Borut Pahor

Borut Pahor was born on 2 November 1963 in Postojna and holds a degree in political science with a focus on international relations from the University of Ljubljana. In 1987, he received the Prešeren and Zore Awards from the then Faculty of Sociology, Political Science and Journalism for his graduate thesis. He has a son, Luka (25), with Tanja Pečar, an advocate in Ljubljana.

Pahor began his political career as a Member of the Parliament, serving from 1990 to 2004. From 1997 to 2012, he was the leader of the Social Democratic Party. Between 2000 and 2004, he held the position of President of the Parliament, and from 2004 to 2008, he served as a Member of the European Parliament. He then became Prime Minister, a role he held from 2008 to 2012, followed by a decade-long tenure as President of the Republic of Slovenia from 2012 to 2022.

Throughout his political career, Borut Pahor has dedicated himself to democracy, particularly in shaping the transition from communism to democracy in Central and Eastern Europe. He has also advocated for the future of ever closer European Union, united free and at peace, fostering national reconciliation and promoting peace and dialogue, as well as advocating for the European perspective of the Western Balkans. Borut Pahor is the long-time leader of the Brdo-Brijuni Process, a joint initiative that he co-founded with Croatia as Prime Minister of Slovenia to serve as a driving force for political and overall development of the Western Balkans and its Euro-Atlantic integration. Brdo Brijuni Process was an incentive for other high-level initiatives, the Berlin Process being amongst them.

He has been recognized with numerous state decorations of the highest level from various countries, as well as significant academic honors. These include the Honorary Doctorates by the University of Lisbon and the New University of Ljubljana for his efforts in reconciliation and the common European project (2022), the “Sigillum Magnum,” the highest honor of the University of Bologna awarded to influential individuals (2021), and the “Alcide De Gasperi: Builders of Europe” prize, conferred by the Government of the Autonomous Province of Trento for achievements in building Europe. He also holds the esteemed title of Protector of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA) and has recently been awarded the EASA Ring of Tolerance.

Through his long-standing political and social engagement, Borut Pahor has left an unforgettable mark on the advancement of democracy, reconciliation, and cooperation both within his country and across the broader European region.