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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Supreme Court refers Justice Minister Susko's appeal in Zoroslav Kollár corruption case to Constitutional Court

Slovakia's Supreme Court has decided to refer Justice Minister Boris Susko's appeal in the corruption case of businessman Zoroslav Kollár to the Constitutional Court, the country's highest constitutional authority. Kollár was convicted of corruption in May 2022 and received a financial penalty totaling 70,000 euros. The referral to the Constitutional Court suggests the case involves questions of constitutional law that require interpretation by the specialized constitutional tribunal, which has the final say on matters involving constitutional rights and the interpretation of Slovakia's constitution.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Police Confirm Investigation Into Criminal Complaint Against Prime Minister Fico

Slovak police have confirmed they are investigating a criminal complaint filed against Prime Minister Robert Fico by opposition politician Branislav Gröhling. The case is being handled by the National Criminal Agency's Office for Combating Organized Crime (ÚBOK), which deals with serious crimes including organized crime and corruption cases. Gröhling, a member of the liberal opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), announced on social media Thursday that police had begun investigating Fico for treason and other criminal offenses. The development represents a significant escalation in political tensions between Slovakia's ruling Smer-SD party, led by Fico, and the opposition, though the specific details of the allegations have not been disclosed by authorities.

SMETASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Democrats Call for Kežmarok Mayor to End Political Career Over Asset Irregularities

The Democrats, an extra-parliamentary political party, visited Kežmarok this week to call for the resignation of Mayor Ján Ferenčák over alleged irregularities surrounding his assets. Ferenčák serves a dual role as both mayor of the eastern Slovak town and as a member of the National Council, Slovakia's parliament. The Democrats have been highlighting what they describe as discrepancies related to Ferenčák's property and financial holdings. The visit represents part of the opposition party's broader campaign to scrutinize public officials' conduct and financial transparency.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

No candidates apply for Slovakia's Constitutional Court judge position

No candidates submitted applications for a vacant position on Slovakia's Constitutional Court, despite the Friday deadline for nominations. The Constitutional Court is Slovakia's highest judicial authority for constitutional matters, reviewing the constitutionality of laws and protecting fundamental rights. The lack of candidates raises questions about the judicial appointment process and could potentially delay the court's ability to function at full capacity, as constitutional courts typically require a minimum number of judges to make decisions on critical legal matters.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Politicians Spark Speculation Over Earpieces During TV Debate

Deputy Parliament Speaker Tibor Gašpar and Agriculture Minister Richard Takáč, both from the ruling Smer-SD party, drew viewer attention during a Thursday evening television debate on Ta3's "Kráľ na ťahu" program. Close-up camera shots appeared to show both politicians wearing what looked like foreign objects in their ears, leading viewers, humor pages, and opposition politicians to speculate they were using earpieces to receive coaching during the live discussion. The incident became a topic of social media discussion, with many suggesting the politicians were being fed talking points through the devices. Smer-SD is Slovakia's ruling social-democratic party that leads the current government coalition.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Progressive Slovakia Expels Sponsor Ahead of Party Congress, Plans to Block Three Coalition Parties

Progressive Slovakia expelled a sponsor named Pekár before its upcoming party congress and announced plans to exclude three ruling coalition parties - Hlas-SD, Smer-SD, and the Slovak National Party (SNS) - from the congress proceedings. Party leader Michal Šimečka delivered a pointed message to Igor Matovič, leader of the opposition Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO), urging him to transform his movement into a standard political party and commit to not bringing down a future government or attacking other parties. The moves come as Progressive Slovakia, the largest opposition party, prepares for its party congress while positioning itself as a stable alternative to both the current ruling coalition and other opposition forces.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Progressive Slovakia Permanently Expels Sponsor Martin Pekár Over Financial Misconduct

Progressive Slovakia has permanently expelled Martin Pekár, a former member of parliament and major party sponsor, returning all financial donations and loans he had provided to the party. Parliamentary group leader Zuzana Mesterová accused Pekár of misleading the party about his income sources and downplaying incidents with female colleagues, citing violations of internal party rules. The party said Pekár had several weeks, not just 48 hours as he claimed, to explain suspicions about the origins of his wealth and provide documentation to clear his name, but failed to do so. Pekár has rejected allegations about the unclear origins of his financial contributions to the party.

SMEAktualityTASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Public Procurement Office Reviews Kukurica Reconstruction Contract Tender

Slovakia's Public Procurement Office has launched a review of a construction tender for the reconstruction of the Kukurica area. The Housing Agency of the Ministry of Defense announced the public procurement process in December 2024. The Public Procurement Office, which oversees the transparency and legality of government contract awards, is examining the tender to ensure proper procedures were followed in the bidding process.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Designer and Entrepreneur Jakub Ptačin Criticizes Government's Impact on Children

Slovak designer and entrepreneur Jakub Ptačin has publicly criticized the current government, stating that its policies are harming his children and making the situation personal for him. Ptačin, known for organizing the By Design conference and founding the Echt design studio, said he would be unable to work with the current administration. The entrepreneur, whose Echt studio is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with the major Echt Conference event, described himself as curious and eager to start new projects. Despite his criticism of the government, Ptačin expressed satisfaction with living in Slovakia and said he would not consider relocating.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Prosecutor General Warns of Sharp Drop in Tax Crime Prosecutions

Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka has warned of a dramatic 57 percent year-on-year decline in the number of people prosecuted for tax-related crimes. Žilinka attributes this sharp decrease to amendments made to the Criminal Code, which appear to have significantly weakened the country's ability to pursue tax evasion cases. The prosecutor general's warning highlights concerns about the effectiveness of recent legislative changes in combating financial crimes that directly impact state revenues and public finances.

SMEAktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Police Officer Faces Trial Alone After Being Charged Alongside Former Officials

A Slovak police officer will stand trial alone after being charged alongside former police chief Tibor Gašpar and businessman Norbert Bödör. The case involves communications about the officer that were exchanged between convicted oligarch Marián Kočner and Bödör through the encrypted messaging app Threema. Kočner, who was sentenced to 19 years in prison for ordering the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak in 2018, had extensive communications with various officials and businesspeople that became evidence in multiple corruption investigations. The separate trial suggests that while the officer was initially charged as part of a broader case involving high-level figures, procedural or legal factors have led to his case being handled independently.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Supreme Audit Office Sends Health Ministry Protocols to Police Over Drug Policy Failures

Slovakia's Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) is turning over audit protocols to police following a damning assessment of the country's pharmaceutical and healthcare policies. NKÚ Chairman Ľubomír Andrassy declared that the state has completely failed as a regulator of public health, abandoning its oversight role to private lobbyists in areas including drug policy and laboratory diagnostics. According to Andrassy, health policy has become a commodity for trade, with ministry officials serving as hostages to lobbyists amid clear conflicts of interest. The NKÚ, Slovakia's supreme audit institution responsible for overseeing government spending and operations, is transferring protocols from audits of both the health ministry and police departments to law enforcement authorities. The development raises questions about potential criminal misconduct in the health sector and whether Prime Minister Robert Fico will take action against the audit office leadership, as he previously did with other oversight bodies.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Protesters Rally in Poprad Against Government, Call for Election Monitoring

Demonstrators gathered in Poprad to protest what they characterized as treason, Russian influence, attacks on culture, and youth emigration from Slovakia. The protesters called for citizens to monitor upcoming elections, reflecting broader concerns about the current government's policies and their impact on Slovak society. Poprad, a city in northern Slovakia near the High Tatras mountains, has seen repeated anti-government demonstrations as part of wider opposition to the ruling coalition's direction.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Supreme Court Judges Used Google Searches for Pirate Phrases in Corruption Verdict

Slovakia's Supreme Court has released a detailed 215-page ruling explaining its decision to overturn corruption convictions against Dušan Kováčik, a former special prosecutor. The appellate court's extensive judgment includes unusual elements such as Google searches for pirate phrases, analysis of a judge's letter referring to "poor Duško Kováčik," examination of relationships between a judge and a journalist, and scrutiny of private messages exchanged between police officers involved in the case. Kováčik previously served as head of the Special Prosecutor's Office, the institution responsible for prosecuting major corruption and organized crime cases in Slovakia. The Supreme Court's decision to reverse his corruption convictions represents a significant development in Slovak anti-corruption efforts, as the Special Prosecutor's Office has been central to investigations targeting high-level political and business figures.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Defense Minister Reports Wave of YouTuber Break-ins at Military Facilities

Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák reported that 16 people have been caught attempting to break into military facilities over the past three months, describing unauthorized entries by social media content creators as "a new trend." The incidents have occurred not only at weapons manufacturing plants but also at military bases, according to Kaliňák. The minister's comments highlight growing security concerns as YouTubers and other content creators increasingly target sensitive military installations, presumably to create viral content for their channels.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Government Ministers Face Criticism Over State Management Approach

Three key Slovak government ministers have drawn criticism for their handling of state affairs, according to political commentary. Prime Minister Robert Fico has been criticized for managing the state without accountability, while Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba faces accusations of governing without respect for citizens. Health Minister Peter Kotlár has been criticized for what opponents describe as irrational state management. The criticism reflects broader concerns about the current government's approach to governance and public administration in Slovakia.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Op-ed Analysis Criticizes Slovak Government's Approach Across Multiple Areas

A commentary in Denník N presented three critical assessments of Slovakia's current governance, focusing on what the author characterized as systemic problems in state administration. The analysis highlighted concerns about fiscal responsibility under Prime Minister Robert Fico's leadership, questioning the government's approach to public finance management. The commentary also examined the conduct of a government minister named Taraba, suggesting issues with how the state treats its citizens. Additionally, the piece criticized Health Minister Tomáš Taraba's approach, characterizing it as lacking rational foundation. The op-ed framed these examples as indicators of broader institutional decline in Slovakia's public administration and governance standards.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Kežmarok City Council Addresses Long-term Concerns Beyond Controversial Video

The Kežmarok city council is grappling with broader issues of governance beyond a recent controversial video incident. Local legislators are discussing long-standing doubts about municipal operations, with debates centering on fundamental questions of trust, adherence to rules, and the exercise of power within the city administration. The discussions suggest deeper systemic concerns about how the northern Slovak town's government has been functioning, indicating that the video controversy may have exposed underlying governance problems that extend beyond the immediate incident.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Kežmarok City Councillors Debate Mayor's Moral Standing After Corruption Allegations

City councillors in Kežmarok, a town in northern Slovakia, are discussing the moral fitness of their mayor following revelations about substantial undeclared assets. The controversy centers on discoveries of cash stored in a garage and million-euro properties that were not properly reported. Despite the councillors' acknowledgment that the mayor has failed in his duties, he remains eligible to run in upcoming elections. The case highlights ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability among Slovak local officials, as the mayor faces scrutiny over his financial declarations while maintaining his political position.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Opposition accuses minister of planning unauthorized land surveys without notifying property owners

Progressive Slovakia, an opposition party, has accused Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba of planning to conduct drilling surveys on private property without informing landowners. The drilling operations are related to the proposed Málinec-Látky hydroelectric power plant project. The opposition party argues that the minister intends to access private land for geological surveys without proper notification to property owners, raising concerns about property rights and transparency in the government's approach to energy infrastructure development.

SME
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