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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Six Opposition Parties Back Joint Candidate for Martin Mayor in 2026 Elections

Six opposition political parties in Slovakia have announced their joint support for Michal Uherčík as their candidate for mayor of Martin in the 2026 municipal elections. The unified backing represents a coordinated opposition strategy for the mayoral race in the central Slovak city. Martin, located in northern Slovakia, is one of the country's larger municipalities where mayoral elections typically draw significant political attention. The early announcement of a joint candidate suggests opposition parties are seeking to consolidate their support against the current administration well ahead of the scheduled 2026 local elections.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Court Orders Boris Kollár to Apologize and Pay 50,000 Euros to Ján Čurilla

A Slovak court has ordered Boris Kollár, chairman of the We Are Family party and speaker of parliament, to publicly apologize to Ján Čurilla and pay him 50,000 euros in damages. The ruling stems from defamatory statements made by Kollár against Čurilla. Čurilla, who has pursued multiple legal actions over similar statements, has also filed lawsuits against other prominent political figures including Prime Minister Robert Fico of the ruling Smer-SD party, former police chief Tibor Gašpar, and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok. The case highlights ongoing tensions between political figures and individuals who have become targets of public criticism from high-ranking officials.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Democrats Push Referendum to End Ruling Coalition Amid Constitutional Questions

The opposition Democrats party is advancing plans for a referendum aimed at forcing the end of the current ruling coalition between Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and the Slovak National Party (SNS). The referendum initiative raises significant constitutional questions about whether such a vote could legally compel parliament members to vote in specific ways. Slovakia's current government, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party in coalition with the centrist Hlas-SD and the nationalist SNS, has faced mounting opposition criticism over various policy decisions. The referendum proposal highlights ongoing tensions between the ruling coalition and opposition parties, though constitutional experts question whether referendum results can legally bind parliamentary voting behavior under Slovak law.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Indebted Kočner Company Transfers 13 Bonaparte Complex Properties to Woman Linked to Ruling Party Figure

A woman with connections to Juraj Široký, a prominent figure in the ruling Smer-SD party, has acquired a significant portion of the Bonaparte complex in Bratislava. The former assistant from Smer circles now owns 15 commercial properties in the development, with 13 of them previously held by an indebted company belonging to Marian Kočner. Kočner is a controversial businessman currently serving prison sentences for ordering the 2018 murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, as well as for financial crimes. The property transfer involves one of Bratislava's major real estate developments, raising questions about asset movements involving figures connected to high-profile criminal cases and the ruling political establishment.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Parties Face Challenges in Pre-Election Coalition Building

Slovak opposition parties are grappling with internal disagreements and competing egos as they consider forming pre-election coalitions ahead of upcoming elections. The discussions have been complicated by what observers describe as clashing personalities among opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister Igor Matovič, whose involvement has created additional tensions. The coalition-building efforts also involve considerations around the preferences of Andrej Danko, leader of the Slovak National Party. Despite the interpersonal challenges, political analysts suggest that pre-election coalitions would make strategic sense for opposition parties seeking to present a unified alternative to the current government.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Criticizes Interior Ministry's Relocation Plans and Rental Arrangements

Former Deputy Prime Minister Veronika Remišová has criticized the Interior Ministry's plans to relocate some of its departments, calling the rental arrangements disadvantageous. Remišová, who leads the opposition For the People party, claims the ministry will pay a private company nearly 17 million euros based on what she described as a telephone survey. The Interior Ministry has rejected the criticism. The dispute centers on the ministry's decision to move certain sections to new premises, with opposition politicians questioning both the financial terms and the selection process for the rental agreement.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Government Approves Doubling or Tripling Fines for Various Violations

The Slovak government has approved legislation that would double or triple fines for various administrative violations and misdemeanors. The proposed changes, which have already received cabinet approval, aim to increase penalty amounts across multiple areas of law enforcement. Justice Minister Viliam Karas opposed the measure, suggesting disagreement within the ruling coalition about the severity of the penalty increases.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Train Drivers Plan Protest as Transport Minister Insists on Camera Installation

Train drivers in Slovakia are planning a protest action while Transport Minister Jozef Ráž maintains his position on installing cameras in locomotives. The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), a center-right opposition party, has expressed support for the drivers' protest and criticized the minister's camera policy. The dispute centers on the government's push to install surveillance cameras in train cabs, which drivers oppose. KDH's backing of the protest represents opposition criticism of the ruling coalition's transport policies and adds political weight to the drivers' labor dispute.

SME
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Domestic Politics

No Candidates Apply for Slovak Constitutional Court Position Despite High Salary and Prestige

No one has applied for a vacant position on Slovakia's Constitutional Court in Košice, despite the role offering a prestigious 12-year mandate, an annual salary of around 70,000 euros, and partial immunity from criminal prosecution. The lack of interest marks a stark contrast to 2019, when former Prime Minister Robert Fico competed for a similar position on the court. The Constitutional Court, which reviews the constitutionality of laws and government actions, will continue operating with an incomplete composition in the coming months. The ruling coalition has not addressed the vacancy issue and instead points blame at the opposition, the ombudsman, and the court's president for the situation.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Border Operation Green II Uncovers 307 Violations During Enhanced Controls

Slovak authorities detected 307 violations during Operation Green II, an enhanced border control initiative that extended beyond traditional border checkpoints. The operation involved Czech Interior Minister participation, indicating cross-border cooperation between the two neighboring countries. The action represents part of broader security measures implemented by Slovak law enforcement agencies, though specific details about the nature of the violations or the exact scope of the operation were not disclosed.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Tax Violations Investigated Through Tax Law Despite No Criminal Prosecution, Says Justice Minister

Slovak Justice Minister Boris Susko stated that tax violations are being investigated and addressed through tax law mechanisms even when they are not pursued as criminal offenses. The minister explained that while these cases may not be prosecuted under criminal law, they are still subject to enforcement through administrative tax law procedures. Susko's comments appear to address questions about how tax-related misconduct is handled when it falls below the threshold for criminal prosecution, suggesting that Slovak authorities are using civil tax enforcement tools rather than criminal charges in certain cases.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Ruling Coalition Targets Opinion Polls After Historic Low Ratings

Slovakia's ruling coalition has launched an attack on public opinion polling after recording historically low support ratings. Andrej Danko, leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS), is pushing legislation that would create a control commission to oversee polling companies and impose fines of up to 100,000 euros for violations. Prime Minister Robert Fico has gone further, questioning the integrity of opinion polls entirely and suggesting they should be abolished completely. The Slovak National Party, a junior partner in the ruling coalition alongside Fico's Smer-SD party, has seen its public support drop to historic lows in recent surveys. The proposed measures represent an escalation in the government's criticism of independent polling, which has consistently shown declining support for the coalition that took power following elections in 2023. Critics view the initiative as an attempt to silence unfavorable coverage of the government's performance rather than address legitimate concerns about polling methodology.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Opposition Criticizes Prime Minister Fico Over Media War with Brussels and Neglect of Domestic Issues

Slovak opposition parties have criticized Prime Minister Robert Fico for engaging in a media war with Brussels while ignoring pressing domestic problems. The opposition rejected Fico's rhetoric about favoritism toward Ukraine and argued that the real issue lies in dual fuel pricing policies that disadvantage Slovak consumers. Opposition lawmakers called for taxing Slovnaft's profits and providing direct assistance to citizens struggling with high energy costs. The criticism comes as Fico's government, led by the ruling Smer-SD party, has increasingly clashed with European Union institutions over various policy issues while domestic concerns about living costs continue to mount.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Opposition Progressives Focus on Housing and Economic Issues Ahead of Elections

Progresívne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia), the country's largest opposition party, outlined its political priorities at a weekend party congress, focusing on economic policy, poverty reduction, and housing accessibility. The party appears to be taking inspiration from recent electoral success in the Netherlands, where housing issues helped progressive parties win elections. The housing theme has previously been attempted in Slovak politics by Boris Kollár, leader of the populist Sme Rodina (We Are Family) party. However, political scientist Pavol Hardoš suggests that housing as a campaign issue may be more symbolic than substantive in the Slovak context. Progressive Slovakia, which positions itself as a liberal pro-European alternative to the ruling Smer-SD party, is preparing its platform ahead of the next parliamentary elections.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Activists in Lučenec Warn Against Rising Extremism and Pro-Russian Sentiment in Slovakia

Four civic activists from Lučenec, a town in southern Slovakia, have spoken out against what they describe as government legitimization of extremism and pro-Russian sentiment in their region and across the country. The group includes lawyer Martin Landl, former teacher Eva Martinková, software company owner and cultural association operator Krasimír Damjanov, and translator Radomír Hrivňák from nearby Holiša village. The activists organize protests and community engagement events while working to counter extremist influences in their local area. Their concerns reflect broader tensions in Slovakia over the current government's approach to extremist groups and its stance toward Russia, particularly as the country has seen increased polarization since the 2023 parliamentary elections that brought Robert Fico's Smer-SD party back to power in coalition with nationalist parties.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Ruling Party Proposes Changes to Overseas Voting System

Smer-SD, Slovakia's ruling social-democratic party, has submitted legislation to parliament that would overhaul how Slovak citizens living abroad cast their votes in elections. The proposed changes would require overseas voters to cast ballots at Slovak diplomatic missions and consular offices rather than through the postal system currently in use. The National Council, Slovakia's parliament, will now consider the amendment to the country's electoral law. The current postal voting system has been used by Slovak expatriates to participate in national elections, but the ruling party argues for a shift to in-person voting at official diplomatic facilities abroad.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Mass Resignations Continue at Slovakia's Public TV as Management Clashes with Critics

Resignations at Slovakia's public broadcaster STVR continued into this week following a public dispute over editorial independence and cultural funding. The controversy escalated during the Radio_Head Awards ceremony over the weekend, where artists criticized political interference in public media and recent government decisions affecting cultural funding. STVR management responded by removing the awards ceremony from its broadcast schedule, while STVR Director General Martina Flašíková told the critical artists she wished them success outside of public media. The ongoing staff exodus reflects broader tensions over the government's approach to public broadcasting and cultural policy, with employees departing in protest over what they view as political pressure on the state-funded broadcaster.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Leader Šimečka Says Cannot Play Politics by Different Rules Than Prime Minister Fico

Michal Šimečka, leader of the opposition Progressive Slovakia party, criticized the political approach of Prime Minister Robert Fico using a sports metaphor, saying his party cannot "play football while Robert Fico plays rugby." Progressive Slovakia is the largest opposition party in the National Council, Slovakia's parliament, and represents a liberal, pro-European alternative to Fico's ruling Smer-SD party. The comment suggests tensions over differing political styles and approaches between the opposition and the government led by Fico, who returned to power following elections in 2023.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Traffic Police Chiefs Call for Higher Fines, Say Current Penalties Too Low

Slovak police chiefs are advocating for higher traffic violation fines, arguing that current penalties of 20 to 50 euros are insufficient. The officials must explain to their superiors why the existing low fines are inadequate for deterring traffic violations. The police leadership also reportedly considers plea bargaining arrangements undesirable in traffic cases.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Mayor Resigns Before Conviction, Receives Over 20,000 Euro Severance Package

A Slovak mayor resigned from office before being formally convicted, allowing him to collect a severance payment exceeding 20,000 euros. The resignation was not the mayor's independent decision but follows what officials describe as common practice in such situations. This approach enables local officials facing criminal proceedings to secure financial compensation that would likely be unavailable if they remained in office until conviction.

Korzár
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