A devout Roman Catholic, he was born in Ružomberok in the Liptó County of the Kingdom of Hungary (present-day Slovakia) and came to politics early as a low-level supporter of Andrej Hlinka.

[2] After finishing his education he joined the Slovak People's Party (SPP) and became one of its leading members on the pro-Poland wing.

[1] He was given the position of Minister for Slovak Affairs by the Czechoslovakian government in 1938, a role which took him away from the radicals of the SPP, allowing Jozef Tiso to take control ahead of him.

[1] From January to March 1939 he also a commission to examine the "Jewish question" in Slovakia, albeit nothing came of this initiative and ultimately the issue would be taken over by the Nazis.

[1] He had initially been refused asylum by the Government of Canada who considered him a persona non grata but they changed their minds in 1950 following the intervention of Pope Pius XII.