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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Senior Police Official Questions Secrecy of Ruling in Rozuzlenie Case

A high-ranking police official has challenged the decision to classify a ruling in the Rozuzlenie case, raising concerns about transparency in the investigation. The official highlighted potential legal issues if investigators participate in political campaigns, emphasizing that police officers are required to remain apolitical. The Rozuzlenie case is one of several high-profile investigations in Slovakia involving allegations of corruption and organized crime. The controversy centers on whether investigators can maintain their objectivity and legal standing if they become involved in partisan politics through candidacy on party lists during elections.

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Domestic Politics

Former Opposition Strategist Urges Slovak Opposition to Move Beyond Anti-Fico Rhetoric

Ivan Šimko, a key architect of the Slovak Democratic Coalition (SDK) that defeated authoritarian leader Vladimír Mečiar in 1998, has called on Slovakia's current opposition parties to develop a unified policy platform rather than focusing solely on opposing Prime Minister Robert Fico. Šimko, who helped orchestrate one of Slovakia's most significant democratic transitions, argues that the opposition is running out of time to present a credible alternative to Fico's government. He emphasized that defeating the current administration requires offering concrete solutions to Slovakia's key problems, not just coalition arrangements and candidate lists. The Slovak Democratic Coalition was a broad opposition alliance that successfully ended Mečiar's increasingly authoritarian rule in the late 1990s, helping to put Slovakia on a path toward EU and NATO membership after years of international isolation.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Prime Minister Fico and Interior Minister Kaliňák Face Potentially Damaging Scandal

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák are confronting a new scandal that could prove politically damaging to their leadership. The development comes as observers note that the current ruling coalition has failed to demonstrate greater professionalism than the previous government led by Igor Matovič. The scandal's emergence highlights ongoing governance challenges in Slovakia, where political crises have become a recurring feature of recent years. Matovič, who served as prime minister from 2020 to 2021, led a government that was frequently criticized for its chaotic management style and internal conflicts.

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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Chief Prosecutor Released from Hospital After Cardiac Procedure

Maroš Žilinka, Slovakia's Prosecutor General, was discharged from hospital following a cardiac procedure at a specialized heart center. Žilinka thanked medical staff for their professional and compassionate care during his hospitalization and treatment. According to official information, his condition has been stabilized and he will continue his recovery at home. The Prosecutor General's Office confirmed he was fully stabilized after the medical intervention and is experiencing no complications.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Concludes Opposition Debate on EU Emissions Trading System for Households

Slovakia's parliament concluded debate on opposition proposals regarding the EU's planned ETS2 emissions trading system, which would extend carbon pricing to households and transportation. Opposition lawmakers Krátky and Horecký proposed a parliamentary resolution opposing the implementation of the emissions permit system for Slovak households. The ETS2 system, part of the European Union's broader climate policy framework, would require households to purchase permits for carbon emissions from heating and transport fuel, effectively increasing costs for consumers. The debate reflects growing political tension in Slovakia over EU climate policies and their potential impact on household budgets, as the country grapples with how to balance environmental commitments with economic concerns for citizens.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Public TV Presenter Faces Sanctions After Moderating Ruling Party Celebration with Prime Minister

Karin Majtánová, a longtime presenter for Slovakia's public television STVR, appeared on stage alongside Prime Minister Robert Fico at a celebration for the ruling Smer party, where she moderated the event and was photographed kissing the premier. The public broadcaster said it was unaware of her private activity in advance and considers it incompatible with working for a media outlet that must maintain impartiality. STVR has indicated that Majtánová violated the broadcaster's editorial standards by participating in partisan political activities while employed as a journalist for the state-funded television network, which is required to maintain political neutrality in its coverage.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Government Faces Criticism Over 600 Million Euro Museum Construction in Prešov

A major cultural project in Prešov, eastern Slovakia, has become a symbol of government mismanagement, with critics highlighting non-transparent and poor quality oversight of the 600 million euro construction. The museum project has drawn attention to broader concerns about public spending efficiency under the current administration led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, which returned to power in 2023. Meanwhile, Slovakia's ruling coalition is preparing potential changes to electoral laws that could be implemented within three weeks, adding to political tensions in the country.

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Domestic Politics

Police Raid in Southern Slovakia Detains Son of Cemetery Director in Illegal Arms Investigation

Slovak police conducted a raid in southern Slovakia that resulted in the detention of the son of a cemetery director, with authorities officially confirming the operation was connected to illegal arms possession. The raid was carried out by ÚBOK, Slovakia's National Criminal Agency, which handles serious organized crime cases including weapons trafficking. Police have not released additional details about the scope of the investigation or whether other individuals are involved in the suspected illegal weapons activity.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Could Control All Overseas Votes, Warns Association

A proposal to restrict postal voting for Slovaks living abroad would give Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár control over all overseas votes, warns Samuel Zubo, a representative of overseas Slovaks living in Prague. Zubo argues that if the proposal passes and many expatriates cannot vote, Slovak leaders would lose legitimacy and foreign governments might not recognize them. He particularly warns that a single polling station in Prague may be insufficient to serve all voters who want to participate in elections. The concern centers on the composition of electoral commissions at Slovak embassies, where the foreign affairs minister would control all commission members. The proposal represents a significant restriction on voting rights for Slovakia's overseas citizens, who currently have broader access to voting through postal ballots.

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Domestic Politics

Opposition Parties Propose Easing Municipal Debt Brake Sanctions After Months of Local Government Complaints

Opposition parties SaS and PS have submitted proposals to parliament to ease debt brake sanctions affecting Slovak municipalities, responding to months of complaints from local governments that current restrictions could prevent them from preparing next year's budgets. The debt brake is a fiscal rule that limits borrowing by local governments when their debt levels become excessive. Municipal authorities have argued the sanctions are too severe and threaten their ability to function effectively. The Ministry of Finance has prepared its own proposal to address the issue and will announce its next steps in the coming weeks. SaS indicated it would withdraw its proposal if the Finance Ministry's version comes to parliament first.

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Domestic Politics

Opposition Could Have Governed Without Matovič if Allied with Kollár, Says Former SaS Leader

Richard Sulík, former leader of the liberal Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party, revealed that the opposition could have formed a government without Igor Matovič if they had secured an alliance with Boris Kollár. Speaking in a television interview, Sulík suggested that such a coalition arrangement would have been possible, potentially altering Slovakia's current political landscape. The former SaS chairman, who led one of the key opposition parties until recently, also confirmed he will not be joining any political party in the near future. Sulík's comments come as Slovakia's political scene remains fragmented, with the current government led by Robert Fico's Smer-SD party following elections that saw significant shifts in the opposition's composition and leadership.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Approves Public Procurement Law Amendment

Slovakia's National Council, the country's parliament, has approved amendments to the public procurement law aimed at improving oversight of government contracts. The changes are designed to make controls carried out by the Public Procurement Office more effective. The Public Procurement Office is the state agency responsible for monitoring how government institutions award contracts for goods and services, a process that has historically been vulnerable to corruption and inefficiency in Slovakia. The legislative reform represents an effort to strengthen transparency and accountability in how public funds are spent on everything from construction projects to IT services.

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Domestic Politics

Government Strips Powers from Roma Communities Commissioner's Office, Opposition Claims

The opposition Hnutie Slovensko party accused the government of removing key powers from the Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities, including authority over EU funds designated for Roma programs. The party claims this decision-making authority has been transferred to the head of the Government Office of the Slovak Republic. Hnutie Slovensko has called on President Peter Pellegrini not to sign the legislation, which would restore the commissioner's original powers. The Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities was established to coordinate government policies and programs aimed at improving conditions for Slovakia's Roma minority, one of the largest in Europe proportionally.

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Domestic Politics

Slovakia to Modify Rules for Public Opinion Polls

Slovakia's parliament is considering changes to regulations governing public opinion polls, with the proposed legislation potentially taking effect on January 1, 2027, if definitively approved. The National Council, Slovakia's parliament, is reviewing amendments to existing laws that would establish new conditions and requirements for conducting public opinion surveys. The extended timeline until 2027 suggests the changes may involve significant adjustments to current polling practices that require time for implementation by polling organizations and media outlets.

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Domestic Politics

Danko Proves Useful Again for Fico's Foreign Policy

Slovak National Party leader Andrej Danko has once again served as a useful ally for Prime Minister Robert Fico's foreign policy initiatives, despite Fico never receiving a clear electoral mandate for his current international approach. The development highlights how Fico, whose Smer-SD party leads Slovakia's ruling coalition, has been able to advance controversial foreign policy positions through strategic political partnerships. Danko's Slovak National Party, a nationalist party that frequently aligns with Fico on issues involving relations with Russia and skepticism toward Western institutions, has provided crucial support for policies that critics argue diverge from Slovakia's traditional pro-European orientation.

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Domestic Politics

Opposition Party Calls on President to Veto Municipal Police Law Restricting Jobs to Slovak Citizens

Progressive Slovakia (PS), an opposition party, has called on President Peter Pellegrini to veto a proposed amendment to the municipal police law drafted by the Slovak National Party (SNS). The amendment would restrict municipal police positions exclusively to Slovak citizens, barring foreign nationals from these roles. PS argues the legislation violates European Union law, specifically the principle of free movement of workers, goods, and services within the EU. The opposition party has also indicated it is prepared to challenge the law before Slovakia's Constitutional Court if it becomes enacted. The SNS, a nationalist party that is part of Slovakia's ruling coalition, has promoted the amendment as part of its broader political agenda focusing on national identity and security issues.

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Domestic Politics

Study Reveals Gap Between Slovak Voters' Values and Electoral Choices

A new analysis suggests that Slovak voters do not cast their ballots based on their actual beliefs and values, raising questions about the alignment between public opinion and electoral outcomes. The research examines whether Slovakia truly maintains Western-oriented value structures despite its political trajectory. The findings highlight a disconnect between what Slovaks claim to believe and how they vote, suggesting that factors beyond core values may be driving electoral decisions in the Central European nation.

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Domestic Politics

Opposition Criticizes Agriculture Minister for Avoiding Parliamentary Debate on EU Subsidies

Slovakia's opposition has criticized Agriculture Minister Richard Takáč for refusing to face parliamentary discussion about the country's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) implementation. The Progressive Slovakia party argues that farmers are living in uncertainty about whether they will receive any European Union agricultural subsidies at all. The dispute highlights concerns over Slovakia's handling of EU agricultural funding, which provides crucial financial support to the country's farming sector through the bloc's Common Agricultural Policy program.

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Domestic Politics

Construction of New Hospital in Prešov Suspended Following Opposition Questions About Building Supervision

Construction of a new hospital in Prešov was suspended last week, prompting questions from opposition parties about building supervision oversight. Health Minister Kamil Šaško downplayed the suspension, stating he does not view the halt to the Prešov hospital construction as dramatic. The suspension comes amid scrutiny over the project's supervision and regulatory compliance, though the minister's comments suggest the government views this as a temporary setback rather than a major crisis.

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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Coalition Considers Cuts to 13th Pension as Public Finances Deteriorate

Slovakia's ruling coalition is considering modifications to the country's 13th pension payments as the government grapples with deteriorating public finances. The 13th pension, an additional annual payment to retirees, has been a politically sacrosanct social benefit. Smer-SD, the leading party in the ruling coalition, along with coalition partner SNS (Slovak National Party), are cautiously proposing to means-test the benefit, targeting payments away from wealthier pensioners toward those with lower incomes. However, Hlas (Voice), the third coalition partner, has warned against breaking campaign promises regarding pension benefits. The potential reform represents a significant shift for Smer-SD, which has traditionally championed generous social spending and pension benefits as core policy priorities. Financial experts note that the consideration of such politically sensitive cuts indicates the severity of Slovakia's fiscal situation, though they point out that poverty in Slovakia is no longer primarily concentrated among senior citizens.

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