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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Christian Democratic Movement threatens signature drive to recall parliament speaker over legislative chaos

The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), an opposition party, has threatened to begin collecting signatures to recall National Council Speaker Peter Žiga if ongoing chaos in Slovakia's parliament is not resolved. The party has addressed a clear appeal to President Peter Pellegrini regarding the legislative dysfunction. The KDH's ultimatum reflects growing frustration with procedural disruptions that have hampered the parliament's ability to conduct regular business. Slovakia's National Council has experienced repeated disruptions and procedural disputes that have prevented normal legislative work from proceeding effectively.

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Domestic Politics

Police Chief Gašpar Dismisses Opposition Calls for His Removal as 'Nonsense'

Police President Štefan Gašpar rejected opposition demands for his dismissal, calling their reasons "nonsense." Gašpar denied claims that recent amendments to the Criminal Code had helped him in his own criminal case. The police chief's dismissal of the opposition's arguments comes amid ongoing political tensions over changes to Slovakia's criminal law and questions about potential conflicts of interest involving law enforcement leadership.

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Domestic Politics

Commentary Suggests Now Is Time to Demand the Impossible from Government

A commentary piece in Slovak media argues that citizens should maintain clarity about optimal and ideal outcomes when it comes to government performance. The opinion piece suggests the current moment presents an opportunity to demand ambitious changes from political leadership, emphasizing the importance of having clear expectations for what constitutes effective governance.

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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Chief Prosecutor Reassigns Major Police Corruption Case

Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka has removed a high-profile police corruption case from a Trnava prosecutor and transferred it to the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Banská Bystrica. The case, known as Operation Kajúcnik, involves charges against several police officers including Ján Čurilla and Pavel Ďurka, as well as prosecutor Michal Šúrek, who were indicted two weeks ago by the police inspection unit. Prosecutor Michal Žeňuch from Trnava, who had been overseeing the case, now faces potential disciplinary proceedings in addition to losing the case. The Operation Kajúcnik investigation represents the latest in a series of major corruption cases targeting law enforcement officials in Slovakia, where police inspection units investigate misconduct within the force itself.

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Domestic Politics

Hnutie Slovensko Polls Public on Electronic Voting Support

Hnutie Slovensko, an opposition political party, has published its eighth monthly question asking citizens whether they support the possibility of electronic voting. The party posts a question each month on its Prevrat2027 website seeking public input on specific policy solutions for the country. The current survey focuses on gathering citizen opinions about implementing electronic voting systems in Slovakia.

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Domestic Politics

Opposition MP František Majerský Officially Joins Christian Democratic Movement

František Majerský, a member of Slovakia's parliament, has become an official member of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), an opposition party. Majerský had previously served as an independent lawmaker within KDH's parliamentary group after successfully running on the party's candidate list in the last elections. The move formalizes his political affiliation with the Christian Democratic party, confirming what had been a de facto alliance since he entered parliament.

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Domestic Politics

Lučenec Mayor Charged with Abuse of Power in Waste Contract Scandal

Slovak police have charged the mayor of Lučenec with abuse of power over signing waste disposal contracts without approval from the city council. The mayor denies any wrongdoing and has filed a complaint against the charges, claiming the investigation is politically motivated ahead of upcoming municipal elections. The case centers on contracts for waste exports that allegedly required but did not receive proper authorization from the local legislative body.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Coalition Attempts to Kill Corruption Whistleblower Bill Through Cemetery Legislation Amendment

Slovakia's ruling coalition is trying to bury its own corruption whistleblower legislation by attaching an inadmissible amendment to a bill about cemetery management. The parliamentary session that resumed in January is continuing with this controversial procedural maneuver. The coalition appears to be using parliamentary rules to effectively kill the whistleblower protection bill, which would have strengthened protections for those reporting corruption, by linking it to unrelated cemetery legislation in a way that violates legislative procedures. This move comes as Slovakia faces ongoing scrutiny over corruption and transparency issues, with whistleblower protection being a key concern for anti-corruption efforts in the country.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Prosecutor General Shifts High-Profile Kajúcnik Case to Different Regional Office

Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka has transferred the Kajúcnik criminal case from its current regional prosecutor's office to a different jurisdiction, continuing a pattern of interventions in ongoing investigations. Žilinka simultaneously ordered a review of the procedures followed by the prosecutor who had been handling the case until now. The Kajúcnik case involves allegations connected to a real estate development project that has drawn public attention, though specific details of the charges were not disclosed. This transfer represents another instance of Žilinka exercising his authority to reassign cases between regional prosecutor's offices, a practice that has become a hallmark of his tenure as the country's top prosecutor.

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Domestic Politics

Poprad Appoints New Municipal Administrator as Ľubica Barancová Replaced

The city of Poprad has appointed Adriána Kromka as its new municipal administrator, replacing Ľubica Barancová in the position. Kromka expressed her commitment to advancing the city's development in her new role. The municipal administrator position is a key administrative role in Slovak cities, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of city government and implementing decisions made by the mayor and city council.

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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Prosecutor General Removes Prosecutor from Major Corruption Case After Court Filing Error

Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka has removed prosecutor Michal Žeňuch from supervising a major corruption case known as the "Čurillovci" investigation after Žeňuch filed a detention motion with the wrong court. Two separate courts determined that the prosecutor submitted the detention request to an incorrect judicial body. Žilinka will now assess whether Žeňuch violated his official duties in handling the high-profile case. The Čurillovci case involves allegations of corruption and organized crime activities, making it one of Slovakia's closely watched prosecutions handled by the Special Prosecutor's Office, which deals with major corruption and organized crime cases.

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Domestic Politics

Former Slovak Police Investigator Claims Criminal Charges Stem from Political Press Conference

Ján Čurilla, a former investigator with Slovakia's National Criminal Agency, has been under house arrest for over two years after Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok of the Voice party suspended him from service. In early March, the police inspection unit filed criminal charges against Čurilla along with his colleagues and prosecutor Michal Šúrek. Prosecutor Michal Žeňuch requested detention for Čurilla and Pavel Ďurka, though he filed the motion with the wrong court. Čurilla maintains that the criminal charges against him were directly derived from statements made at a press conference by the prime minister, suggesting the case has political motivations rather than legitimate legal grounds.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Opposition Prepares Dozens of Bills as Parliament Session Continues

The Slovak opposition has prepared dozens of legislative amendments for the parliamentary session continuing today, though none are expected to advance to a second reading. The situation highlights the current parliament's structure, where opposition parties can formally submit proposals and speak freely, unlike during the communist era when no opposition existed. Despite having the procedural right to introduce legislation, opposition bills face significant barriers to passage in the current political configuration.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Government to Discuss Criminal Justice Reform and Healthcare Savings Plan

The Slovak government will meet Tuesday to consider transferring authority over community service sentences from courts to probation and mediation officers. The cabinet session will also address personnel changes at the Antimonopoly Office's governing board and approve a two-year cost-cutting plan for the healthcare sector. The proposed criminal justice reform would shift responsibility for managing community service punishments, allowing specialized officers to oversee offenders rather than the current court-based system.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Courts Show Independence Despite Government Pressure, Political Analysis Shows

Despite efforts by Prime Minister Robert Fico's government to exert influence over Slovakia's judicial system, a significant number of judges continue to operate independently and resist political pressure, according to recent political analysis. The assessment suggests that Fico, who leads the ruling Smer-SD party, has not succeeded in gaining complete control over all state institutions as intended. Separately, political observers note ongoing power struggles within the coalition, particularly regarding influence over key positions, while the coalition partner Hlas party, led by Peter Pellegrini, maintains its established internal dynamics without significant changes to its leadership structure or political approach.

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Domestic Politics

Defense Minister Kaliňák Announces Military Road Investment for EU Funding Advantage

Slovakia's Defense Ministry will participate in the planning of a bypass road around the city of Zvolen, Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák announced. The minister stated that framing the project as a military road would improve chances of securing European Union funding, though the National Motorway Company (NDS) will retain primary responsibility for the project. Kaliňák, who leads the ruling Smer-SD party alongside Prime Minister Robert Fico, appears to be leveraging defense infrastructure classifications to access EU funds that might be more difficult to obtain through standard transportation channels.

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Domestic Politics

Defense Ministry to Join Zvolen Bypass Project, Cites EU Funding Advantages

Slovakia's Defense Ministry plans to participate in the project preparation for a bypass around the central Slovak city of Zvolen, Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák announced. Kaliňák argued that framing the road project as military infrastructure would improve chances of securing European Union funding. However, the minister emphasized that the National Highway Company (NDS), Slovakia's state-owned highway operator, would retain primary control over the project. The move represents an unusual collaboration between the defense and transport sectors on civilian infrastructure development.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak PM Fico Abandons Most Election Promises, Says He Only Cares About Three Issues

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told students in Malacky in early March that he no longer cares about fulfilling most of his election promises, stating that everything beyond three specific issues is "stolen" from him. The Smer party leader said he would focus only on these three priorities, abandoning the broader program his party campaigned on. Fico's public dismissal of his own election commitments represents an unusual admission for a sitting prime minister, particularly with elections still more than a year away. His party had previously promised voters improvements including more vacation time, a healthier state budget, and new housing construction.

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Domestic Politics

Political Crisis May Benefit Former Prime Minister Fico, Analysis Suggests

Political analysts are warning that Slovakia's current crisis situation could work to the advantage of Robert Fico, the former prime minister and leader of the opposition Smer-SD party. The analysis suggests that instinctive reactions tend to be stronger than emotional responses, which in turn override rational thinking during periods of political uncertainty. This psychological dynamic could potentially reshape the Slovak political landscape, as voters may gravitate toward familiar political figures during times of crisis. Fico, who previously served as prime minister for over a decade before his Smer party lost power in 2020 following public protests over corruption scandals, has remained a dominant figure in Slovak opposition politics.

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Domestic Politics

Opposition Party Files Criminal Complaint Over EU Funds Allocation at Labor Ministry

Progresívne Slovensko, Slovakia's main liberal opposition party, filed a criminal complaint alleging fraud and corruption in the allocation of European Union funds for social innovations by the Ministry of Labor. The party suspects subsidy fraud and abuse of power in connection with a funding call administered by the ministry. The complaint centers on irregularities in how EU funds designated for social innovation projects were distributed, with Progresívne Slovensko claiming there are grounds to suspect both fraudulent activities and corrupt practices in the allocation process. EU funds represent a significant source of development financing for Slovakia, making proper oversight of their distribution a key political and economic issue.

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