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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Interior Ministry Prepares Draft Law on Chief Controllers to Enhance Professional Standards

Slovakia's Interior Ministry has prepared a draft law concerning chief controllers that aims to increase professional expertise in the field. The proposed legislation seeks to unify and modernize existing regulations governing these oversight positions. Chief controllers in Slovakia serve as internal auditors within public institutions, responsible for monitoring compliance with financial and administrative procedures. The draft represents an effort to strengthen institutional oversight mechanisms by establishing clearer professional requirements and updated operational standards for these key supervisory roles.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Coalition Split Over Taraba's Future as SNS Leader Demands Immediate Removal

A rift has emerged within Slovakia's ruling coalition over the fate of Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba, with Slovak National Party (SNS) chairman Andrej Danko demanding his immediate dismissal while Prime Minister Robert Fico wants to wait more than a year before making any decision. Fico, leader of the ruling social-democratic Smer-SD party, again defended Taraba but acknowledged facing a dilemma over the controversial deputy prime minister's position. The disagreement highlights tensions within the three-party coalition government that has been in power since October 2023, with the SNS and Smer-SD at odds over personnel decisions that could affect government stability.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Planned Murder of Slovakia's General Prosecutor Was Designed to Look Like Mafia Execution, Court Told

A planned assassination of Slovakia's General Prosecutor Maroš Žilinka was intended to appear as a mafia-style execution, according to testimony from Zoltán Andruskó in court. Andruskó, a key witness in high-profile murder cases, provided details about the plot against Žilinka, who heads the General Prosecutor's Office, Slovakia's highest prosecutorial authority responsible for overseeing major criminal cases and coordinating the country's prosecution system. The revelation adds another layer to concerns about threats against senior judicial and prosecutorial officials in Slovakia, where several prominent figures in the justice system have faced security risks in recent years.

Bratislavak
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Domestic Politics

Witness Claims Žilinka Was Target of Planned Mafia-Style Assassination

A witness has testified that Slovakia's Chief Prosecutor Maroš Žilinka was the target of a planned assassination that was intended to appear as a mafia-style execution. The testimony comes from Andruskó, who provided details about the alleged murder plot against the country's top prosecutor. Slovakia's Chief Prosecutor oversees the prosecution service and plays a crucial role in major criminal cases, including organized crime and corruption investigations. The allegations suggest serious threats against one of the country's highest-ranking law enforcement officials.

Bratislavak
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Domestic Politics

Police Operation in Military Area Uncovers Multiple Violations

Slovak police conducted an operation in a military area that revealed several violations of regulations. The operation was designed to address both security concerns and environmental protection issues within the restricted military zone. Police did not immediately specify the exact nature of the violations discovered or provide details about potential penalties for those involved.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Unites Behind Single Candidate to Challenge Ruling Party in Slovak Regional Election

Opposition parties in Slovakia have consolidated their support behind a single candidate in an effort to defeat the ruling party's nominee in a regional election. The strategy centers on leveraging what observers are calling the "Raši effect," with candidate Porvažník expressing confidence about overcoming the current frontrunner Trnka's lead. The opposition's chances may have improved following Hirman's withdrawal from the race, with the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) potentially holding the key to electoral success. This development reflects broader political dynamics as opposition parties seek to coordinate their efforts against Slovakia's ruling coalition in regional contests.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Parties Unite Behind Single Candidate in Bid to Challenge Incumbent Mayor

Opposition parties in Slovakia have consolidated their support behind a single candidate in an upcoming mayoral election, following the withdrawal of one contender from the race. The strategic move aims to maximize their chances against the current incumbent who holds a significant lead. Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), a center-right opposition party, is expected to play a crucial role in determining the success of this unified opposition approach. The consolidation represents a tactical shift designed to avoid splitting the opposition vote and create a more competitive challenge to the established candidate.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Labor Minister Backs SNS Proposal to Increase Pensions for Seniors Over 90

Slovak Labor Minister Erik Tomáš has agreed to support a proposal from the coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) to increase pension payments for seniors aged over 90 years. The SNS, a nationalist party that is part of the ruling government coalition, must now work out the specific details of the pension increase with Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický. The proposal represents part of ongoing discussions within Slovakia's coalition government about social benefits for elderly citizens, though the financial specifics and implementation timeline remain to be determined through negotiations between the coalition partners.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Danko Insists on Taraba's Dismissal, Plans to Submit Proposal to Prime Minister Tuesday

Andrej Danko, leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS), announced he will deliver a formal proposal to Prime Minister Robert Fico on Tuesday calling for the dismissal of a government official named Taraba. Danko, whose party is part of Slovakia's ruling coalition alongside Fico's Smer-SD and Robert Pellegrini's Hlas, has been pressing for this action as tensions continue within the government. The specific reasons for the dismissal request and the full identity of the official involved were not immediately detailed, as the story is still developing.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Press Agency Receives Qualified Audit Opinion in Annual Report

Slovakia's state-run Press Agency (TASR/PPA) received a qualified audit opinion in its annual report, indicating the auditor found procedural or accounting irregularities. Progressive Slovakia (PS), an opposition liberal party, highlighted that the agency had not received such negative assessment even during the Dobytkár scandal, a major corruption case that previously affected the organization. A qualified audit opinion signals that auditors identified concerns with the agency's financial processes or accounting practices, though the specific nature of the issues was not detailed in the available information.

SMETASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Publication Examines Why Competent Citizens Choose Poor Political Leaders

A Slovak media outlet has published analysis exploring the disconnect between capable citizens and their electoral choices of inadequate political leaders. The examination suggests that effective political decision-making requires citizens to possess surprisingly extensive knowledge to accurately assess what serves their best interests. The piece addresses a phenomenon observed across democratic systems where voters with strong personal competencies may still select representatives who perform poorly in office.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Former Police Chief Gašpar Should Leave Politics Over Kuciak Case Testimony, Says Opposition Leader

Opposition politician Veronika Remišová has called for former police chief Tibor Gašpar to withdraw from politics following testimony in the Ján Kuciak murder case. The statements reportedly revealed that Gašpar had allegedly threatened businessman Marian Kočner's associate Peter Tóth, also known as Andruskó, with liquidation. The Kuciak case involves the 2018 murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, a crime that shocked Slovakia and led to massive protests that eventually brought down the government of Robert Fico. Gašpar, who served as police chief during the Fico administration, has faced ongoing scrutiny over his handling of various high-profile cases and his alleged connections to controversial figures in Slovak politics and business.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Key witness claims Zsuzsová said they had police and prosecutor protection in Kuciak case

Zoltán Andruskó, a key witness in the murder trial of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak, testified that defendant Alena Zsuzsová told him they had protection within the police and prosecutor's office. Andruskó also stated that according to Zsuzsová, eliminating Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka would benefit not only controversial businessman Marián Kočner but others as well. The testimony comes as part of ongoing proceedings in one of Slovakia's most high-profile criminal cases, which has exposed alleged corruption networks linking organized crime figures to law enforcement and political circles. Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová were shot dead at their home in 2018, shortly before Kuciak was set to publish an investigation into alleged ties between Italian mafia groups and Slovak political figures.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak President Bids Farewell to Two Retiring Generals

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini formally bid farewell to two generals who are retiring from active military service. During the ceremony, Pellegrini specifically thanked Major General Balog for his contributions to the development of the Slovak Armed Forces. The retirement of senior military officials is part of the regular rotation of command positions within Slovakia's military structure.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Regional Election 2026: Karel Hirman Withdraws from Košice Governor Race, Backs Marián Porvažník

Karel Hirman has withdrawn from the race for governor of the Košice region in Slovakia's 2026 regional elections and will support Marián Porvažník instead. The two candidates had previously agreed that by the end of May, whichever of them had greater public support would continue as the sole candidate for the position. Porvažník apparently demonstrated stronger backing from voters, leading to Hirman's decision to step aside. Regional governors in Slovakia oversee county-level administration and are elected directly by voters every four years, with the next elections scheduled for 2026.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Labor Ministry Prepares Law Against Fictitious Alternative Care Arrangements

Slovakia's Ministry of Labor is preparing legislation to combat fraudulent alternative care arrangements, according to government plans. The proposed law package will also include previously announced measures to withdraw child allowances from families whose children engage in truancy. The Labor Ministry, which oversees social services and family benefits in Slovakia's government system, has not yet detailed the specific mechanisms that would be used to identify and prevent fictitious care arrangements or how the truancy-related benefit cuts would be implemented.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Government to Hold Session in Eastern Slovakia, Focus on Infrastructure Development

The Slovak government will convene in Haniska, a municipality near Košice in eastern Slovakia, with discussions centered on infrastructure development. The cabinet's decision to meet outside the capital represents an effort to address regional development priorities in the eastern part of the country. Košice serves as Slovakia's second-largest city and the economic center of the eastern region, which has historically faced infrastructure challenges compared to the western regions around Bratislava.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Košice Mayor Meets with Ombudsman Over Voting Rights Dispute

Košice Mayor Jaroslav Šimko met with Slovakia's ombudsman to discuss concerns about the city being held hostage in a broader dispute over voting rights. The ombudsman warned about potential inequality in voting rights, suggesting the dispute could affect how citizens' votes are weighted or counted. The meeting highlighted tensions between local governance and national political conflicts that could impact democratic participation in Slovakia's second-largest city.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Key witness in journalist murder case testifies about police intimidation and high-level connections

Zoltán Andruskó, a key witness in the murder case of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak, testified at the Pezinok court about intimidation by police officers and referenced former police chief Tibor Gašpar and former special prosecutor Dušan Kováčik. Andruskó also described his connections to Alena Zsuzsová, who has been charged as the alleged organizer of the murder. The testimony comes as part of ongoing proceedings in the high-profile case that has dominated Slovak politics since 2018. Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová were shot dead at their home in February 2018, a crime that triggered massive protests and ultimately led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Robert Fico. Kuciak had been investigating corruption and ties between Slovak politicians and Italian organized crime. Gašpar served as police chief during the Fico administration and resigned following the murders amid criticism of the police investigation. Kováčik was the head of the Special Prosecutor's Office, which handles major corruption and organized crime cases, before being charged with corruption himself. The case has exposed deep connections between organized crime, business interests, and Slovak political and law enforcement institutions.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Kuciak Murder Case Trial to Continue with Key Witness Testimony

The trial in the murder case of journalist Ján Kuciak is set to continue Monday at the Specialized Criminal Court in Pezinok, with proceedings also covering charges related to planned murders of prosecutors. The Specialized Criminal Court handles major criminal cases including organized crime and corruption in Slovakia. Kuciak, an investigative journalist, was murdered in 2018 along with his fiancée Martina Kušnírová in a case that shocked the nation and led to massive protests and the resignation of the government. The case has been one of Slovakia's most significant criminal trials, involving allegations of contract killing linked to Kuciak's investigative work on corruption and organized crime connections to high-level political figures.

TASR/Teraz
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