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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Minister Ordered to Apologize and Pay Damages to Environmental Activist

A Slovak regional court has upheld a ruling requiring Environment Minister Rudolf Huliak to issue a written apology to environmental activist Marián Hletko and pay him 7,500 euros in damages. The court's decision is final, confirming the verdict against Huliak in what appears to be a defamation case. Huliak, who serves as environment minister in Prime Minister Robert Fico's coalition government, must now comply with the court-ordered compensation and formal apology to the environmental advocate.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Calls Emergency Health Committee Over €195 Million Risk to Prešov Hospital

The opposition has initiated an emergency session of parliament's health committee regarding a potential loss of €195 million in funding for a hospital in Prešov, a major city in eastern Slovakia. Opposition lawmakers are questioning why this financial risk has only now come to light, suggesting potential mismanagement or delayed disclosure of the funding threat. The National Council, Slovakia's parliament, uses specialized committees to examine policy issues in detail before broader legislative consideration. The substantial sum at stake represents a significant portion of healthcare infrastructure investment, with potential implications for medical services in the Prešov region.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Igor Kršiak to Run for Mayor of Nitra in Upcoming Elections

Igor Kršiak announced his candidacy for mayor of Nitra, Slovakia's fourth-largest city, in the upcoming municipal elections. Two city council members, Pavol Obertáš and Štefan Štefek, have declared their support for Kršiak's mayoral bid. The announcement comes as political preparations intensify ahead of Slovakia's next round of local elections, where voters will choose mayors and city council representatives across the country.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Parliament Rejects Opposition Proposals on Ambulance Tender and COVID Commissioner

Slovakia's parliament rejected several proposals from the opposition party Hnutie Slovensko, including initiatives related to ambulance service procurement and support for scientists. The National Council, Slovakia's parliament, also voted down the opposition's call to remove Peter Kotlár from his position as government commissioner for investigating the management of resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, lawmakers rejected a proposal to eliminate lifetime pension benefits for the prime minister. Hnutie Slovensko is an opposition party led by former president Andrej Kiska that has been critical of the current government's policies across various sectors.

SMETASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Party Fails to Pass Public Procurement Reform Limiting Contract Price Increases

Hnutie Slovensko, an opposition political party, failed to secure passage of proposed amendments to Slovakia's public procurement laws. The party's proposal sought to introduce restrictions preventing public contracting authorities from signing contracts with prices exceeding the estimated value by more than 20 percent. The National Council, Slovakia's parliament, rejected the legislative changes that were intended to limit cost overruns in government contracts and public tenders.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Rejects Opposition Proposal to Limit Government Benefits

Slovakia's parliament rejected an opposition proposal aimed at reducing benefits for government officials. The measure would have limited each ministry to a maximum of two state secretaries, cutting down on the number of high-level political appointees in government departments. The National Council, Slovakia's parliament, voted down the proposal, allowing the current system of government appointments to continue unchanged.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Slovak National Party Holds Press Conference on Parliamentary Developments

The Slovak National Party (SNS) held a press conference to address current developments in parliament. SNS, a nationalist party that is part of Slovakia's ruling coalition alongside the social-democratic Smer-SD and the centrist Hlas parties, used the briefing to present their position on ongoing parliamentary matters. The party's leadership provided their perspective on recent legislative activities and political developments within the National Council, Slovakia's parliament.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Judge Kliment Calls for Protection of Judicial Independence, Criticizes Government Attacks on Prosecutor Záleská

A Slovak judge has publicly called for the protection of judicial independence while criticizing government attacks on prosecutor Záleská. Judge Kliment's statement also condemned Prime Minister Robert Fico's announcement that he would file criminal charges against Záleská. The development highlights growing tensions between Slovakia's judiciary and the government led by Fico's Smer-SD party, which returned to power in 2023. Záleská, who serves as a prosecutor handling sensitive cases, has become a target of political criticism from the ruling coalition, raising concerns about the independence of the country's judicial system and the rule of law.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Senior Civil Service Turnover Doubled Under Fico Government, Says Public Policy Expert

Turnover among senior civil servants at the top levels of Slovakia's government has doubled since Robert Fico's administration took power, according to Katarína Staroňová from the Institute of Public Policy. The revelation came during a discussion about public sector salaries and civil service management in Slovakia. The conversation, which also included fact-checking expert Veronika Frankovská from Demagóg.sk, addressed widespread misinformation about government salaries that regularly circulates on social media. Fico leads a coalition government dominated by his social-democratic Smer-SD party, which returned to power in 2023 after defeating the previous liberal administration.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Specialized Criminal Court Again Addresses Alleged Police Information Leaks

Slovakia's Specialized Criminal Court is once again handling a case involving alleged leaking of information from police forces. The case involves Rehák, who worked for a criminal group known as the Sýkorovci. The Specialized Criminal Court handles major corruption and organized crime cases in Slovakia, making this development significant for ongoing efforts to combat police corruption and organized crime connections. The repeated nature of the proceedings suggests the case has faced legal complications or appeals in the judicial process.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Advances Bill to End Postal Voting from Abroad

Slovakia's parliament moved closer to eliminating postal voting for citizens living abroad, advancing the controversial proposal to a second reading with support from 78 lawmakers on Tuesday morning. The National Council, Slovakia's parliament, voted to proceed with the measure that would end the ability of Slovak expatriates to vote by mail in future elections. The ruling coalition first began discussing the proposal in February, but party representatives have indicated they only agreed to support it through the initial parliamentary reading. The final form of the legislation remains uncertain, as individual coalition parties are expected to submit their own amendments in the coming days before the second reading takes place. The move represents a significant shift in Slovakia's electoral system, potentially affecting thousands of Slovak citizens living overseas who currently rely on postal voting to participate in their homeland's democratic process.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Appeals Court Confirms Minister Huliak Must Apologize to Environmental Activist

Slovakia's appeals court has upheld a ruling requiring Environment Minister Tomáš Huliak to apologize to an environmental activist. The court also confirmed the minister's obligation to pay compensation for non-material damages. The case stems from a legal dispute between Huliak, a member of the Slovak National Party which is part of the ruling coalition, and an environmental protection advocate, though specific details of the original conflict were not disclosed.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak PM Fico's rhetoric about kissing draws commentary amid other weekly topics

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's frequent references to kissing in his public speeches have become a subject of commentary in Slovak media. The observation comes as part of broader weekly coverage that also highlighted the death of renowned American psychologist Edith Eger, a Košice-born Holocaust survivor who dedicated her career to studying trauma recovery and helped both others and herself through her research. Additionally, positive news emerged for Afghan female footballers living in exile, while Health Minister Kamil Šaško faced scrutiny over a recent issue he created for himself.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Trnava's Deputy Mayor Eva Nemčovská to Run for Mayor as Current Mayor Peter Bročka Steps Down

Deputy Mayor Eva Nemčovská will run for mayor of Trnava in the 2026 local elections after current Mayor Peter Bročka announced he will not seek re-election. The upcoming mayoral campaign is expected to focus on key urban issues including transportation, parking solutions, and affordable housing availability. Trnava, located in western Slovakia about 50 kilometers northeast of Bratislava, is one of the country's important regional centers with a population of approximately 65,000 residents.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Police Conduct Major Raids in Eastern Slovakia, Multiple Arrests Linked to 'Brat za brata' Criminal Group

Elite police units carried out extensive raids across eastern Slovakia, resulting in multiple arrests in an operation targeting the "Brat za brata" (Brother for Brother) criminal organization. The coordinated operation involved house searches conducted by specialized law enforcement teams. The Brat za brata group is a well-known criminal organization that has been active in Slovakia, typically involved in organized crime activities including extortion, violence, and illegal business operations. Such large-scale police operations against organized crime groups represent significant law enforcement efforts to dismantle criminal networks that have historically operated with impunity in certain regions of the country.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Finance Minister Attacks Budget Watchdog for Following Legal Requirements

Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický has criticized Slovakia's Council for Budget Responsibility for strictly adhering to legal requirements that the government itself has failed to meet. The independent fiscal watchdog, established to ensure budget discipline and long-term fiscal planning, has drawn government ire for performing its mandated oversight role. The Council for Budget Responsibility was created to address democratic deficits by forcing elected officials to consider long-term fiscal consequences of their decisions, a responsibility that politicians often avoid or neglect according to fiscal policy analysts.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Continues Session on Pensions, Public Finances and Healthcare

Slovakia's parliament is continuing its current session with discussions focused on several key policy areas including public finances, the pension system, and healthcare. Lawmakers are addressing these major domestic issues as part of ongoing legislative proceedings. The parliamentary agenda reflects the government's focus on social and economic policy, with the pension system being a particularly significant topic as Slovakia grapples with demographic changes and fiscal sustainability challenges similar to other European Union countries.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak National Party Disputes Opposition Claims Over Parliamentary Entry Requirements

A disagreement has emerged between Slovakia's ruling and opposition parties over proposed changes to parliamentary entry requirements. Andrej Danko, leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS), has different plans regarding electoral quotas than what opposition politician Juraj Šeliga from the Democrats party has been warning against. The SNS, a nationalist party that is part of the current ruling coalition, appears to be considering modifications to the system that determines which political parties can enter the National Council, Slovakia's parliament. Šeliga, representing the liberal Democrats who are in opposition, has been raising concerns about potential complications these changes could create for political parties seeking parliamentary representation. The dispute centers on technical aspects of Slovakia's electoral system, though the specific nature of the proposed changes and their potential impact on future elections remains unclear.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Debates Consolidation Measures, Voting Delayed Until Tuesday

Slovak lawmakers concluded Monday's parliamentary session with discussions on government consolidation proposals and will resume voting on Tuesday morning. The National Council, Slovakia's parliament, has not held any votes since Tuesday, April 28, leaving several agenda items pending. Opposition members criticized the government's consolidation efforts during the debate, describing them as unsuccessful. The consolidation package likely refers to fiscal measures aimed at reducing the budget deficit, a key policy priority for Prime Minister Robert Fico's ruling coalition government.

SMETASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Actor Ondřej Daniš Criticizes Television Reform Amid Political Tensions

Slovak actor and musician Ondřej Daniš published a video statement regarding the country's public television broadcaster STVR that generated significant public attention. In his remarks, Daniš sharply criticized Ľuboš Blaha, a prominent politician from the ruling Smer-SD party, describing his statements as catastrophic and accusing him of betraying national interests. Daniš expressed satisfaction that Blaha might leave to teach in Moscow, sarcastically hoping it would be a permanent career opportunity. The controversy appears connected to ongoing political debates over Slovakia's public television, which has been a contentious issue between the ruling coalition and opposition parties, with critics arguing that recent reforms threaten media independence and democratic institutions.

Dennik N
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