Kiro Gligorov First President of the Republic of Macedonia Date of Birth: 03.05.1917 Country: Macedonia

Biography of Kiro Gligorov

Kiro Gligorov, the first president of the Republic of Macedonia, was a renowned Macedonian and Yugoslav politician. He was born on May 3, 1917, in the Macedonian city of Shtip. Gligorov graduated from the Law Faculty of the University of Belgrade. He actively participated in the Anti-Fascist Assembly for the National Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM), the first Macedonian national government in history, where he was responsible for finances in the presidium of ASNOM.

In the post-war years, Gligorov held significant positions in the leadership of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). He served as the Federal Secretary (Minister) of Finance from 1962 to 1967 and as the Deputy Chairman of the Federal Executive Council (Government) from 1967 to 1969. As an influential politician and economist, he actively promoted the idea of economic reforms in Yugoslavia. His extensive research activities helped him create new productive economic models, with the transition to market principles being one of his main goals. He utilized his high position in the government to achieve these objectives.

Gligorov was elected as the President of Macedonia on January 27, 1991, and served in this role until November 19, 1999. In October 1995, he became the target of an assassination attempt, resulting in the loss of an eye and a four-month hospitalization. He resumed his duties after a year of recovery. Even after retiring, Gligorov continued to actively participate in the social and political life of his country.

He passed away on January 1, 2012, peacefully in his sleep at his home in Skopje.