Prime Minister of Slovakia

The prime minister of Slovakia, officially the chairman of the government of the Slovak Republic (Slovak: Predseda vlády Slovenskej republiky), commonly referred to in Slovakia as Predseda vlády or informally as Premiér, is the head of the government of the Slovak Republic. Officially, the officeholder is the third-highest constitutional official in Slovakia after the president of the Republic (appointer) and chairman of the National Council; in practice, the appointee is the country's leading political figure.

Since the office was created in 1969, fifteen different people have served as head of government. Since 1993, when Slovakia gained independence, nine people have occupied the function. On 25 October 2023, Robert Fico became the prime minister of Slovakia.

History
The office of the prime minister of Slovakia was established in 1969 by the Constitutional Act on the Czechoslovak Federation. A similar office had existed from 1918 when various officials were presiding over executive bodies governing the Slovak part of Czechoslovakia or the Slovak State respectively. Since 1993, when the independent Slovak Republic was established, nine persons have held the office. Since 25 October 2023, the prime minister of Slovakia has been Robert Fico.

Powers and role
Since Slovakia is a parliamentary republic, the prime minister is accountable to the National Council. The Slovak Constitution provides that upon the accession to the office, each prime minister must gain and thereafter maintain the confidence of the Parliament. When the prime minister loses confidence, the president must dismiss him and designate a new prime minister or entrust the dismissed prime minister to act as a caretaker with limited powers.

The prime minister is the most powerful state office since he commands and presides over the government. Although it is not the prime minister but the president who appoints ministers in Cabinet, the president appoints ministers on the prime minister's advice.

Designated Prime Minister of Slovakia
Designated Prime Minister of Slovakia (designovaný predseda vlády) is an unofficial title for a person who has been entrusted by the president of the Slovak Republic with forming a new government and replacing the outgoing prime minister. This title, as well as the authorization of the president to entrust the designated prime minister, is not set by an act but is a legal or, more precisely, constitutional tradition. According to this tradition, the president designates a person who has the support of the majority of deputies in the National Council.

Autonomous Land of Slovakia (1938–1939)

 * Jozef Tiso (7 October 1938 – 9 March 1939)

Slovak Republic (1939–1945)

 * Jozef Tiso (14 March 1939 – 17 October 1939)
 * Vojtech Tuka (27 October 1939 – 5 September 1944)
 * Štefan Tiso (5 September 1944 – 4 April 1945)