Janez Drnovsek

Politician. Born in Celje, Slovenia (then Yugoslavia) he was the President of Slovenia from 2002 to 2007, Prime Minister of Slovenia from 1992 to 2002, and the only directly elected President of Yugoslavia from 1989 to 1990. He helped Slovenia gain independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and subsequently led it to European Union and NATO membership. Diagnosed with cancer while President of Slovenia, his outlook on life changed and he wrote and published New Age philosophical books that included "Thoughts on Life and Consciousness", "Golden Thoughts on Life and Consciousness", and "The Essence of the World", and his final book "Dialogues." Drnovsek is remembered as a part of New Age movement in Slovenia because of his lifestyle which had become a blending the veganism of Hindu philosophy, the non-attachment of Buddhist philosophy, and the monkish traditions of Celtic Christianity. While still in office he became a blogger, "Janez D," and made his final posting just a few days before his death in Zaplana, Slovenia of complications from cancer.