includes a villa in Slavín and a hunting lodge in Javorina.
The villa was purchased for President Rudolf Schuster in 2000 for 36 million Slovak crowns (approximately 1.2 million euros). The villa is located in one of the most lucrative locations in Bratislava. The property covers an area of 4,300 square meters. Schuster was the only president to live in this house. He moved out in 2004 when the boiler exploded in the villa. Since then, the building has been deteriorating. The last time the reconstruction of the dilapidated property was discussed was by former President Andrej Kiska, but nothing came of it. The repair of the deteriorating property would cost about a million euros, which seemed too expensive to the former president. „There are damp walls, a sagging floor, a leaky roof, non-functional heating. The residence is also very poorly arranged, there is no space for receiving visitors,“ described Kiska’s spokesperson Roman Krpelan in 2019.
The hunting lodge Hohenlohe in Tatranská Javorina is a national cultural monument used mainly for representation by heads of state. It was built in 1885 by Prince Hohenlohe. In 1935, after his death, the Javorina estate was acquired by the Czechoslovak Republic, subsequently passing under the administration of the Tatra National Park (TANAP) until the new millennium. The presidential office has been managing it since 2004, and since 2015, Andrej Kiska has opened it to the public.
Unused opportunities remain in Topoľčianky. Although its advantages include a representative location, a short distance from the capital, allowing for hosting foreign visitors, it has not been included among presidential residences. The castle was a summer residence of the Habsburgs in the past, and after World War I, it served as a presidential resort. During this period, the last major renovation of the three Renaissance wings of the entire property took place. Topoľčianky was a place regularly visited by the first president of Czechoslovakia, T.G. Masaryk, who not only rested but also worked there. However, Tiso, Beneš, Gottwald, and Zápotocký also visited him. President Ivan Gašparovič proposed during his tenure that the property be taken under the administration of the presidential office, but it never materialized. The classicist castle wing has gradually become a museum and a luxury hotel.
The powers of the President of Slovakia are defined in the Constitution of Slovakia and the law. The president has a significant constitutional role, but their power is limited by parliament and the government.
– The president is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Slovakia and represents the country externally, negotiating and ratifying international treaties.
– They ensure the proper functioning of constitutional bodies, sign laws approved by parliament, and can veto or return laws to the National Council with comments within 15 days of receiving the approved law.
– They have the power to dissolve parliament if, within six months of the government’s appointment, it has not approved a program statement, the government has not been given confidence, it has been inoperable for more than three months, or if the National Council meetings have been interrupted for longer than allowed by the constitution. These powers cannot be exercised during a state of emergency or war, or in the last six months of their term.
– They appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister and other members of the government, entrust them with the management of ministries, and accept their resignation. They appoint and dismiss judges of the Constitutional Court, university rectors, university professors, and generals. They receive, entrust, and dismiss the heads of diplomatic missions.
– They report on the state of the Slovak Republic and on significant political issues to parliament. They have the right to demand information from the government and its members necessary to fulfill their duties.
– They award state honors and amnesties. They declare referendums or, on the government’s proposal, declare a state of emergency, emergency, or war. In the event of an attack on Slovakia or an obligation from international treaties, they declare war based on the National Council’s decision and also order the mobilization of the Armed Forces.
The role of the head of state is crucial in representing the country, maintaining diplomatic relations, and ensuring the proper functioning of the government. The president’s duties, responsibilities, and powers are extensive and require a high level of professionalism, decorum, and adherence to protocol. The rewards and benefits that come with the position are significant, reflecting the importance and prestige associated with being the highest constitutional official in the country.