Milan Kucan

Kucan joined the Communist League of Slovenia in 1958 and served in the Youth Organization of Slovenia, other organizations in Slovenia and the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He served as Chairman of the Parliament of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia from 1978 to 1982, a member of the Central Presidium of the Communist Union of Slovenia from 1982 to 1986, and Chairman of the Central Presidium of the Communist Union of Slovenia from 1986 to 1989. In April 1990, Kucan was elected Chairman of the Presidium of the Republic of Slovenia as a candidate of the Democratic Reform Party of Slovenia.

In June 1991, Slovenia became independent from the former Federation of Yugoslavia and became a sovereign country with a presidential system. In December 1992, the Republic of Slovenia held its first presidential election after independence. Kucan was elected president as an independent candidate for a five-year term. He was re-elected in November 1997. He resigned in December 2002.

He likes hiking and walking, is married, has two children.

He visited China in 1975. In October 1996, he paid a state visit to China as president.