Radovan Žerjav
Encyclopedia
Radovan Žerjav is a Slovenia
n conservative politician. Between 2007 and 2008 he served as Minister of Transport. Since 2009, he has been the Chairman of the Slovenian People's Party
.
Žerjav was born in Maribor
, Slovenia
, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
. He spent his childhood in the Prekmurje
region of eastern Slovenia. He frequented a bilingual Slovene-Hungarian
primary school in Lendava
, and high school in Murska Sobota
. In 1988, he enrolled to the University of Maribor
, graduating from chemical engineering
in 1993. In 1996, he continued his studies, and in 2003, he received his master's degree in chemical engineering.
After having finished his studies, he took up the job at the oil company Nafta Lendava
. In 1999, he became the head of development in the company, and as of 2004 he became Assistant Director of Nafta Lendava for the technical sector. In 2007, he was appointed Director of Nafta Biodizel, established with the purpose to set up the bio-diesel production within the group of Nafta Lendava.
In September 2007, he was appointed Minister of Transport in the center-right government of Janez Janša
. In the parliamentary election of 2008
, he was elected to the Slovenian National Assembly. In March 2009, he was elected Chairman of the Slovenian People's Party
.
Besides Slovene, he is fluent in German
, English and Serbo-Croatian
and also has a basic knowledge of Hungarian.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n conservative politician. Between 2007 and 2008 he served as Minister of Transport. Since 2009, he has been the Chairman of the Slovenian People's Party
Slovenian People's Party
The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000...
.
Žerjav was born in Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
. He spent his childhood in the Prekmurje
Prekmurje
Prekmurje is a geographically, linguistically, culturally and ethnically defined region settled by Slovenes and lying between the Mur River in Slovenia and the Rába Valley in the most western part of Hungary...
region of eastern Slovenia. He frequented a bilingual Slovene-Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
primary school in Lendava
Lendava
Lendava is a town and a municipality in Slovenia in the region of Prekmurje. It is close to the border crossing with Hungary at Dolga vas-Rédics, and Hungarian is one of the official languages of the municipality, along with Slovene...
, and high school in Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota is a city in northeastern Slovenia. It is located in the eponymous municipality near the Mura River in the region of Prekmurje and is the regional capital.-Name:...
. In 1988, he enrolled to the University of Maribor
University of Maribor
The University of Maribor is the second university in Slovenia, established in 1975. It currently has 17 faculties.-History:The university's roots reach back to 1859, when a theological seminary was established with the encouragement of Maribor bishop and patriot Anton Martin Slomšek...
, graduating from chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
in 1993. In 1996, he continued his studies, and in 2003, he received his master's degree in chemical engineering.
After having finished his studies, he took up the job at the oil company Nafta Lendava
Nafta Lendava
NK Nafta Lendava is the oldest Slovenian football club, which plays in the town of Lendava. They play in the Slovenian first division, the 1.SNL.- Domestic league and cup results :- Current squad :As of 11 August, 2011...
. In 1999, he became the head of development in the company, and as of 2004 he became Assistant Director of Nafta Lendava for the technical sector. In 2007, he was appointed Director of Nafta Biodizel, established with the purpose to set up the bio-diesel production within the group of Nafta Lendava.
In September 2007, he was appointed Minister of Transport in the center-right government of Janez Janša
Janez Janša
Janez Janša is a Slovenian politician who was Prime Minister of Slovenia from November 2004 to November 2008. He has also been President of the Slovenian Democratic Party since 1993...
. In the parliamentary election of 2008
Slovenian parliamentary election, 2008
Parliamentary elections for the 90 deputies to the National Assembly of Slovenia were held on 21 September 2008. 17 parties filed to run in the election, including all nine parliamentary parties...
, he was elected to the Slovenian National Assembly. In March 2009, he was elected Chairman of the Slovenian People's Party
Slovenian People's Party
The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000...
.
Besides Slovene, he is fluent in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, English and Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
and also has a basic knowledge of Hungarian.