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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Export-Import Bank Signs Cooperation Agreement with Parliament

Slovakia's Export-Import Bank (Eximbanka) and the National Council, the country's parliament, have signed a memorandum of cooperation. This marks the first formalized partnership between the state-owned export credit agency and parliament, and represents Eximbanka's first such agreement with any Slovak state institution. The Export-Import Bank of Slovakia provides financial support and guarantees for Slovak companies engaged in international trade and foreign investment projects.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Slovak President Proposes New Security State Requiring Constitutional Amendment

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has proposed introducing a new security mechanism called a "state of emergency" that would allow the government to deploy the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic during peacetime when facing serious security threats. The president said implementing such a measure would require amending Slovakia's constitution, necessitating broad political agreement across the political spectrum. Slovakia currently operates under constitutional provisions that limit military deployment to specific circumstances, making this proposal a significant institutional change that would expand executive powers during security crises.

Košice Dnes
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Domestic Politics

Slovak President Proposes Constitutional Amendment to Allow Military Deployment in Peacetime

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has proposed introducing a new security mechanism called a "state of threat" that would allow the government to deploy the Slovak Armed Forces during peacetime when facing serious security threats. The proposal would require a constitutional amendment and broad political consensus across the political spectrum. Currently, Slovakia's constitution limits military deployment to wartime or declared states of emergency, but Pellegrini argues the country needs more flexible security tools to address modern threats that fall short of traditional military conflicts.

Košice Dnes
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Defense Minister Admits Gap in Air Defense, Army Cannot Shoot Down Drones

Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák acknowledged a significant gap in the country's air defense capabilities, revealing that the military currently lacks the authority to shoot down unauthorized drones. The admission highlights vulnerabilities in Slovakia's airspace security at a time when drone incidents have become increasingly common across Europe. The opposition Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS) warned that constitutional amendments being considered by the government could be motivated by efforts to create public fear rather than address genuine security concerns.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Defense Ministry to Present New General Staff Chief Candidate by March

Slovakia's Ministry of Defense will present a candidate for the position of Chief of General Staff by the end of March. The current holder of the position, Daniel Zmeko, has already served two full terms in the role. The General Staff serves as the military's top command structure, with the Chief of General Staff acting as the highest-ranking military officer responsible for the operational command of Slovakia's armed forces and advising the defense minister on military matters.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Proposes Fuel Price Measures as Government Focuses on Druzhba Pipeline Repairs

Opposition parties in Slovakia are proposing measures to combat rising fuel prices while the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico has no plans for intervention. Fico is instead focusing on the non-functional Druzhba oil pipeline, reportedly showing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen images intended to prove the pipeline has been repaired. The Druzhba pipeline, which traditionally supplied Russian oil to Central European countries including Slovakia, has been disrupted. However, fuel prices in Slovakia were not significantly lower even when the pipeline was operational. Current fuel price increases are attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has affected global energy markets and contributed to higher costs at Slovak gas stations.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Media Criticizes Government Official as 'Gravedigger of the Republic'

A Slovak media outlet has sharply criticized a government official, labeling them as a 'gravedigger of the republic' in what appears to be commentary on the state's need for cognitive standards in governance. The criticism suggests concerns about the intellectual capacity or competence of officials in key government positions, though the specific context and details of the official's actions or statements that prompted this harsh characterization were not detailed in the available reporting.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Government Abandons Plan to Dismantle Independent Anti-Corruption Office

The Slovak government has abandoned its controversial proposal to dismantle an independent anti-corruption office, according to legal expert Katarína Batková from the civil rights organization Via Iuris. Batková characterized the withdrawal as the government admitting defeat, stating that fear over potential loss of European Union funding ultimately forced the administration to bury what she called a "legislative corpse." The proposed elimination of the independent office had been criticized as undermining the rule of law by attempting to remove institutions that operate independently from current political power. Slovakia's access to EU funds depends partly on maintaining strong anti-corruption mechanisms and judicial independence, creating pressure on the government to preserve such institutions.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Fico Abandons Reality-Based Politics, Embraces Artificial Content

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has reached a political turning point where he no longer distinguishes between authentic and artificially generated content, according to political observers. The development marks what analysts describe as Fico's departure from reality-based political discourse, with everything now officially becoming fabricated. This shift represents a significant moment in Slovak politics, as the long-serving leader of Smer-SD, the ruling social-democratic party, appears to have abandoned traditional political engagement in favor of content that blurs the line between fact and fiction.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Eastern Slovak Mayors Use Public Funds Most Heavily for Self-Promotion in Municipal Publications

Mayors in eastern Slovak cities are using municipal newspapers funded by public money most extensively for their own campaign promotion, according to an evaluation by Transparency International Slovakia. The anti-corruption watchdog examined how local officials across the country utilize publicly-funded municipal publications to boost their profiles and political messaging. The assessment also covered regional newspapers published by county governments, known as župné noviny in Slovakia. The findings highlight concerns about the misuse of taxpayer money for political self-promotion, particularly among municipal leaders in Slovakia's eastern regions, where the practice appears most prevalent.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Eastern Slovak Mayors Use Municipal Newspapers Most for Self-Promotion, Transparency Study Finds

A study by Transparency International Slovakia found that mayors in eastern Slovak cities use municipal newspapers most extensively to promote themselves using public funds. The anti-corruption organization also evaluated regional newspapers published by county governments as part of its assessment of how public officials use taxpayer-funded media for campaign purposes. The study highlights concerns about the misuse of public resources for political self-promotion through official municipal and regional publications.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Slovak National Party calls on president to address oil supply crisis

The Slovak National Party (SNS) has called on President Peter Pellegrini to take action on Slovakia's looming energy crisis and the restoration of Russian oil supplies to the Slovnaft refinery. The opposition party criticized the president while highlighting his attendance at the Paralympics in Italy, suggesting he should focus on domestic energy security issues instead. The call comes amid concerns over potential disruptions to oil supplies that could affect Slovakia's energy sector. Slovnaft, the country's main oil refinery owned by Hungarian energy giant MOL, has been a key recipient of Russian crude oil, making any supply disruptions a matter of national economic concern. SNS, a nationalist opposition party that previously served in coalition governments, appears to be using the energy issue to pressure the president on foreign policy matters while questioning his priorities during the current crisis.

SMEAktualityTASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Judicial Council Chairwoman Demands Public Apology from Progressive Slovakia MP

Jana Kosová, chairwoman of Slovakia's Judicial Council, has demanded a public apology from Alena Jurík, a member of parliament from Progressive Slovakia. Kosová characterized Jurík's statements as an inadmissible political attack based on lies. The Judicial Council is Slovakia's constitutional body responsible for judicial administration, including the appointment and disciplining of judges. Progressive Slovakia is a liberal opposition party that has been critical of judicial reforms and the current government's approach to rule of law issues. The dispute appears to center on public statements made by the MP that the judicial official considers defamatory.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Defense Minister's Business Ties to Czech Arms Dealer Raise Questions

Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák has maintained long-standing ties with Czech arms dealer Strnad, dating back to the first Smer government. The relationship has now evolved into billion-euro defense contracts, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. The connections between the minister and the arms dealer span over a decade, with their business dealings only recently reaching significant financial scale. Critics suggest that in a normal country, such relationships would prompt a minister's resignation.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Specialized Criminal Court reopens proceedings in Sysol corruption case

The Specialized Criminal Court in Pezinok has resumed proceedings in the Sysol corruption case after Slovakia's Supreme Court overturned the original verdicts and returned the case for retrial. The court must now re-examine all evidence and reassess the credibility of key witnesses in the high-profile corruption case. The Specialized Criminal Court, which handles major corruption and organized crime cases in Slovakia, will conduct a fresh review of the proceedings that had previously resulted in convictions that have now been invalidated by the country's highest judicial authority.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Corruption Trial Continues as Witness Describes Bribe for Fast-Track Legal Proceedings

A witness testified in the ongoing Syseľ corruption case, describing how a bribe was paid to expedite legal proceedings. The witness confronted the defendant with their allegations during court testimony. The Syseľ case is part of Slovakia's broader efforts to prosecute high-level corruption, with proceedings continuing as witnesses provide testimony about alleged corrupt practices involving the acceleration of court cases in exchange for financial payments.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Prosecutor General Warns of Ineffective Penalties for Repeat Theft

Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka has warned that current penalties for repeat theft offenses are proving ineffective in deterring crime. More than half of theft charges filed in January and February 2026 involved so-called "petty theft" cases, according to Žilinka. The prosecutor general, who heads Slovakia's prosecutorial system and oversees major criminal cases, argued that lenient punishments have failed to address the persistent problem of repeat offending. Slovakia has struggled with rising petty crime rates, particularly theft, which has prompted calls for stricter enforcement measures and judicial reforms to better deter repeat offenders.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Court continues reading victim statements in trial over journalist Kuciak murder contract

A Slovak court resumed proceedings in the case involving the contract killing of journalist Ján Kuciak by reading statements from victims, with the defendants not present in the courtroom. The trial centers on the 2018 murder of Kuciak, an investigative journalist whose death shocked Slovakia and triggered massive protests that led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Robert Fico. Kuciak had been investigating alleged ties between Italian organized crime and Slovak political figures when he and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová were shot dead at their home. The case has been one of the most significant criminal proceedings in modern Slovak history, involving multiple defendants including alleged masterminds and executors of the contract killing.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Commentary Criticizes Political Dynasties in Slovak Government

A Slovak media commentary has sharply criticized the prevalence of political family connections in the current government, particularly referencing Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák and suggesting concerns about nepotism in Slovak politics. The piece, published in SME newspaper, uses satirical language to highlight what the author sees as a problematic trend of political dynasties and family members gaining positions of influence. The commentary reflects broader ongoing debates in Slovakia about political transparency and the concentration of power among established political families, particularly within the ruling coalition led by Smer-SD.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Former Property Manager for Bašternák Convicted, Plans to Appeal

The Specialized Criminal Court issued a criminal order convicting Lenka Ivanová, the former property manager for businessman Marián Bašternák. The court reached its decision without holding a trial or hearing evidence, using a simplified procedure that allows judges to rule based solely on case files. Ivanová rejected the verdict and filed an objection, which will force the court to schedule a full trial with oral proceedings. The Specialized Criminal Court handles major corruption, organized crime, and financial crime cases in Slovakia.

Aktuality
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