primátor

Primátor is a title used for the head of a city’s municipal government in several Slavic-speaking countries, most notably the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The word denotes a chief or principal administrator and is equivalent to mayor in many languages. In Czech and Slovak contexts, the title is typically reserved for the leaders of larger or legally defined statutory cities, while smaller municipalities may use other terms such as starosta.

In the Czech Republic, primátor is the head of a statutory city (statutární město), such as Prague or Brno. The primátor is elected by the city assembly (zastupitelstvo) from among its members and leads the city’s executive body, often called the rada města. The primátor represents the city in legal acts, oversees the administration, proposes the budget, and appoints or dismisses department heads in coordination with the council. The office is supported by deputies or vice-primátori, who assist in governance and administration. The term of office is four years, with the possibility of re-election.

In Slovakia, primátor is the mayor of a city (mesto). Mayors are typically elected by residents in municipal elections and serve a four-year term. The primátor presides over the city council and heads the city’s administrative apparatus, proposing policies and budgetary plans, and representing the city in official matters. Deputy mayors (primátorskí zástupcovia) assist in governance.

Distinct from primátor, smaller municipalities may use the title starosta, while the general concept across both countries is that the primátor acts as the chief executive and public face of the city.