| Robert Kaliňák | |
| Term Start1: | 25 October 2023 |
| Term Start2: | 4 April 2012 |
| Term End2: | 22 March 2018 |
| Term Start3: | 4 July 2006 |
| Term End3: | 8 July 2010 |
| Term Start4: | 25 October 2023 |
| Predecessor4: | Martin Sklenár |
| Term Start5: | 4 April 2012 |
| Term End5: | 22 March 2018 |
| Predecessor5: | Daniel Lipšic |
| Successor5: | Tomáš Drucker |
| Term Start6: | 4 July 2006 |
| Term End6: | 8 July 2010 |
| Term Start7: | 22 March 2018 |
| Term End7: | 31 December 2018 |
| Birth Date: | 11 May 1971 |
| Birth Place: | Bratislava, Czechoslovakia |
| Spouse: | Zuzana Kaliňáková |
| Alma Mater: | Comenius University (JUDr.) |
| Party: | Direction – Social Democracy (1999–present) |
| Alongside1: | Peter Kmec, Denisa Saková and Tomáš Taraba |
| Primeminister1: | Robert Fico |
| Primeminister2: | Robert Fico |
| Alongside2: | Peter Kažimír, Miroslav Lajčák, Ľubomír Vážny, Peter Pellegrini, Lucia Žitňanská and Gabriela Matečná |
| Office1: | Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia |
| Office2: | Prime Minister (Acting) |
| Primeminister3: | Robert Fico |
| Alongside3: | Dušan Čaplovič, Ján Mikolaj, Štefan Harabin and Viera Petríková |
| Office4: | Minister of Defence |
| Primeminister4: | Robert Fico |
| Office5: | Minister of Interior |
| Primeminister5: | Robert Fico |
| Primeminister6: | Robert Fico |
| Successor6: | Daniel Lipšic |
| Predecessor6: | Martin Pado |
| Office7: | Member of the National Council |
| Term Start8: | 8 July 2010 |
| Term End8: | 4 April 2012 |
| Term Start9: | 15 October 2002 |
| Term End9: | 4 July 2006 |
Robert Kaliňák (born 11 May 1971) is a Slovak politician who has been serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia and Minister of Defence in the Fourth cabinet of Robert Fico since 25 October 2023. Kaliňák previously served as Minister of the Interior from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2018. He is the longest serving minister in the history of modern Slovakia.[1] He is a member of the Direction – Social Democracy party. On 31 December 2018, Kaliňák resigned his seat in the National Council, effectively retiring from politics until the 2023 parliamentary election.
Kaliňák was born on 11 May 1971 in Bratislava. His father was a sailor and his mother, who originated from the Bulgarian minority in Odesa, worked as a teacher.[2] Kaliňák's brother Milan is a member of the Taktici rock band, with whom Robert also played occasionally in the past.[3]
Whilst studying, Kaliňák successfully entered the world of entrepreneurship in 1990 by opening a student restaurant, a publishing house and printing office of scholarly literature. During his studies, he also started his career in a law office in 1992. Kaliňák and his partners established a chain of restaurants called Steam & Coffee in 1999, while he engaged also in other lines of business. After entering politics, he retired as an executive from all business activities.[4]
Whilst Kaliňák was holding the post of Minister of Interior, he faced several criticisms from the side of opposition regarding his purchase of shares from shareholder, who was later investigated for tax fraud. Kaliňák resigned as an interior minister as well as the PM deputy on 22 March 2018 after the murder of an investigative reporter Ján Kuciak.[5]