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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Prime Minister Fico Adopts Calmer Tone as Political Landscape Shifts

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has adopted a more moderate tone in recent political discourse, according to political observers. The shift comes as the parliamentary arithmetic has changed with one party now outside the National Council, Slovakia's parliament, creating new dynamics that could benefit the ruling coalition. The changed composition has particularly strengthened the position of Andrej Danko, leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS) and parliament speaker, who may be positioned to secure political victories for the first time in his current role. Meanwhile, questions remain about what factors are enabling Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok to maintain his influential position within the government structure.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Commentary: Slovak Parliament Speaker Danko Frustrated as PM Fico Corners Him Politically

Slovak National Council Speaker Andrej Danko appears increasingly frustrated after being politically outmaneuvered by Prime Minister Robert Fico, according to political analysis. The commentary suggests Danko's ambitions, driven by feelings of being undervalued within the government, may not be realistic. Political observers note that challenging Fico without a clear strategy could prove counterproductive for the parliament speaker. The tension highlights potential friction within Slovakia's ruling coalition, where Danko leads the Slovak National Party (SNS), a junior partner to Fico's dominant Smer-SD party.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Ministers Clash With Ombudsman Over Old Catholic Church Recognition

Slovakia's Public Defender of Rights has defended the Old Catholic Church amid controversy over its legal status. Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok and Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák have accused the ombudsman of wanting to allow mosques in the country. The Old Catholic Church operates in Slovakia alongside the dominant Roman Catholic Church, which claims three million adherents, and the Evangelical and Greek Catholic churches with hundreds of thousands of members. However, the Old Catholic Church remains unregistered because only 1,778 people declared membership in the 2021 census. Without official registration, religious organizations cannot construct places of worship or own property in Slovakia. The dispute highlights tensions over religious recognition policies and the government's approach to minority faiths.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Questions Italian Company's Role in Danube Sediment Removal Contract

The Democrats party has raised suspicions about a public tender for removing sediments from the Danube River, questioning why the Slovak Water Management Company (SVP) included an Italian firm in the project consortium. The Democrats, an opposition liberal party, said they do not understand the rationale behind involving the foreign company in the contract. SVP, the state-owned enterprise responsible for managing Slovakia's water resources and infrastructure, rejected the criticism. The Danube sediment removal project is part of ongoing efforts to maintain navigation and flood protection along Slovakia's section of Europe's second-longest river, which forms part of the country's southern border with Hungary.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Two-thirds of Slovaks support European army, but less than half would defend Slovakia

A new poll reveals that two-thirds of Slovak citizens support the creation of a European army, while less than half would be willing to defend their own country. The survey also found that Slovaks would recommend Ukraine give up territory, reflecting the country's complex attitudes toward defense and the ongoing war. The findings highlight a disconnect between Slovak support for collective European defense mechanisms and personal willingness to engage in national defense, amid broader debates about Slovakia's role in European security and its stance on the Ukraine conflict.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Politics Dominated by Empty Marketing Instead of Governance, Experts Warn

Slovak political discourse has devolved into superficial marketing campaigns rather than substantive governance, according to political analysts. Both ruling and opposition parties are engaging in what experts describe as "alibism" - making excuses rather than addressing critical issues facing the country. The shift toward symbolic politics comes as Slovakia confronts serious economic and administrative challenges, including potential suspension of EU funding, consequences from mismanaged fiscal consolidation, and a stagnating economy that requires urgent attention from political leaders.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Coalition Faces Major Personnel Reshuffle as Minister Eyes Central Bank Position

Slovakia's ruling coalition is preparing for significant personnel changes across key government positions as internal tensions mount. Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický is seeking to move to the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), the country's central bank, in what sources describe as a potential escape from mounting political pressures. The anticipated reshuffle involves three major institutions and represents one strategy the coalition is considering to ease growing internal conflicts. A potential successor to Kamenický has already been identified, though the full scope of the personnel changes remains under discussion as the government attempts to stabilize its operations amid political strain.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Court Issues Guilty Verdict Against Former Top Prosecutor Brhel in Corruption Case

A Slovak court delivered a comprehensive 180-page guilty verdict against Dušan Brhel, a former high-ranking prosecutor, in a corruption case. During the proceedings, testimony referenced former central bank governor Peter Kažimír in connection with the corruption allegations. The extensive ruling indicates the complexity of the case against Brhel, who held senior positions in Slovakia's prosecution service. The court's detailed verdict suggests substantial evidence was presented regarding corrupt practices, with the case apparently involving multiple figures from Slovakia's financial and legal establishment.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Coalition Expected to Have 77 MPs After Taraba's Fall, SNS Confident About Support

The ruling coalition in Slovakia expects to maintain a stable parliamentary majority of 77 deputies following the anticipated departure of Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba, according to Roman Michelko, chairman of the Slovak National Party (SNS) parliamentary group. Michelko stated in an interview that Taraba has lost support not only from the SNS leadership but also from his own deputy ministers, known as the Kuffa father and son duo, as well as from the entire SNS parliamentary caucus. The SNS, a nationalist party that is part of the ruling coalition alongside the social-democratic Smer-SD party, appears confident that the Kuffa supporters will join their ranks to maintain the government's parliamentary stability. Slovakia's National Council has 150 seats, meaning the coalition would retain a narrow but workable majority with 77 MPs even after Taraba's expected exit from the government.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Speaker Danko Makes Threats in Controversial Statement

Andrej Danko, Speaker of Slovakia's National Council parliament, made threatening statements that have drawn criticism for being described as cynical and tragic even by his own standards. Danko, who represents the Slovak National Party (SNS), a nationalist party that is part of the ruling coalition with Robert Fico's Smer-SD, has a history of controversial public statements. The specific nature of the threats was not detailed, but the incident has generated significant negative reaction given Danko's senior position in Slovakia's legislative body.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Rejects Hlas Party Proposal on Research Funding Reform

Slovakia's opposition parties have rejected a proposal from Hlas, a member of the ruling coalition, to reform the country's research funding system. The proposed changes would eliminate expert panels from the grant evaluation process and allow academic reviews alone to determine funding decisions, even for grants exceeding 200,000 euros. Hlas is a centrist party that forms part of Prime Minister Robert Fico's governing coalition alongside the social-democratic Smer-SD party. The opposition's rejection highlights ongoing tensions over how Slovakia allocates public funding for scientific research and academic projects.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Court Gives Suspended Sentence to Smer Official Who Embezzled EU Agricultural Funds

A Slovak court sentenced Ľubica Rošková, a regional official from the ruling Smer-SD party, to a two-year suspended sentence and a 10,000-euro fine for embezzling more than 150,000 euros in EU agricultural subsidies. The lenient sentence was made possible by recent legal amendments passed by Prime Minister Robert Fico's government that reduced penalties for corruption and fraud offenses. Rošková, who was known as an influential regional Smer functionary, benefited from the legislative changes that softened criminal sanctions for such crimes. The case has drawn criticism from anti-corruption advocates who argue that the government's legal reforms are designed to protect party officials from serious consequences for financial crimes involving public funds.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Police investigate tip-off that allowed suspect to evade arrest by anti-corruption unit

Slovakia's police inspection service is investigating whether someone warned a suspect before anti-corruption officers attempted to detain them, allowing the individual to avoid arrest. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (ÚBOK), which handles major corruption and organized crime cases, had planned to apprehend the suspect but the operation failed when the person appeared to have advance knowledge of the planned detention. Investigators are now examining whether multiple criminal offenses may have been committed in connection with the apparent leak of information about the planned arrest operation.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Opposition Party Progressive Slovakia Narrowly Leads Ruling Smer in New Poll

A new Ipsos poll shows Progressive Slovakia maintaining a slim lead over the ruling Smer-SD party, with the gap between the two largest parties falling within the margin of statistical error. The survey indicates Democrats, a liberal opposition party, would fail to reach the parliamentary threshold needed to secure seats in the National Council, Slovakia's parliament. The narrowing gap between Progressive Slovakia, the main centrist opposition party, and Smer-SD, the governing social-democratic party led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, suggests a highly competitive political landscape ahead of potential future elections.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak National Party Objects to Health Ministry Proposal That Could Restrict Cosmetic Services

The Slovak National Party (SNS) has raised objections to a proposed amendment from the Health Ministry, arguing it could threaten the work of cosmeticians by transferring some procedures they currently perform exclusively to the healthcare sector. SNS representative Lučanský stated the party believes certain treatments traditionally provided by cosmetic professionals would be restricted to medical facilities under the proposed changes. Health Minister Kamil Šaško has already pledged to withdraw and revise portions of the amendment in response to the concerns. The Slovak National Party is part of the ruling coalition government alongside Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, making their opposition to the health ministry proposal a potential source of internal government tension over healthcare regulation and professional licensing standards.

SMETASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Interior Ministry Contracts Singer for Anti-Addiction Concerts Despite Missing Public Records

Singer René Rendy has been performing anti-addiction concerts for children across Slovak cities since early May as part of an Interior Ministry campaign to warn students about the dangers of addiction. However, opposition lawmaker Martina Bajo Holečková from the Freedom and Solidarity Party (SaS) revealed that while a contract exists between Rendy and the ministry, it has not been published in the Central Contract Registry as required by Slovak transparency laws. Bajo Holečková made the allegations during a press conference on Friday, raising questions about the ministry's compliance with public procurement transparency requirements. The Interior Ministry's educational campaign targets schoolchildren with concerts designed to deliver anti-addiction messages, but the missing contract details have drawn scrutiny from opposition politicians concerned about proper use of public funds.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Former SNS leader Slota to appear before appeals court in early June

Ján Slota, the former leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS), will appear before an appeals court in early June following his 2024 conditional sentence. Both the defense and prosecutor have filed appeals against the original ruling. The Slovak National Party is a nationalist political party that has been part of various government coalitions throughout Slovakia's post-communist history. Slota led the party for over two decades until 2012 and was known for his controversial nationalist rhetoric. The appeals hearing will review the lower court's decision to impose a suspended sentence on the former political leader.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Pro-Government Influencer Presents Herself as Independent While Receiving State Funding

A Slovak influencer who presents herself as independent has been found to receive funding from the state while maintaining exclusive access to government politicians. Mimi Šramová, who operates in Slovakia's social media landscape, has come under scrutiny for the apparent contradiction between her claimed independence and her financial ties to public resources. The arrangement raises questions about transparency in political communication and the blurring of lines between independent content creators and state-sponsored messaging in Slovakia's digital media environment.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Daily News Roundup: Academy Shakeup, Coalition Tensions, Police Operations, and Decodom Collapse

Slovakia faced multiple developments across different sectors in a single day of significant news activity. The country's academic institutions experienced upheaval, while the ruling coalition government dealt with internal tensions that highlighted ongoing political divisions. Police conducted operations as part of broader law enforcement activities, and the technology company Decodom faced a major corporate setback. These developments reflect the complex political and economic challenges currently facing Slovakia across various sectors, from higher education and government stability to business and public security.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Defense Minister Acknowledges Controversy Over Military Equipment Plans in Protected National Parks

Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák acknowledged that plans to install military equipment and radar systems in the Poloniny and Vihorlat national parks will likely spark disputes with environmental protection groups. Kaliňák admitted he expects conservationists to oppose the military installations in these protected natural areas. The Poloniny National Park, located along Slovakia's border with Poland and Ukraine, is known for its pristine wilderness and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Carpathian Beech Forests. The Vihorlat Mountains contain another protected landscape area in eastern Slovakia. The minister's comments suggest the government is moving forward with defense infrastructure projects that could conflict with environmental protection priorities in some of the country's most ecologically sensitive regions.

Korzár
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