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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Opposition Leader Proposes Coalition if Government Raises Election Threshold to 10 Percent

Michal Šimečka, leader of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS), announced plans for a broad pre-election coalition among opposition parties in response to potential government changes to electoral law. Šimečka said his party is prepared to unite the opposition if the ruling coalition raises the electoral threshold to 10 percent, which he argues would threaten fair electoral competition. Progressive Slovakia, a liberal pro-European party, is currently the largest opposition party in the National Council, Slovakia's parliament. The proposed threshold increase would make it significantly more difficult for smaller parties to enter parliament, as they would need to secure 10 percent of the vote compared to the current lower threshold.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia Cancels Two Public Holidays But Keeps Work Bonuses to Support Economy

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said his government deliberately cancelled two public holidays while maintaining workers' bonus payments for those dates as part of an economic support strategy. Speaking during a session of the National Council's committee on European affairs, Fico explained that eliminating May 8 and September 15 as official state holidays while preserving the premium pay rates for employees working those days was an intentional policy decision. The move appears designed to increase economic productivity by reducing non-working days while still providing financial incentives to workers, balancing business interests with employee compensation during the government's broader economic policy initiatives.

Košice Dnes
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Energy Regulator Chief Gave Contract to Future Wife Who Later Worked for Energy Firm

Jozef Holjenčík, head of Slovakia's Regulatory Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO), awarded a contract to his future wife while leading the energy regulatory authority. His current wife subsequently received payments from ÚRSO and later worked for a company that has achieved exceptionally profitable operations in the energy sector. The regulatory office has declined to provide details about the payments made to Holjenčík's wife. ÚRSO is Slovakia's energy market regulator, responsible for overseeing electricity and gas pricing and ensuring fair competition in the energy sector. The revelations add to growing scrutiny of Holjenčík's leadership of the regulatory body, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest in Slovakia's energy oversight system.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Politics Shifting Toward Identity-Based Voting, Says Polling Expert

Slovakia's political landscape is increasingly dominated by identity politics rather than traditional economic concerns, according to Martin Slosiarik, director of the Focus polling agency. Slosiarik argued that voters' sense of belonging to particular value systems and political blocs has become more important than the impact of failed government consolidation efforts or declining living standards. This identity-driven sentiment extends beyond politics to influence citizens' sense of security. The shift comes amid rising support for populist parties and recurring divisive themes promoted by political leaders, suggesting Slovak elections may increasingly center on questions of national identity and geopolitical orientation rather than bread-and-butter issues.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Kežmarok Mayor Accuses Interior Minister of Orchestrating Police Investigation

Ján Ferenčák, mayor of the eastern Slovak town of Kežmarok, has accused Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok of personally orchestrating his criminalization through police investigations. Ferenčák claims the minister is using the same people who handled previous high-profile cases, suggesting a pattern of political interference. The mayor's office has formally objected to what it characterizes as targeted persecution. Šutaj Eštok leads the Voice-SD party, a member of the ruling coalition government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico. The allegations point to potential misuse of the police inspection service for political purposes, raising questions about the independence of law enforcement institutions in Slovakia.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Government Faces Setbacks with Former Police Investigators as Moscow Influence Alleged

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok are experiencing continued difficulties in their dealings with former police investigators connected to high-profile cases. The government faces criticism over what opposition figures describe as punishment policies that appear to follow Moscow's direction. Meanwhile, the ruling administration has notably failed to implement a freeze on its own salaries despite broader austerity measures affecting the public sector.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Increases Penalties for Damaging War Memorials and Holocaust Sites

Slovakia's National Council, the country's parliament, approved tougher penalties for vandalism of war memorials and Holocaust sites. Under the new legislation, damaging war graves or Holocaust monuments can now result in up to one year in prison. The penalties increase to two years for cases involving higher financial damage or repeat offenses. The measure reflects Slovakia's efforts to strengthen protection of sites commemorating victims of World War II and the Holocaust, issues that remain sensitive in a country that was part of Nazi-allied Slovak State during the war and lost most of its Jewish population during the Holocaust.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Eastern Slovakia regions compete to establish ombudsman office after years of Bratislava monopoly

Several regions in eastern Slovakia are now competing to establish a regional ombudsman office, years after the capital Bratislava first introduced such a position. The ombudsman function, which handles citizen complaints and oversight of public administration, has been operating in Bratislava for years while eastern regions lacked this service. The competition among eastern Slovak municipalities and regions appears focused on attracting voters by promising to establish this citizen advocacy role, though parliamentary representatives were notably excluded from the selection process for the new position.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Criticizes Interior Ministry's Purchase of Luxury Vehicles

Former Deputy Prime Minister Veronika Remišová has criticized the Interior Ministry for purchasing expensive luxury vehicles. Remišová, who leads the opposition For the People party, questioned the ministry's spending priorities amid broader economic challenges. The Interior Ministry rejected the criticism, defending its procurement decisions. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between Slovakia's ruling coalition and opposition parties over government spending and fiscal responsibility.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Prosecutor Replaced After Courts Criticize Mobile Phone Seizures in Kajúcnik Case

Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka has replaced the prosecutor handling the Kajúcnik corruption case following questionable seizures of mobile phones from suspects and subsequent court failures. The case has faced scrutiny over procedural irregularities in how evidence was obtained from the accused individuals. Despite the criticism, the prosecution's inspection unit is defending the controversial seizure operation. The prosecutor change comes after what officials described as a "fiasco" in court proceedings related to the high-profile corruption investigation.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Debates Restoring Whistleblower Protection Office

The Slovak Parliament is deliberating on legislation to restore the Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers, which was previously abolished. The debate has exposed tensions within the ruling coalition, with Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba of the Slovak National Party describing the proposal as an "own goal." Meanwhile, Hlas-SD, a key coalition partner, appears to be distancing itself from the initiative. The discussion is taking place alongside debates on cemetery legislation, leading to criticism that important whistleblower protections are being buried under routine administrative matters. The Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers was established to safeguard individuals who report corruption and wrongdoing, but its abolition had left Slovakia without dedicated institutional support for such cases.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Investigator in 'Čurillovci' Case Speaks Out: No Vendetta Against Former NAKA Members

The investigator handling the case against former elite investigators known as the 'Čurillovci' has publicly addressed the ongoing legal proceedings. The investigator stated there is no personal vendetta against the former members of NAKA, Slovakia's specialized anti-corruption police unit. The case involves the detention, release, and prosecution of these former elite investigators, who were once part of Slovakia's most prominent anti-corruption unit. The 'Čurillovci' refers to a group of investigators who worked under the leadership of Róbert Čurilla at NAKA, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, which was dissolved and restructured in recent years amid political changes and controversies over high-profile corruption cases.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Reverses Law That Would Have Abolished Whistleblower Protection Office

Slovakia's parliament reversed a controversial law that would have abolished the country's whistleblower protection office, using an amendment attached to unrelated legislation about war graves and monuments. Prime Minister Robert Fico described the reversal as burying a "legislative corpse" that had been introduced by the Government Office and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok from the Voice party as a key priority late last year. The chaotic legislative process began when the ruling coalition initially moved to dismantle the Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers, which provides legal protection for individuals who report corruption and other wrongdoing. The decision to reverse course through an amendment to criminal law regarding war graves highlights the turbulent nature of the legislative process surrounding whistleblower protections in Slovakia.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Slovak President to Donate Any Future Salary Increases to Cancer Charity

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini announced he will donate any future increases to his presidential salary to the League Against Cancer, a Slovak charity organization. The presidential office noted that the president's net salary has already decreased by more than 2,000 euros per month this year due to government consolidation measures. Under Slovakia's constitutional system, the president's salary is determined by members of the National Council, the country's parliament, rather than being set independently by the executive branch.

SMETASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia Movement Criticizes Government Over Fuel Price Statements

Slovakia Movement, an opposition political party, has criticized the government over its statements regarding fuel prices. According to party leader Milan Jakab, Slovaks have been paying higher fuel prices than residents of neighboring countries for an extended period. The criticism appears to target the government's handling or communication about fuel pricing policy, though the specific government statements that prompted the opposition response were not detailed.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Opposition Figure Hlina Attempts to Calm Prime Minister Fico

Slovak opposition politician Hlina has made efforts to appease Prime Minister Robert Fico amid ongoing political tensions. The development comes as some political actors are reportedly working to establish the groundwork for a potential future government that would include former Prime Minister Igor Matovič. Fico leads the current ruling coalition dominated by his Smer-SD party, while Matovič heads the opposition OĽaNO movement, which previously governed Slovakia from 2020 to 2022 before losing power following a series of political crises.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Justice Minister Seeks to Repeal Whistleblower Protection Office Law Through Parliamentary Amendment

Slovak Justice Minister Boris Puci announced plans to repeal the law establishing the Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers through a parliamentary amendment, stating this approach would be the most time-efficient method. Puci expressed hope that this would be one of the last such amendments during the current electoral term. The Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers was created to handle reports of misconduct and provide protection for individuals reporting wrongdoing in public and private sectors. The minister's move to eliminate this institution through an amendment rather than standalone legislation reflects ongoing political tensions over whistleblower protections in Slovakia.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Fico Rejects Talk of Succession Within Smer Party

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has dismissed discussions about potential successors within his ruling Smer-SD party. The party leader made clear he does not want anyone to replace him, effectively shutting down internal speculation about future leadership transitions. Smer-SD, Slovakia's dominant social-democratic party, has been led by Fico for nearly two decades, making him one of Europe's longest-serving party leaders. The rejection of succession planning highlights Fico's continued grip on power within the party that has dominated Slovak politics for much of the past 15 years, either in government or as the main opposition force.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Police Inspection Defends Operation Against Former Elite Crime Unit Officers

Slovakia's police inspection held its first public press conference to defend the controversial Operation Kajúcnik, which resulted in charges against former officers from the elite National Anti-Corruption Agency (NAKA). The operation, conducted two weeks earlier, led to the prosecution of several high-ranking former NAKA officials including Ján Čurilla. Deputy director of the police inspection Milan Maškara rejected claims of revenge, stating that "the police inspection does not have blood in its eyes and this is not about revenge against former NAKA members." The press conference marked the first public appearance of Juraj Lukáč, head of the Veritas investigation team responsible for bringing the charges against the former officers. NAKA is Slovakia's specialized unit that handles major corruption and organized crime cases, making the charges against its former leadership politically significant.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Outgoing Slovak General Denies Taking Bribes for Military Contracts, Won't Enter Politics

Slovak General Daniel Zmeko, who is departing from his military position, denied accepting bribes in connection with military procurement contracts during a television appearance. The general stated that no one had offered him bribes for army contracts. When discussing security concerns, Zmeko acknowledged that Slovakia is not completely safe regarding the ongoing war, likely referring to the conflict in neighboring Ukraine. The outgoing military leader also confirmed he will not be entering politics after leaving his current role.

SME
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