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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Tax Authority Warns of Criminal Charges for Threats Against Inspectors

Slovakia's Financial Administration has issued a warning that attacks and threats directed at tax inspectors could result in criminal prosecution. The authority said its inspectors are facing increasing aggression and threats while carrying out their duties. The Financial Administration, which oversees tax collection and compliance in Slovakia, emphasized that such behavior toward public officials performing their legal obligations constitutes a criminal offense under Slovak law.

Bratislavak
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Military Hospital Project in Prešov Faces Construction Problems and Political Controversy

A military hospital construction project in Prešov has become the center of political controversy after reports emerged about problems with the building work and a sudden change of construction companies. The Defense Ministry hastily replaced the construction firms working on the partially built facility. Prime Minister Robert Fico responded angrily to media coverage of the project, using profane language to defend the hospital construction. The Prešov military hospital project has been under scrutiny for two weeks, with questions raised about the management of the construction process and the decision to switch contractors mid-project.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Political Week Features Fashion Moments and Parliamentary Drama

Slovak political observers noted several memorable moments during the past week's parliamentary sessions, including fashion choices that drew public attention. The weekly political review highlighted interactions between lawmakers that became subjects of public discussion and social media commentary. The National Council, Slovakia's parliament, served as the backdrop for both legislative work and the kind of personal exchanges that often capture public interest beyond the formal political agenda.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Government Advisor Receives €3,000 Monthly from Multiple State Institutions

Miriam Šramová, a communications advisor, receives approximately €3,000 per month from various Slovak state institutions including the Government Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, according to reporting by the SME daily newspaper. Šramová defended the arrangement in an interview, arguing there is no conflict of interest when she conducts interviews with politicians who approve her invoices because she does not consider herself a journalist and claims ethical rules do not apply to her work. The advisor has also provided services to controversial political figures and parties including Marian Kotleba, the far-right former regional governor, as well as the Republika party and the We Are Family (Sme rodina) party. The case highlights questions about potential conflicts of interest in Slovakia's system of government communications contracts, particularly when the same person receives payments from multiple state bodies while simultaneously conducting media work with the officials who authorize those payments.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Coalition Agrees to Resolve SNS Cabinet Reshuffle Demand

Slovakia's ruling coalition has reached an agreement on handling a cabinet reshuffle request from the Slovak National Party (SNS), according to parliamentary speaker Juraj Hrabko. Under the coalition agreement, SNS leader Andrej Danko has the right to propose replacing his party's nominee in the government, while Prime Minister Robert Fico retains the authority to determine when the request will be addressed. Hrabko acknowledged that the resolution process was not standard but said it helped prevent a coalition crisis. The SNS is part of Slovakia's three-party ruling coalition alongside Fico's Smer-SD party and Hlas-SD, and internal disputes over ministerial positions have the potential to destabilize the government that took power following elections in late 2023.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Fico Outmaneuvers Coalition Partner Danko, Refuses to Dismiss Taraba

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has successfully resisted pressure from coalition partner Andrej Danko to dismiss a government official named Taraba, effectively containing a coalition crisis until the state budget approval process is complete. Fico, who leads the ruling Smer-SD party, appears to be strategically managing internal government tensions to ensure legislative priorities remain on track. The dispute highlights ongoing friction within Slovakia's ruling coalition, though Fico's political maneuvering has prevented the disagreement from escalating into a full government crisis that could threaten budget passage in parliament.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Ministries Fail to Publish Required Financial Documents Online

Several Slovak government ministries have been violating transparency laws by failing to publish mandatory invoices and financial documents on their websites, according to an investigation by Slovak media. The Interior Ministry, led by Robert Kaliňák, was found to have published documents dated from the year 2925, highlighting significant errors in their disclosure system. Government officials corrected the mistakes only after being questioned by journalists. Under Slovak law, public institutions are required to regularly publish financial documents online to ensure transparency and public oversight of government spending. The violations represent a breach of the country's freedom of information legislation, which mandates that citizens have access to how public funds are being used.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Interior Minister Kaliňák Shows No Interest in Appearance of Integrity, Commentary Suggests

Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák has drawn criticism for his apparent disregard for maintaining even the appearance of ethical conduct, according to political commentary. The criticism comes amid ongoing concerns about events in Prešov, which observers suggest were not merely the result of random incompetence or coincidental failures. Kaliňák, a member of the ruling Smer-SD party who has previously faced scrutiny over various controversies, continues to hold his position despite calls for greater accountability in government operations.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Court Reduces Murder Sentence by Five Years After Appeal

A Slovak appeals court has reduced a man's prison sentence from 22 years to 17 years for the murder of his girlfriend after his defense attorney successfully challenged the original conviction. The court determined that prosecutors had failed to prove the victim was a "close person" under Slovak law, which carries enhanced penalties for domestic violence cases. The legal distinction is significant in Slovak criminal law, where murders of family members or intimate partners typically receive harsher sentences than other homicides. The case highlights the complexities of proving intimate relationships in criminal proceedings, where the legal definition of "close person" can determine the severity of punishment for violent crimes.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Criminal police investigate school for subsidy fraud despite receiving 2.7 million euros from state

Criminal investigators are examining a Slovak school for alleged subsidy fraud, even though the institution has received 2.7 million euros in state funding. The case is also being handled by the Ministry of Interior, which oversees police operations and internal security matters in Slovakia. The investigation suggests potential misuse of public funds by the educational institution, though specific details about the nature of the alleged fraud have not been disclosed.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Former Prosecutor General Trnka Faces Growing Opposition in Presidential Campaign as Hungarian Alliance Joins KDH in Backing Rival Candidates

Dobroslav Trnka, Slovakia's former prosecutor general, is entering the presidential campaign increasingly isolated as political parties line up behind alternative candidates. The Hungarian Alliance has joined the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) in supporting rival contenders, with parliamentary deputy Pandy emerging as a potential candidate backed by the Hungarian minority party. The Christian Democratic Movement, a center-right party that was part of previous coalition governments, had already announced its opposition to Trnka's candidacy. The Hungarian Alliance represents Slovakia's ethnic Hungarian minority, which comprises about 8% of the population and is concentrated in southern regions bordering Hungary. Trnka, who served as prosecutor general from 2011 to 2019, has faced criticism over his handling of high-profile corruption cases during his tenure. The development suggests Trnka may struggle to build the broad political coalition typically needed for a successful presidential campaign in Slovakia's political system.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Interior Minister Loses Court Battle Over Defamation Case, Faces Major Financial Penalty

A Slovak court has definitively rejected Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok's attempts to halt an enforcement proceeding that will deduct more than his annual salary from his account. The case stems from a legal dispute with police officers associated with Ján Čurilla, whom Šutaj Eštok compared to Mikuláš Černák, a convicted organized crime figure. Based on a September 10, 2025 ruling by Bratislava IV District Court, the interior minister must apologize to the officers for the comparison. Šutaj Eštok, a member of the ruling Smer-SD party who oversees Slovakia's police force, had unsuccessfully sought to prevent the financial enforcement of the court's decision in the defamation case.

SMETASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Official Calls State Subsidy to Untraceable Firm 'Scandalous'

Ján Hargaš, a Slovak official, has denounced as scandalous the allocation of a state subsidy to a company that appears to have no working telephone contact. The firm officially lists its headquarters in a residential apartment building in Bratislava, the Slovak capital, and investigators found no one at the location where the company was supposed to carry out activities funded by the state grant. The case highlights concerns about oversight of public funding distribution in Slovakia, where proper verification of recipient companies' operational status appears to have been lacking.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Prosecutor Removed from Kajúcnik Case Over Six-Year-Old Statement

A prosecutor has been removed from the Kajúcnik case after her signature on a statement from six years ago became grounds for her disqualification. The prosecutor was among nearly sixty colleagues who signed a statement in support of prosecutors Šúrek and Repa at that time. The Kajúcnik case is a significant corruption investigation in Slovakia, and the removal of the prosecutor highlights how past professional statements can affect current case assignments in the country's judicial system.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Arts Fund Awards Over 50,000 Euros to Anti-Abortion March

Slovakia's largest anti-abortion event has received more than 50,000 euros in state funding after being classified as a "cultural event." The Arts Support Fund (FPU) awarded 40,000 euros directly to the March for Life and an additional 10,000 euros for classical music concerts during the march. The decision was made by the FPU Council, headed by Matúš Oľha. The funding was approved through a program that was championed by nominees of Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová from the Slovak National Party (SNS), a nationalist party that is part of the ruling coalition. The Arts Support Fund traditionally provides grants for artistic and cultural projects, making this funding for an explicitly political pro-life demonstration a departure from conventional practices.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Concludes Friday Session with Vote on Increased Penalty Fines

The National Council, Slovakia's parliament, ended its Friday session by passing amendments to the law on misdemeanors. The legislative changes are designed to increase the amount of fines imposed for various infractions. The measure represents the government's effort to strengthen enforcement mechanisms through higher financial penalties, though specific details about which offenses will face increased fines and the new penalty amounts were not immediately disclosed.

SME
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Domestic Politics

European Court of Human Rights Rules in Favor of Former Slovak Prosecutor General Against State

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favor of Rastislav Trnka, Slovakia's former prosecutor general, in a legal dispute that began thirteen years ago involving Richard Raši. The court's decision requires the Slovak state to pay Trnka nearly 9,000 euros in compensation. Trnka served as Slovakia's prosecutor general from 2011 to 2019 and was a controversial figure who faced criticism over his handling of several high-profile corruption cases. The ruling represents a significant legal victory for Trnka after more than a decade of litigation, though the specific details of the dispute with Raši, a prominent Slovak politician and former interior minister, were not disclosed in the court's decision.

AktualityKorzár
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Domestic Politics

Former Deputy Governor Roman Malatinec to Run Against His Former Boss in 2026 Regional Elections

Roman Malatinec will run for governor of the Banská Bystrica region in the 2026 elections, announced Rudolf Huliak, leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS) faction. Malatinec previously served as deputy to the current regional governor Ján Lunter, whom he now criticizes and plans to challenge. The development highlights internal political tensions within Slovakia's central region ahead of the upcoming regional elections. Huliak's faction represents a breakaway group from the main SNS party and is part of Slovakia's current ruling coalition government.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Commentary Criticizes Political Theater Amid Other News

A Slovak media commentary criticized what it described as political theater dominating news coverage this week, suggesting that other important developments were overshadowed by dramatic political performances. The piece appeared to reference ongoing political controversies involving prominent Slovak political figures, though specific details of the underlying events were not provided in the available source material.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Business Organizations Challenge Slovak PM's Claims About Tax Evasion Among Self-Employed

Slovak business organizations have expressed concern over Prime Minister Robert Fico's recent statements about self-employed workers, after he claimed that 65 percent of self-employed individuals do not pay income tax. The Trade Union of Self-Employed and the Slovak Chamber of Commerce criticized the prime minister's assertions, viewing them as potentially damaging to the reputation of small business owners and entrepreneurs. Fico leads Slovakia's ruling coalition government, which has frequently targeted tax compliance and revenue collection as policy priorities since returning to power.

SME
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