Feature Photos

Slovakia gets silver medal; Russia gets gold

SITA

Feature Photo At this year's IIFH Ice Hockey World Championship, Slovakia gets the silver medal. Slovakia lost the final game 2:6 to Russia on May 20. 20 May 2012

Slovakia beats the Czech Republic

SITA

Feature Photo Slovakia has defeated the Czech Republic 3:1 in their semi-final game at this year's IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship on May 19. Slovakia now goes through to the finals to play for the gold medal. 19 May 2012

Slovakia beats Canada

SITA

Feature Photo In a major upset, the Slovak ice hockey team beat tournament favourites Canada 4:3 in Helsinki on May 17 in their knock-out quarter-final game to progress to the semi-finals of the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Slovakia will play either the Czech Republic or Sweden on Saturday, May 19. 17 May 2012

Slovakia advances to quarter-finals at ice hockey world championship

SITA

Feature Photo The Slovak ice hockey team beat France 5:4 in Helsinki on May 15 to progress to the quarter-finals of the 2012 IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championship. Slovakia will now play Canada on Thursday, May 17. It is the first time in five years that the Slovak team has made it to the quarter-finals of the championship. 16 May 2012

WWII

Sme

Feature Photo The official wreath-laying ceremony to mark the end of the Second World War this year took place at Bratislava's Slavín war memorial on May 9, the date when Russia traditionally commemorates the event. 10 May 2012

Government programme

SITA

Feature Photo Prime Minister Robert Fico shakes hands with Finance Minister Peter Kažimír as the government programme is presented in parliament on May 2. The programme is all but certain to be approved by MPs. 3 May 2012

IDEB 2012

TASR

Feature Photo Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák holds a machine gun of a type used by Slovak Armed Forces’ special units at the fourth year of the International Defence Exhibition IDEB 2012, a three-day fair which opened on May 2 in Bratislava’s Incheba centre. Part of the accompanying programme for this year’s exhibition is the NATO Industry Days. 3 May 2012

A retro May Day

SITA

Feature Photo Visitors to the High Tatras had a chance to see how May Day celebrations appeared during the era of the communist regime. This May 1 display was organised by the civic organisation Pre Tatry for a tenth time and even Vladimir Lenin appeared once again. 1 May 2012

More EU funds

TASR

Feature Photo Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, making his first official visit to Brussels since returning to the premier's office, met European Commission President José Manuel Barroso on April 24. 26 Apr 2012

Exercise

Sme - Ján Krošlák

Feature Photo MACE XIII, a 12-nation NATO air defence exercise, started at Sliač airbase on April 16. It is the biggest such exercise to be held in Slovakia since the country joined NATO in 2004, and will end on April 27. 19 Apr 2012

Bratislava for all

SITA

Feature Photo The Bourse of Books is one of several events organised within the Bratislava for All project, whose 9th year started on April 19 and will continue till April 22. During it, Bratislavans and others can visit museums, galleries, the zoo, Bratislava City Council offices, concerts and other cultural events. 19 Apr 2012

Car show opens in Bratislava

SITA

Feature Photo The Autosalón car show opened its doors to the general public at Bratislava’s Incheba exhibition hall on April 18. Until April 22 visitors can see a record number of new cars being premiered in Slovakia: 74 in all, from 42 carmakers. Among them are new models from manufacturers with factories in Slovakia, namely Volkswagen, Kia Motors Slovakia and PSA Peugeot Citroën. 18 Apr 2012

GLOBSEC 2012

TASR

Feature Photo Prime Minister Robert Fico opened GLOBSEC 2012, a forum for discussion of regional security and foreign policy affairs, in Bratislava on April 12. 12 Apr 2012

Coming and going

SITA

Feature Photo Incoming Prime Minister Robert Fico gestures to his predecessor, Iveta Radičová, on April 4, the day that power formally changed hands following Smer's victory in the March 10 general election. 4 Apr 2012

Farewell

Sme-Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo The outgoing cabinet of Iveta Radičová gathered for the last time on Wednesday, March 28. An entirely new government, led by Robert Fico, will take office on April 4. 29 Mar 2012

Building a cabinet

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Smer leader Robert Fico (second from left) seems certain to apppoint (l-r) Robert Kaliňák as interior minister, Pavol Paška as speaker, and Peter Kažimír as finance minister in his new government. 22 Mar 2012

Smer will rule alone

SITA

Feature Photo All smiles: President Ivan Gašparovič (r) on March 15 formally asked Smer leader Robert Fico to form a government. He should have little trouble: his Smer party now enjoys a substantial majority in parliament. 15 Mar 2012

Smer far ahead of all other parties

SITA

Feature Photo The Smer party has maintained its position as the largest party in the Slovak parliament following elections held on March 10. According to the Statistics Office of the Slovak Republic, which has been publishing preliminary results as returns arrive from each precinct, Smer leads with 44.41 percent, followed by the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) with 8.82 percent. Votes have been counted in all of the election precincts. The election turnout stands at 59.11 percent. 11 Mar 2012

Smer far ahead of all other parties

SITA

Feature Photo The Smer party has maintained its position as the largest party in the Slovak parliament following elections held on March 10. According to the Statistics Office of the Slovak Republic, which has been publishing preliminary results as returns arrive from each precinct, Smer leads with 44.84 percent, followed by the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) with 8.77 percent. Votes have been counted in 96 percent of the election precincts. The election turnout stands at 58.96 percent. 10 Mar 2012

Low election turnout expected

TASR

Feature Photo Unlike Slovakia's first postwar election in 1946, when people queued to cast their ballots – as pictured in this archive photograph – turnover at today's March 10 general election is expected to be low, perhaps less than 50 percent. To mark this election the TASR newswire has released a series of historical election photographs from before 1989. 10 Mar 2012

Election

Sme

Feature Photo Flag? Check. Ballot box? Check. Polling booth? Check. Slovakia is preparing for its second general election in less than two years. Polling stations will open at 7:00 on March 10 and close at 22:00. 1 Mar 2012

Campaign

TASR

Feature Photo Robert Fico (above) may have looked glum while posing on the ice in Trenčín as the official election campaign period began, but his Smer party is set to record its best ever result on March 10 according to recent polls. 23 Feb 2012

Mikloš remains in his job as finance minister

TASR

Feature Photo President Ivan Gašparovič has said he will not remove Ivan Mikloš from his post as finance minister, despite a call for his dismissal by the opposition Smer party. Smer blames Mikloš for the problems currently plaguing the country’s tax information system. The failure of the system has already cost Igor Krnáč his job as head of the Financial Administration. 22 Feb 2012

Snow in Slovakia

Sme

Feature Photo Extreme weather and heavy snow caused problems across the country in mid February. Transport links, especially in highland regions of central and northern Slovakia, were badly affected. 16 Feb 2012

'Censorship'

TASR

Feature Photo Anti-corruption protesters in Banská Bystrica, pictured on February 8, hold a sign referring to a court decision which controversially blocked the publication of a book about the so-called Gorilla file. 9 Feb 2012

Gorilla: Thousands of people protested against corruption

TASR

Feature Photo As many as 15,000 people attended the country's main rally in Bratislava as part of the Gorilla II Protest, a rally against what organizers called corruption in politics, on February 3, protest organiser Lucia Gallova told TASR newswire. The march, which begun on SNP Square, should have originally been wrapped up on Namestie Slobody near the Government Office, but it also moved further to the Presidential Palace. 4 Feb 2012

Immunity scrapped

TASR

Feature Photo Deputies approved the abolition of MPs’ immunity from punishment for minor offences. The president, prosecutors, members of the intelligence service SIS and police corps will lose immunity as well. 3 Feb 2012

Gorilla

TASR

Feature Photo Several hundred people – and at least one gorilla – gathered in Bratislava's SNP Square on January 27 to protest against the alleged political corruption revealed by the so-called Gorilla file. More demonstrations are planned. 2 Feb 2012

Gorilla protest rallies against political corruption in Slovakia

SME

Feature Photo Participants in the 'Gorilla' protest march on Friday, January 27 in Bratislava expressed their dissatisfaction with the current political situation in the country. 28 Jan 2012

Obama greets Chára’s Boston Bruins

TASR/AP

Feature Photo US President Barack Obama welcomed the 2010/11 Stanley Cup-winning Boston Bruins ice hockey team to the White House on January 23. The team's Slovak captain, 206-cm tall Zdeno Chára (far left), received a special mention when President Obama said he was sure that the Stanley Cup had never been lifted higher. 26 Jan 2012

Potočnik visits Slovakia

SITA

Feature Photo During a visit on January 19, Janez Potočnik, the European commissioner for the environment, visited a polluted site near Bratislava. A new law should help Slovakia clean up its environmental blights. 19 Jan 2012

Snow snarls road traffic

TASR

Feature Photo Snow throughout much of Slovakia, something so desired by ski resort operators, has caused complications on many roads, particularly in north-eastern Slovakia as well as on city streets in Bratislava. 17 Jan 2012

Cabinet sacks head of privatisation agency

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo The Cabinet of Iveta Radičová sacked Anna Bubeníková, a nominee of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), from the top post at the National Property Fund (FNM), the state privatisation agency, on January 11. Bubeníková’s dismissal comes after a file purporting to describe an operation codenamed Gorilla conducted by the Slovak Information Service (SIS), the country’s main intelligence agency, in 2005-6 was leaked on the internet. The file states that Bubeníková served as a go-between for Jaroslav Haščák, co-owner of the Penta financial group, and the FNM, where she also worked in 2005. 11 Jan 2012

Epiphany

TASR

Feature Photo Slovakia marked Epiphany with a public holiday on January 6. Even in the present day 'three kings', like those pictured above in Detva, visit Slovak households to bring greetings to their neighbours. 6 Jan 2012

Alleged Košice bomber detained

TASR

Feature Photo Košice police have detained a man alleged to have set off an improvised explosive device next to a fast food restaurant in Košice in eastern Slovakia on December 28. The device, filled with nails and placed in a metal trash bin next to the entrance to the restaurant, exploded without injuring anyone. The police identified the suspect only as 32-year old Ladislav K. from Košice. The police did not elaborate about any motive. 3 Jan 2012

President addresses the nation

TASR

Feature Photo Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič delivered his traditional address to the nation on New Year's Day, saying that the country would face a difficult period while adding that the citizens should not cringe or be expected to tighten their belts forever. Political analyst Miroslav Kusý said he viewed the president’s address as full of phrases but lacking in statesmanship in these difficult times. Political analyst Rastislav Toth described the speech as a “sad song” that will not give vital energy to the nation that he expects from a head of state. 2 Jan 2012

Slovakia prepares for New Year’s Eve

Photo: Sme – Peter Žákovič

Feature Photo Towns and villages across Slovakia are preparing for the arrival of 2012 – but slimmer municipal budgets mean the celebrations will be less lavish than during the pre-crisis years. Some municipalities are replacing live music with DJs and are reducing or even completely cancelling fireworks. The celebrations in the capital city of Bratislava are financed exclusively by donations. 30 Dec 2011

Former Czech president Václav Havel dies

SITA/AP

Feature Photo People gather under a Czech national flag as thousands mark the passing of former Czech president Václav Havel at the Wenceslas Square in Prague, the Czech Republic on December 18, 2011. Havel, a leading playwright and dissident, died after a period of illness at the age of 75. 18 Dec 2011

The state budget for 2012 approved

Sme

Feature Photo There were congratulations all round – at least among government leaders – on December 7 after parliament approved a state budget for 2012. 12 Dec 2011

Doctors accept government offer

SITA

Feature Photo The doctors union LOZ and the Slovak government managed to arrive at an agreement. LOZ head Marian Kollár promised that doctors will return back to hospitals, which have been experiencing a state of emergency, the TASR newswire reported. 3 Dec 2011

Doctors accept government offer

SITA

Feature Photo The doctors union LOZ and the Slovak government managed to arrive at an agreement. LOZ head Marian Kollár promised that doctors will return back to hospitals, which have been experiencing a state of emergency. 3 Dec 2011

Hundreds of doctors quit jobs in protest

Sme

Feature Photo More than 1,200 hospital doctors left their jobs on December 1 as part of a labour dispute, leaving some hospital wards as empty. 1 Dec 2011

Galko is out

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Ľubomír Galko was fired as defence minister after it emerged that a military intelligence agency within his department had been wiretapping the telephones of journalists. 24 Nov 2011

PM Radičová to seek Galko’s recall

SITA

Feature Photo Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová says she will ask President Ivan Gašparovič to dismiss Ľubomír Galko as minister of defence. Radičová, who made the announcement after meeting Galko on November 22, said that wiretapping journalists, whether in line with the law or not, is incompatible with the basic principles of democracy and the rule of law on which her government is based, the SITA newswire reported. 22 Nov 2011

Velvet Revolution commemorated

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo A child cuts through barbed wire symbolising the barrier between communist Czechoslovakia and the free world that was breached in November 1989, an event remembered each year in Slovakia on November 17. 17 Nov 2011

Healthcare in trouble

TASR

Feature Photo Health Minister Ivan Uhliarik faced journalists in mid November as the dispute with hospital doctors continued. More than 2,000 doctors have signed resignation notices and plan to leave their jobs on December 1. 10 Nov 2011

New R1 section opened

SITA

Feature Photo Among the many officials who turned up for the opening of a R1 dual carriageway section near Nitra on October 28 were Transport Minister Ján Figeľ (centre right) and opposition leader Robert Fico (far left). 3 Nov 2011

PM Iveta Radičová gives definitive farewell to SDKÚ

TASR

Feature Photo Prime Minister Iveta Radičová is leaving the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ). She announced her decision at a news conference on October 29 after the meeting of the party’s central board. She will quit the party at the party’s congress to be held after the early parliamentary election scheduled for March 2012. Radičová said she absolutely comprehends her full responsibility for the failure in negotiations with the coalition partner Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) on the European bailout fund and for not being able to keep the cabinet together for longer than 15 months. She thinks that she does not have the right to apply for the citizens' confidence in the upcoming election. 29 Oct 2011

Slovakia gets exemption

TASR/AP

Feature Photo Slovakia will be the only eurozone member not to participate in an increase in the bailout funds granted to Greece, as agreed by eurozone leaders at their summit in Brussels on October 26/27. Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová announced the exemption on Thursday morning. Greece is now due to receive €130 billion from other eurozone members, up from the €109 billion agreed in July. 27 Oct 2011

Košice’s cathedral to play a starring role

TASR

Feature Photo The Gothic Cathedral of St Elisabeth in Košice will appear in an eight-part TV mini-series, World Without End, based on the bestselling international sequel to the novel The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. The series’ producers selected it for scenes in which people injured during the collapse of a bridge are brought into the cathedral. Košice’s cathedral was chosen because of its authentic mediaeval Gothic appearance. Actor David Bradley (left), pictured with the producer Ellis Howard, is one of the featured actors. 26 Oct 2011

Slovaks to go to London in folk costumes from Čičmany

TASR

Feature Photo Slovak sportsmen and sportswomen will travel to London for the 2012 Olympic Games in outfits adorned with ornaments from Čičmany, a small village in north-western Slovakia known for log-houses decorated with distinctive white designs. On October 24 the president of the Slovak Olympic Committee, František Chmelár, signed Slovakia’s application to attend the London Olympic Games. The Games will take place between July 27 and August 12, 2012. 25 Oct 2011

Agreement reached

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič and the leaders of the four parties of the ruling coalition reached agreement on a constitutional law to end the uncertainty surrounding the fall of the government. 20 Oct 2011

Slovakia passes EFSF

TASR

Feature Photo Slovakia has become the last country in the eurozone to approve the enlargement of the EFSF. In a second vote, held on the evening of October 13, opposition Smer MPs, including Robert Fico and Viera Tomanová, voted in favour. 13 Oct 2011

Bailout vote fails

TASR

Feature Photo The government of Iveta Radičová has fallen on October 11 after the Freedom and Solidarity party chose to reject the changes to the European bailout mechanism. 11 Oct 2011

Uhliarik met Kollár

TASR

Feature Photo Health Minister Ivan Uhliarik (left) looks on as LOZ union leader Marián Kollár speaks to journalists following an inconclusive meeting on October 5 to discuss the demands made by LOZ members. 6 Oct 2011

Trade unions to block borders

TASR

Feature Photo OZ KOVO, the metalworkers' trade union, will block border crossings on Slovak frontiers next Tuesday, October 11, the SITA newswire reported. The action is a protest against a number of government policies, including the increase in retirement age, the tax and payroll levy reform, and the privatization of the health sector. OZ KOVO boss Emil Machyna added that the union’s Polish, Hungarian, Czech and Austrian colleagues would come to their respective border crossing points to support the blockade. The protest is planned between 15:30 and 16:00. 4 Oct 2011

German President visited Slovakia

TASR

Feature Photo German President Christian Wulff made a two-day official visit to Slovakia in late September during which he met senior officials including Slovak Prime Mininster Iveta Radičová. 30 Sep 2011

Radičová in New York

UN Photo/Evan Schneider

Feature Photo We, the leaders in the United Nations, are expected to offer guidance and find solutions to the mounting challenges the international community faces today, Prime Minister Iveta Radičová said in her address to the 66th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on Saturday, September 24. 26 Sep 2011

Eurozone bailout

Sme

Feature Photo Party leader Richard Sulík and 17 of his fellow Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MPs stood before the cameras on September 20 and said they would not support the eurozone bailout scheme in a parliamentary vote. 23 Sep 2011

Sme

Feature Photo Party leader Richard Sulík and 17 of his fellow Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MPs stood before the cameras on September 20 and said they would not support the eurozone bailout scheme in a parliamentary vote. 23 Sep 2011

Last respects paid

SITA

Feature Photo The Slovak public paid their last respects to Pavol Demitra, the former captain of the national ice hockey team, at the winter sports stadium in Trenčín after his tragic death in a plane crash in Russia on September 7. 15 Sep 2011

Radičová survives a no-confidence vote

SITA

Feature Photo Prime Minister Iveta Radičová survived a no-confidence vote in parliament early on September 14. After an all-night debate in which opposition and coalition representatives traded accusations of corruption, 78 MPs voted against the proposal to express no confidence in the prime minister, while 69 were in favour. 14 Sep 2011

Slovak hockey legend dies

Feature Photo Slovak hockey legend Pavol Demitra died in a plane crash on September 7. 7 Sep 2011

Teachers want more money

TASR

Feature Photo Teachers in Nitra and other regional centres used Slovakia's September 1 public holiday to collect signatures for a petition calling for more money to be spent on education and for teachers' pay for to be increased. 1 Sep 2011

Commemorating the Slovak National Uprising

TASR

Feature Photo Banská Bystrica hosted the official ceremony marking the 67th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising on August 29, attended by many Slovak officials including President Ivan Gašparovič and Prime Minister Iveta Radičová. Defence Minister Ľubomír Galko presented medals during the ceremony to WWII veterans and to participants in the National Uprising. 30 Aug 2011

Barge stranded in the Danube near Bratislava

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo A Ukrainian barge carrying iron ore ran aground on a sandbar in the Danube River near Čunovo on August 23. It remained stranded as of August 25. The accident has been blamed on the barge’s captain, who reportedly did not keep to the main navigation channel, but other sources say this section of the river, near Bratislava, is hazardous because sediment, sand and gravel has been allowed to accumulate on the river bed. 25 Aug 2011

Osrblie

Sme - Ján Krošlák

Feature Photo A corruption scandal has halted work on the biathlon centre in Osrblie, central Slovakia, leaving its hosting of the European Biathlon Championship, due to take place in February 2012, in doubt. 19 Aug 2011

Harvest almost complete in Slovakia

TASR

Feature Photo The harvesting of crops in Slovakia is almost complete: only the last fifth of the wheat and barley crops and just over a tenth of the oilseed crop remains in the fields. The rainy weather which has hit Slovakia over recent weeks is reported to have worsened the quality of the harvest. 11 Aug 2011

Will Radičová need Fico?

Sme – Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo The SaS party, a member of Slovakia’s four-party ruling coalition, has continued to reject proposals supported by the EU to assist financially-troubled countries in the eurozone. Prime Minister Iveta Radičová may now need to turn to Robert Fico’s Smer party to find the votes in parliament to approve the changes to the European Financial Stability Facility. 9 Aug 2011

Concert for Norway

SITA

Feature Photo Slovakia expressed its solidarity with Norway and honoured the victims of the massacre on Utoya island and the Oslo bomb attack by attending a special commemoration event called Concert for Norway. 1 Aug 2011

Slovaks express sympathy to Norway

SITA

Feature Photo Slovaks have responded to the Norwegian tragedy by expressing their sympathy and condolences in front of the Norwegian embassy in Bratislava. 26 Jul 2011

Spišiak's failure

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Police director Jaroslav Spišiak was caught exceeding the speed limit by over 30 kilometres per hour. What Spišiak called his biggest failure in office will cost him a heavy fine and loss of bonuses for the past six months. 21 Jul 2011

Summer storms devastate towns and villages – again

SITA

Feature Photo Wild summer weather again hit Slovakia in mid July, leaving houses roofless, trees broken, and roads, cellars and gardens flooded. One of the worst-hit villages was Veľké Ludince, near Levice in southern Slovakia. It was struck by what witnesses described as a whirlwind on Monday, July 18. 20 Jul 2011

Open-air premiere of Cigán takes place in Richnava

Sme

Feature Photo Cigán (Gipsy), a new film by director Martin Šulík which has already collected prizes at its world premiere at the International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, received its Slovak premiere on July 12 at a special location – under the skies in a meadow next to the Roma settlement near Richnava where the film was shot. The film tells the story of a Roma boy, Adam, as he tried to find his way in life. Šulík said afterwards that the responses of both non-Roma as well as Roma audience members were very positive. 14 Jul 2011

Van Rompuy visits Slovakia

SITA

Feature Photo “The European Union is still sexy, not just its president” Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, joked during a July 7 visit to Bratislava, where he met Prime Minister Iveta Radičová. 7 Jul 2011

New electronics plant opens in Trenčín

Reuters

Feature Photo Taiwanese company AU Optronics ceremonially launched production at a new plant in Trenčín, in north-western Slovakia, on June 28. The company, which is the third-biggest producer of liquid crystal monitors in the world says it plans eventually to create 1,300 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs in Trenčín. Around 2.4 million LCD panels and LCD TV sets will be produced in the plant every year, including all associated metal and plastic parts. AU Optronics intends to invest more than €190 million over three years, the TASR newswire reported. 29 Jun 2011

Polish visit

Reuters

Feature Photo Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and his wife Anna completed a two-day visit to Slovakia on June 22. This was Komorowski's first official visit to Slovakia since he was sworn in last August. 23 Jun 2011

Čentéš elected as prosecutor general

TASR

Feature Photo Candidate of the ruling coalition, Jozef Čentéš was elected as prosecutor general in a secret ballot in parliament on June 17. Čentéš won the support of 79 of the 80 deputies present. Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič appoints the prosecutor general. Opposition MPs did not participate in the vote. 17 Jun 2011

V4 leaders in Bratislava

Reuters

Feature Photo At a summit of V4 leaders in Bratislava on June 16, Slovakia passed the Visegrad Group's rotating presidency to the Czech Republic. Attending the summit were (l-r) Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. 16 Jun 2011

Stanley Cup in hands of Slovak hockey player

SITA/AP

Feature Photo Slovak hockey player Zdeno Chára hoists the Stanley Cup following his Boston Bruins team’s 4-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks in game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 15 in Vancouver. 16 Jun 2011

Food prices soar

Sme - Ján Krošlák

Feature Photo Food prices rose by 7.4 percent since last May and were a large contributor to the 4-percent overall annual rise in consumer prices, Slovakia’s Statistics Office announced on May 13. Analysts attributed the higher prices to global prices for crude oil and agricultural commodities, higher costs for regulated products in Slovakia, and the VAT rate changing from 19 percent to 20 percent at the beginning of 2011. Former prime minister Robert Fico, the head of the largest opposition party, levelled blame on the Radičová government for the increasing prices and called on the government to “stop impoverishing Slovaks”. 14 Jun 2011

Flash flood strikes

SITA

Feature Photo A scene of devastation in the western Slovak village of Píla after heavy rain in the Small Carpathians mountains on June 8 led to flash flooding that destroyed roads, bridges and property in several communities. 9 Jun 2011

Local floods in western Slovakia

TASR

Feature Photo Intense rain in the area around Pezinok, in western Slovakia, on Tuesday, June 7, swelled local brooks, which then flooded the villages of Častá, Doľany and Budmerice, as well as parts of Pezinok. Several bridges, including the one in this photo, were destroyed by the floodwaters. The situation is now calm, but storms and more rain are forecast for today, Wednesday, June 8. 8 Jun 2011

Law on prosecution

TASR

Feature Photo Justice Minister Lucia Žitňanská, speaking in parliament on June 1, urged MPs to vote for a change to the law on prosecution. Her call was heeded the next day, when the law passed. 2 Jun 2011

Census

ČTK

Feature Photo Residents of Slovakia were asked to start filling out census forms in late May but concerns about the anonymity of personal data have led to controversy and some residents are even refusing to speak to census-takers. 27 May 2011

NATO Secretary General visited Slovakia

ČTK

Feature Photo NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Slovakia on May 19. At a press conference at the Foreign Affairs Ministry he made statements directed at Russia, saying he hopes for good relations with that country and wants cooperation between Russia and NATO on the latter's missile defence shield project. While in Bratislava, Rasmussen met Slovak government representatives including Prime Minister Iveta Radičová . 20 May 2011

Prime minister Radičová remains in her post

TASR

Feature Photo Dobroslav Trnka failed to get re-elected after he won the support of 70 deputies of the 150 present deputies; 17 voted against him; 29 deputies abstained from the voting and there were 34 invalid votes 17 May 2011

Hockey championship is over

TASR

Feature Photo Finland crushed Sweden 6-1 to win the gold medal at the IIHF World Championship 2011 in Bratislava on Sunday. The Czechs won the bronze medal with a 7-4 victory over Russia Earlier in the evening. 16 May 2011

Championship continues without Slovakia

TASR

Feature Photo After months of anticipation that Team Slovakia might compete for a medal at the first Ice Hockey World Championship staged on home ground, the country’s hockey team failed to advance to the quarterfinals after suffering four defeats in a row. For some, such as team captain Pavol Demitra (pictured above, centre), this was their last chance to represent Slovakia on a hockey rink. Other ageing players say it is unlikely that Slovakia will ever revisit its glory years from 2000 to 2003 when the country won a bronze, silver and gold at these championships. Demitra's farewell after the match with Denmark was an emotional experience for all Slovak hockey enthusiasts. 12 May 2011

Slovakia wins over Denmark

ČTK

Feature Photo The Slovak hockey team won its last match at IIHF World Championship 2011 when it beat Denmark 4:1 on Monday, May 9. 9 May 2011

Slovakia wins over Denmark

ČTK

Feature Photo The Slovak hockey team won its last match at IIHF World Championship 2011 when it beat Denmark 4:1 on Monday, May 9. 9 May 2011

Finland beat Slovakia

TASR

Feature Photo After Finland won over Slovakia 2:1 on Saturday, May 7, Slovakia lost the chance to advance to the quarter-finals of IIHF World Championship 2011. 8 May 2011

Slovakia lost against Czechs

TASR

Feature Photo The Slovak team lost the third match in a row at IIHF World Championship 2011 on Friday, May 6. The Czech team won 3:2. 6 May 2011

Slovakia faces challenges

TASR

Feature Photo Slovakia emerged from the preliminary round of the Ice Hockey World Championship - being held this year, for the first time, in Bratislava and Košice - with one win (against Slovenia) and two losses (against Germany and Russia, above). The team has progressed to the qualifying round but in order to reach the quarterfinals must overcome a points disadvantage carried over from the preliminary round and do better in matches against its historic rival, the Czech Republic, and then Finland and Denmark. 6 May 2011

Slovakia loses to Germany, then Russia

TASR

Feature Photo After Germany upset Russia on April 29, it beat Slovakia on Sunday May 1, 4:3 at IIHF World Championship 2011. Slovakia lost 3:4 against Russia on Tuesday, May 3. 3 May 2011

Slovakia beat Slovenia

TASR

Feature Photo In its first match at IIHF World Championship 2011 on Friday, April 29, Slovakia won over Slovenia 3:1. 29 Apr 2011

Ice hockey fever hits Slovakia

TASR

Feature Photo Slovaks are burning with enthusiasm for the 2011 Ice Hockey World Championship which starts on Friday, April 29. 28 Apr 2011

Easter

TASR

Feature Photo Keeping Easter folk traditions in Slovakia. 26 Apr 2011

Cargo and passenger ships collide

ČTK

Feature Photo Two ships collided on the Danube river canal near Šamorín in the early morning hours of April 13. One, a German passenger boat, was carrying 100 people. Fortunately, no one was injured. 14 Apr 2011

Gate of Freedom

TASR

Feature Photo A ceremony was held at the Gate of Freedom monument in Devín on April 5 to commemorate the hundreds of people killed and wounded attempting to flee across the Iron Curtain before November 1989 11 Apr 2011

Ice Hockey World Championship

ČTK

Feature Photo IIHF President René Fasel (above) recently visited Bratislava to monitor preparations for the 2011 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, which will be held in the capital and in Košice between April 29 and May 15. 31 Mar 2011

Radičová in Brussels

SITA

Feature Photo Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová attended an EU leaders' summit in Brussels on March 24 at which talks were reportedly dominated by the debt crisis currently facing several European countries. 24 Mar 2011

Slovaks pay their respects

Photo: Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Slovaks lay flowers in front of the Japanese Embassy in Bratislava to mark the victims of the earthquake which struck northern Japan on March 11. 17 Mar 2011

World Ice Hockey Championship

SITA

Feature Photo The 2011 IIHF World Ice Hockey Championship will be hosted jointly by Košice and Bratislava from April 29 to May 15. The cities' mayors, Richard Raši (2nd from left) and Milan Ftáčnik (2nd from right), are pictured above. 11 Mar 2011

V4 ministerial summit

TASR

Feature Photo Catherine Ashton, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, and Mikuláš Dzurinda, Slovakia's foreign minister, speaking at the V4 ministerial summit held in Bratislava on March 3. 4 Mar 2011

Culture minister met religious leaders

SITA

Feature Photo Culture Minister Daniel Krajcer (second from left) met religious leaders on February 24 to launch a debate about state financing of religion. Pictured are Stanislav Zvolenský, Catholic archbishop of Bratislava (left), Miloš Klátik, head of the Evangelical Church in Slovakia (second from right), and Pavel Traubner, the honorary chairman of the Association of Jewish Religious Communities (right). 25 Feb 2011

Deputy minister steps down unexpectedly

Sme - Tomáš Benedikovič

Feature Photo IN A SURPRISE move, Martin Chren, the state secretary at Slovakia’s Ministry of Economy, announced on February 17 that he would quit his post and take up a seat in parliament. Chren, a nominee of the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party who last year faced intense media pressure over government deals made by Hayek Consulting, a company that he formerly co-owned, said that his decision to leave was entirely his own and that he had neither been pushed nor forced out by anyone else. 18 Feb 2011

German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins V4 summit in Bratislava

TASR

Feature Photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined a seven-nation summit in Bratislava on February 15. Prime Ministers of the Visegrad Four, Germany, Austria and Ukraine marked the 20th anniversary of the Visegrad Four grouping (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia). 15 Feb 2011

Greenpeace presents a cake for V4 anniversary

TASR

Feature Photo Greenpeace activists wearing masks of the prime ministers of the four countries of the Visegrad Group presented a cake at the square in front of the building where the countries’ leaders are holding a summit on February 15. The cake celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Visegrad Group but calls on the V4 governments to pay more attention to the environment and prevent further climate change by reducing carbon emissions. 15 Feb 2011

Matovič expelled

Sme-Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Igor Matovič, an MP for the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party, voted for an opposition amendment to the Citizenship Act on February 10. SaS promptly expelled him and he will now sit as an independent. 14 Feb 2011

Righteous Among the Nations

TASR

Feature Photo Slovak citizen Anna Knežová-Schönbrunová accepted the award of Righteous Among the Nations from Israeli minister and general Yossi Peled on February 2. 3 Feb 2011

SITA

Feature Photo Former prime minister Robert Fico said he respects all decisions made by Slovakia's Constitutional Court, despite its ruling on January 26 that two laws enacted by his government in 2007 are unconstitutional. 28 Jan 2011

The health sector in for scrutiny

Sme - Tomáš Benedikovič

Feature Photo The health sector came in for scrutiny this week as media reported problems with the 112 emergency number, criticism of a decision taken by the health minister, and fears that Slovak doctors would be lured to the Czech Republic. 21 Jan 2011

Reforms in the police

SITA

Feature Photo Slovak Police Corps President Jaroslav Spišiak announced a new organisational structure on January 13. It will bring 1,708 new uniformed officers to the police force following their transfer from other positions. 17 Jan 2011

Epiphany

TASR

Feature Photo Epiphany is the end of holiday season for Slovaks. According to tradition, the legendary "three kings" visit Slovak households to bring their wishes to families. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on that day. 7 Jan 2011

Partial eclipse of the sun

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Slovaks were able to watch one of the most spectacular performances of nature – the partial eclipse of the sun – on Tuesday morning, January 4. This image was taken in Bratislava. 4 Jan 2011

Christmas weather

SITA

Feature Photo Meteorologists expect Christmas to bring some respite from the frigid weather in Slovakia but the deep freeze may return soon afterwards. Ski resort operators are happy: snow is covering many slopes. 20 Dec 2010

Slovakia and Hungary still split over Hungarian citizenship law

TASR

Feature Photo The issue of dual citizenship laws still divides Slovakia and Hungary. After meeting her Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán in Bratislava on December 14, Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová said that the Hungarian dual citizenship law is a security risk and that their positions remain completely divergent. 15 Dec 2010

High-speed rails

TASR

Feature Photo On December 13, high-speed 160-km/hour train service was launched on reconstructed railway tracks between Bratislava and Nové Mesto nad Váhom. Two InterCity trains will travel at this speed for now. The reconstruction of this 100 km of track was ongoing for 10 years and cost about €490 million. The higher speed cuts the travel time by 8-9 minutes. Improvement of the railway tracks will continue eastward. 14 Dec 2010

Parliament adopts 2011 state budget

TASR

Feature Photo MPs on Wednesday, December 8, approved the 2011 state budget. Of 147 deputies present, 78 voted for the bill and 69 against. All the ruling coalition deputies present supported the budget, which projects state revenues of €13.148 billion in 2011, and expenditures of €16.958 billion. The state budget deficit is therefore expected to be €3.81 billion, or 4.9 percent of gross domestic product. 8 Dec 2010

Parliament does not choose a new general prosecutor

TASR

Feature Photo As expected, Slovak lawmakers did not elect a new general prosecutor in Tuesday's secret ballot as MPs from the governing coalition chose not to cast their ballots. The governing coalition will seek to change the law so that the election of the general prosecutor will become a recorded vote. 7 Dec 2010

No new general prosecutor on Tuesday

Sme – Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Representatives of the four coalition parties agreed on Monday, December 6, that they will obstruct the vote to select the new general prosecutor in the Slovak parliament on Tuesday by taking away their ballot papers. They will then seek to change legislation so that most votes in parliament that are currently conducted by secret ballot will be open in the future. 7 Dec 2010

Snow in Slovakia

Sme - Tomáš Benedikovič

Feature Photo As in other parts of Europe, the snow has been complicating life in the Slovak capital, as well as on roads across the country. 3 Dec 2010

MPs fail to select a new general prosecutor – again

TASR

Feature Photo The Slovak parliament has once more failed to select a new general prosecutor. In a secret ballot on Thursday, December 2, the incumbent general prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka received 74 votes, while the joint candidate of the ruling coalition, Jozef Čentéš, got 73. Two votes were classed as invalid. The vote tally meant that Trnka won the support of at least three coalition MPs, as 149 MPs were in attendance for the vote. 2 Dec 2010

Former Football Association secretary Wänke sentenced to jail

ČTK

Feature Photo The former high official of the Slovak Football Association, Vladimír Wänke, will go to prison. The Supreme Court confirmed the verdict of the Special Court in Pezinok on April 7, 2009, sentencing Wänke (pictured in 2008) to three years and four months for soliciting a bribe. Both the defendant and the prosecutor appealed against the initial verdict, but the Supreme Court rejected both appeals on November 29. 30 Nov 2010

Bratislava has new mayor

TASR

Feature Photo The new mayor of the Slovak capital will be Milan Ftáčnik, who ran as an independent candidate with the support of the opposition Smer party. His challenger Magdaléna Vášáryová, a candidate of the coalition of centre-right ruling parties, finished second, according to the official results. 28 Nov 2010

Municipal elections

TASR

Feature Photo Municipal elections for residents of Slovakia to elect their mayors and local council members for the next four years are being held on Saturday, November 27. Polling stations are open between 7:00 and 20:00. 27 Nov 2010

OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría visits Slovakia

SITA

Feature Photo To mark the publication of an OECD analysis of Slovakia's economy, the organisation's secretary-general, Angel Gurría, visited the country in late November. During a meeting with Prime Minister Iveta Radičová on November 25 he praised Slovakia's plans to bring down its budget deficit. 25 Nov 2010

Slovakia prepares for ice hockey championship

Sme – Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Slovakia will host the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship between April 29 and May 15 in Bratislava and Košice. Bratislava’s public transport company introduced new covers for its trams and buses on November 24 to celebrate this important sporting event. 25 Nov 2010

Žilina lost in London

TASR

Feature Photo Chelsea beat MSK Žilina in their group F Champions League football match, at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, on Tuesday, November 23. MSK Žilina lost 1:2. 24 Nov 2010

Coalition picks Jozef Čentéš as candidate for Prosecutor General

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo The ruling coalition has chosen Jozef Čentéš as the joint candidate for the prosecutor general post. Čentéš has been serving as a prosecutor since 1992. Parliament will vote for the next prosecutor general for the seven-year term on December 2, in a secter ballot. Prosecutor General Dobroslav Trnka, the current holder of the position, is running for the post again. 23 Nov 2010

Christmas Bazaar turns 20

TASR

Feature Photo The International Women's Club hosted Bratislava's 20th traditional Christmas Bazaar in the city's PKO Culture and Leisure Centre on Sunday, November 21. The bazaar is largest diplomatic and international community event in Slovakia. This year organisations from 38 countries, and a number of charities, were selling their own products, souvenirs and various delicacies and specialities to raise money for charitable purposes. Organisers hope than the sum will exceed last year’s €80,000. 22 Nov 2010

Slovakia marked the 21st anniversary of the Velvet Revolution

TASR

Feature Photo Slovakia’s Prime Minister Iveta Radičová and the former Polish President and leader of Solidarity Lech Walesa greeted people gathered at Hviezdoslavovo Square in Bratislava on November 17. The gathering marked the 21st anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and the fall of the totalitarian communist regime. 18 Nov 2010

21st anniversary of the Velvet Revolution

TASR - Vlastimil Andor

Feature Photo Slovakia will mark the 21st anniversary of the fall of the communist totalitarian regime on Wednesday, November 17. The photo depicts the general strike rally held at the SNP square in Bratislava on November 24, 1989. 16 Nov 2010

Fico is re-elected Smer leader

Sme – Ján Krošlák

Feature Photo Slovakia's former Prime Minister Robert Fico was re-elected as leader of his leftist Smer party on Saturday, November 13. At the party’s congress Fico labelled the current government of Iveta Radičová as the government of chaos and raising prices. In spite of this, he said that Smer is prepared to cooperate with the ruling coalition, for example in solving any impacts caused by the economic crisis. 15 Nov 2010

Radičová meets Clinton

AP/TASR

Feature Photo Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Iveta Radičová, met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the State Department in Washington on Wednesday, November 10. Radičová travelled to the US to receive a Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year award. 11 Nov 2010

Attorney Valko shot dead

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo An unknown culprit shot dead prominent lawyer Ernest Valko (second left) in his house in Limbach on Monday night, November 10. During last few months he was featured in the media from two cases in which he represented Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš. In the past he had also represented the gas utility SPP in the dispute over the so-called Ducký’s bills of exchange and was also currently involved in the dispute involving Tipos, Slovakia’s national lottery company. 9 Nov 2010

Merry-go-rounds meet in Bratislava

SITA

Feature Photo For one month Bratislava will provide the backdrop for the biggest meeting of merry-go-rounds and other amusement attractions in Slovakia, brought here from almost the whole of Europe. 8 Nov 2010

Next general prosecutor

Sme – Tomáš Benedikovič

Feature Photo Parliamentary deputies line up to cast their ballots in a secret vote to select the next general prosecutor. The process on November 4 was fruitless as neither of the candidates who advanced to the second round received enough votes to be selected. 8 Nov 2010

Cathedral has its crown again

TASR

Feature Photo After two months and a thorough reconstruction, the wooden and gilted copy of St Stephan’s crown was reinstalled on the top of St Michal’s cathedral in Bratislava. 5 Nov 2010

Parliament fails to elect a new prosecutor general

Sme - Tomáš Benedikovič

Feature Photo The parliament has not elected a new prosecutor general on November 3. The candidate of the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democrats (KDH) and Most-Híd parties, Eva Mišíková (in the background), and the opposition candidate Dobroslav Trnka (on the picture) made it to the second round of a secret ballot that will take place on November 4. The candidate of the strongest ruling coalition party, the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), Ján Hrivnák, did not progress. 3 Nov 2010

Speed-limit down to 110 km/h on Bratislava-Trnava D1 highway

SITA

Feature Photo As of November 1 the maximum speed on the busy D1 highway between Bratislava and Trnava has been reduced from 130 to 110 kilometres per hour, in order to increase road safety. Last year the highway was extended to three lanes in each direction, at the expense of the emergency lane. A new emergency lane is planned for construction. 2 Nov 2010

All Souls' Day

Sme – Tomáš Benedikovič

Feature Photo During the upcoming weekend people across Slovakia will bring flowers and lighted candles to the graves of all their deceased beloved, in honour of All Souls’ Day, celebrated on November 2. 29 Oct 2010

Alleged mafia boss detained in Krakow

Sme/Police

Feature Photo The Polish police have detained one of the most sought after Slovaks; an alleged mafia boss, Karol M., in Krakow. Slovakia’s Police President Jaroslav Spišiak confirmed this information. Karol M. faces charges of organising the murders of a woman and a child in Most pri Bratislave village in 2004. 28 Oct 2010

Norwegian royal couple visit Slovakia

TASR

Feature Photo The Norwegian royal couple, His Majesty King Harald V and Her Majesty Queen Sonja, are visiting Slovakia for the first time in the country’s modern history. They arrived at Bratislava's M.R. Stefanik Airport on Monday evening and will stay for four days. 26 Oct 2010

Slovakia decreases dependence on Russian gas

ČTK

Feature Photo Construction works enabling a reverse flow of natural gas from Austria to Slovakia are complete. The possibility of the reverse flow reduces Slovakia’s dependence on natural gas supplies from Russia, via Ukraine. On Sunday, October 24, the head of the board of directors of OMV Gas & Power Werner Auli (left), the Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda (middle) and the Slovak Minister of Economy Juraj Miškov symbolically wrapped up construction works on the project in Baumgarten an der March, Austria. 25 Oct 2010

False bomb threat paralysed Bratislava airport

SITA

Feature Photo Normal operation of Bratislava Airport was resumed after a ninety-minute break due to a threat made in an e-mail from an unknown perpetrator. In the e-mail, the anonymous person allegedly announced that unless he was paid €1 million the airport would be blown up. The police found no explosive at the airport. 21 Oct 2010

Dzurinda meets Hillary Clinton

TASR/AP

Feature Photo Slovak Foreign Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda met with the US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the State Department on Tuesday, during his official visit to Washington. 20 Oct 2010

Interior Minister visits illegal Roma settlement in Plavecký Štvrtok

Sme – Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic has visited the western Slovak village of Plavecký Štvrtok to see the local Roma settlement. Part of the local Roma community lives here in houses built illegally; on land that is protected due to nature, or because there are high-pressure gas pipelines underground, creating a danger of explosion to the local population. 19 Oct 2010

Radičová visits Prague

Reuters

Feature Photo The Czech Republic's Prime Minister Petr Nečas and his Slovak counterpart Iveta Radičová review a guard of honour in Prague. Radičová traditionally paid her first official bilateral visit to the Czech Republic on October 18. She will meet all three of the Czech highest constitutional officials, as well as the former Czech and Czechoslovak president Václav Havel. 18 Oct 2010

Attack on the National Security Office remains unpunished

ČTK

Feature Photo On Thursday, the court acquitted two young men accused of hacking servers of the National Security Office (NBÚ SR). The verdict is not yet valid however, as the prosecution has challenged it. The two hackers were accused of penetrating the system of the office in April 2006 by using the password of the office at that time: nbusr123. The investigation revealed that this simple password was created when testing the system during its supply to the office back in 2001, and that it had remained unchanged since then. 15 Oct 2010

Trade unionists marched against austerity measures

TASR

Feature Photo Trade unionists held a nation-wide rally to protest against austerity measures designed by the Slovak government to revitalize public finances. After a march through the city the rally ballooned to approximately 5,000 people, who ended the protest in front of parliament, where the measures were being discussed. Trade unionists claim that austerity measures will increase the annual expenditures of one four-member family by €400. 13 Oct 2010

Coalition meeting

SITA

Feature Photo Ruling coalition parties have agreed upon a transformation of the scandal-hit National Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (NADSME) and an increase in the minimum wage, Prime Minister Iveta Radičová announced after the coalition meeting on Monday, October 11. Other hot issues debated included the proposal to merge public television and radio, STV and SRo, as well as changes to the third pension pillar. 12 Oct 2010

Danube water monitored

TASR

Feature Photo Slovakia continues to monitor the quality of water in the Danube river after the red mud, a by-product of alumina production, leaked out of a plant reservoir close to the village of Ajka in western Hungary, less than 100 kilometres from Slovakia, on October 4. The measurements so far have shown that volumes of toxic heavy metals do not exceed normal levels. Experts believe that there is no threat of an ecological catastrophe on the Danube River. 11 Oct 2010

Švejna resigns

Sme - Tibor Somogyi

Feature Photo The Transport Ministry’s State Secretary Ivan Švejna has resigned from his post over the Hayeks affair. Béla Bugár, the head of Most-Híd, the party that elected Švejna into the post, confirmed this to the Slovak Radio. Švejna is expected to officially declare his decision at a press conference this (October 8) afternoon. Read more about the Hayeks affair here. 8 Oct 2010

Zaha Hadid selected for Čulenova project

Photo: Courtesy of Penta Investments

Feature Photo Zaha Hadid Architects, the British studio launched by the world-known architect, has won the international competition to design the Čulenova project in Bratislava under development by the Penta Investments private equity group. Penta plans to build offices and apartments on the plot of land on Čulenova Street that it acquired in January 2008. 6 Oct 2010

League Trophy tours Slovakia

TASR

Feature Photo Žilina was the first Slovak town to see the UEFA Champions League Trophy which is on a week-long tour around the country. Football legend Luis Figo will accompany the trophy when it arrives in Bratislava this coming weekend. 5 Oct 2010

Municipal elections

SITA

Feature Photo Slovaks will elect new mayors of towns and villages, and other local representatives during the municipal elections on November 27. The deadline for submitting candidacies passed on Sunday night, October 3. 4 Oct 2010

Trade unionists held a protest rally in Košice

TASR

Feature Photo About 2,000 trade unionists marched through Košice on Friday, October 1. This was the first protest rally from a series planned by the Slovak Trade Unions Confederation (KOZ) against austerity measures designed by the Iveta Radičová cabinet. 2 Oct 2010

Slovak trade unionists joined Brussels protest

SITA

Feature Photo Representatives of the Slovak Trade Unions Confederation (KOZ) took part in a demonstration organised on September 29 in Brussels by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). They were protesting against European governments’ plans to cut spending and implement austerity measures in order to control spiralling debt. 30 Sep 2010

Tickets for hockey championship on sale

SITA

Feature Photo Goooly, the World Hockey Championship 2011’s mascot, launches the sale of tickets for the next world hockey championship. The competition will start on April 29, and last until May 15. Matches will be played in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava, and in Košice. 29 Sep 2010

Renovated crown on display

TASR

Feature Photo The general public can admire the renovated gilded replica of the historical crown of the Hungarian Kingdom in St Martin’s Cathedral by the end of the week. The crown was brought down from the tower of the cathedral earlier this year, after the thorough reconstruction of the cathedral tower. 28 Sep 2010

Artists protest against Svätopluk

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo A group of artists reacted to the decision by Speaker of Parliament Richard Sulík not to remove the controversial sculpture of Svätopluk from in front of Bratislava Castle by holding a colourful protest. 23 Sep 2010

Svätopluk stays

TASR

Feature Photo The equestrian statue of Svätopluk will stay at the castle, the Speaker of Parliament Richard Sulík has announced. However, the sculptor has to change the controversial double cross which resembles the one used by the wartime Nazi-allied regime to the double cross depicted on Slovakia's present-day coat of arms. The text under the statue will be reduced to only the name of the ruler and the years he ruled in Great Moravia. 22 Sep 2010

Tripartite discussions

TASR

Feature Photo Slovakia’s tripartite Social Council failed to reach agreement on Monday night on a draft amendment to the country’s social insurance law when the trade union representatives objected to the new method for calculating old-age pensions. The council will meet again on Tuesday afternoon. 21 Sep 2010

Referendum fails due to low turnout

SME

Feature Photo A majority of Slovak voters ignored the referendum held on Saturday, September 18, adding another plebiscite to the list of those that have failed. Only 22.84 percent of voters turned out to answer the six referendum questions. In Slovakia, a referendum is only valid if more than 50 percent of all registered voters take part. 19 Sep 2010

Football

SITA

Feature Photo MŠK Žilina's Robert Jež, centre, shoots through a wall of Chelsea players during a group F Champions League football match held in Žilina on Wednesday, September 15. Chelsea won 4-1 . 17 Sep 2010

Shooting massacre

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Bullet holes scar a wall in Devínska Nová Ves, next to photographs of some of the victims of Ľubomír Harman, who ran amok with an assault rifle on August 30, killing seven people and injuring 15 before ending his own life. 4 Sep 2010

Slovakia mourns the victims of the massacre

TASR

Feature Photo Slovakia mourns the victims of the August 30 massacre in Devínska Nová Ves. The Slovak government declared Thursday, September 1, a day of mourning, and state institutions, public bodies and regional administration offices have been flying flags at half mast. On Monday, August 30, 48-year old Ľubomír Harman from Devínska Nová Ves shot dead seven people including five members of one family before killing himself. The motive for the shootings remains unclear. The police have not confirmed suggestions, prompted by the fact that most of his victims were Roma, that Harman was driven partly by racism, but have instead suggested that a neighbourhood dispute may have lain behind the killings. 2 Sep 2010

Catastrophic floods

TASR

Feature Photo The latest in a series of catastrophic floods to affect Slovakia this year struck the Upper Nitra region on August 15. Two people died and scores of houses – and roads – were submerged. 23 Aug 2010

Prime Minister Iveta Radičová and her predecessor

ČTK

Feature Photo Prime Minister Iveta Radičová looks on as her predecessor Robert Fico criticises the new government's programme during an ill-tempered debate in parliament. 8 Aug 2010

Statue of Svätopluk

SITA

Feature Photo Speaker of Parliament Richard Sulík has ordered the creation of a commission of experts to advise him on the merits of the statue of Svätopluk unveiled by the previous government in front of Bratislava Castle in June 25 Jul 2010

Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová visited Brussels

TASR

Feature Photo Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová visited Brussels on July 13 to speak with EU officials, including Eurogroup Chairman Jean-Claude Juncker about the European Financial Stabilisation Facility and the Slovakia’s participation in it. 17 Jul 2010

The outgoing cabinet of Robert Fico

Sme - Tomáš Benedikovič

Feature Photo The outgoing cabinet of Robert Fico (front, centre) takes its curtain call after meeting for the last time on July 7. Fico's government resigned on July 8 and Iveta Radičová was then sworn in as Slovakia's first woman prime minister. She will lead a coalition of the four centre-right parties which together won a majority in the June 12 general election. 12 Jul 2010

Coalition agreement has been reached

ČTK

Feature Photo Prime Minister-designate Iveta Radičová of Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), Most-Híd chairman Béla Bugár, Richard Sulík, chairman of Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and Christian-Democratic Movement (KDH) Chairman Ján Figeľ have agreed on a coalition deal for the four parties that will hold a majority in the new parliament. 5 Jul 2010

Slovakia's football team scored a historic victory

Reuters

Feature Photo Slovakia's football team scored a historic victory, their first ever at a World Cup, to defeat reigning champions Italy 3:2 on June 24. The win meant that Slovakia progressed to the second round of the finals, the first in which they have competed as an independent nation, while Italy were knocked out. Róbert Vittek (pictured above) scored two of Slovakia's goals. 28 Jun 2010

The leaders of the four centre-right parties

TASR

Feature Photo The leaders of the four centre-right parties expected to form Slovakia's next government, following the June 12 general election: (l-r) Béla Bugár (Most-Híd), Ján Figeľ (KDH), Iveta Radičová (SDKÚ) and Richard Sulík (SaS). 20 Jun 2010

VOTE 2010

TASR

Feature Photo Prime Minister Rober Fico smiles on election night, despite early results indicating that his Smer party could be destined for opposition. Smer won the largest number of seats, but lost a key coalition ally.

Join the discussion at the Slovak Spectator's Facebook page. 14 Jun 2010

VOTE 2010

TASR

Feature Photo The final unofficial results of the parliamentary elections published by Slovakia’s Statistics Office after all the valid votes were counted show that Smer was the most popular party, with 34.8 percent of the vote. However, the overall election result has given hope to the centre-right parties that they, and not Robert Fico’s Smer, will be able to form the next government. Smer and SNS would get 71 seats while an eventual coalition of SDKÚ, KDH, SaS and Most-Híd would have 79 seats in parliament.

Join the discussion at the Slovak Spectator's Facebook page. 13 Jun 2010

VOTE 2010

TASR

Feature Photo The seventh democratic election for members of parliament in Slovakia since the fall of communism in 1989 has started. More than 5,900 polling stations opened across the country at 7:00 for the one-day vote. Polls will close at 22:00. The Slovak Spectator will bring regular updates from the vote count after 22:00.

Join the discussion at the Slovak Spectator's Facebook page. 12 Jun 2010

Historic flooding hits eastern Slovakia

Amanda Rivkin

Feature Photo A man inspects flood damage in Kolinovce in the Košice Region of eastern Slovakia. The flood waters, said to be the worst the region has seen in 150 years, has wreaked havoc at many doorsteps over the weekend of June 5-6. Many Slovaks lack proper home insurance to cover the damage. 7 Jun 2010

Flooding in Slovakia

Sme - Tomáš Benedikovič

Feature Photo Several rivers across Slovakia burst their banks after heavy rain in early June. The resultant flooding cost at least one life and caused extensive property damage, including to this house in Hul (Nitra Region). 7 Jun 2010

Hungary's PM addresses the Hungarian parliament

TASR

Feature Photo Hungary's prime minister-designate, Viktor Orbán, addresses the Hungarian parliament in Budapest. On May 26 it passed a new law which could make as many as 500,000 Slovak citizens eligible for Hungarian citizenship. 30 May 2010

Heavy rainfall

TASR

Feature Photo Unseasonably heavy rainfall in mid May led to flooding in eastern and northern Slovakia. Hundreds of volunteers and rescue workers helped protect property - and deliver pets to safety. 23 May 2010

Parliament not in session

ČTK

Feature Photo Parliament not in session: The absence, on four successive occasions, of MPs from two of the ruling parties meant that an opposition-initiated parliamentary debate on the EU rescue package for Greece had to be abandoned on May 13. 17 May 2010

A political advertisement for the SNS being covered up

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo A political advertisement for the Slovak National Party being covered up, following an outcry against its digitally-altered depiction of a Roma man alongside the legend “So that we do not feed those who do not want to work”. 10 May 2010

Highway construction is turning into one of the major political battlefields

TASR

Feature Photo Construction of Slovakia's cross-country D1 highway is continuing in northern Slovakia as politicians in Bratislava argue about the cost For more please see Battle is joined over cost of PPP projects 3 May 2010

31st floral exhibition

TASR

Feature Photo The volcanic ash cloud affected Bratislava's 31st floral exhibition which opened on April 22. Exotic Grevillea flowers could not be delivered from Australia, but Dutch and Italian florists pitched in, delivering some strangely beautiful substitutes. 26 Apr 2010

Floral tributes and candles were left at the Polish Institute

ČTK

Feature Photo Floral tributes and candles were left at the Polish Institute in central Bratislava following the death of Poland's President Lech Kaczyński and 95 other people in a plane crash in Russia on Saturday, April 10. 19 Apr 2010

Medvedev paid tribute at the Slavín memorial

SME

Feature Photo Russian President Dmitry Medvedev paid tribute to fallen Russian soldiers at the Slavín memorial in Bratislava. 12 Apr 2010

Slovak Easter ritual

TASR

Feature Photo Men dressed in traditional outfits douse a young woman with water in a Slovak Easter ritual. In an alternative seasonal custom, girls are beaten by men wielding whips. The men are then rewarded for their efforts with decorated eggs. 5 Apr 2010

Bilas says he acted for Interblue Group

SME

Feature Photo Rastislav Bilas, pictured above, says he acted for Interblue Group in a deal to buy Slovakia's excess CO2 emissions quotas. The firm is believed to have made a profit of more than €45 million when it later sold on the quotas. 29 Mar 2010

PM Fico delivers a glowing report on his term

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paška (left), President Ivan Gašparovič (centre) and Prime Minister Robert Fico gather on March 17 to hear Fico deliver a glowing report on his government's record.

(For more information please see article: Fico assesses government performance and awards full marks)
22 Mar 2010

Students protest against the recently passed Patriotism Act

Sme -Tomáš Benedikovič

Feature Photo Students protest against the recently passed Patriotism Act in front of the Presidential Palace in Bratislava. Their sign is a play on the Slovak word for patriotism (vlastenectvo); instead it calls for an end to drunkenness (chlastanie), of which Slovak National Party leader Ján Slota, who drafted the law, has sometimes been accused. 15 Mar 2010

Fico to dismiss Štefanov

ČTK

Feature Photo Prime Minister Robert Fico asked Igor Štefanov to resign from his post as the country’s construction minister after the results of an audit of the ministry’s improper bulletin-board tender were announced. After Štefanov refused to step down, Fico said he would submit a proposal for his recall to Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič. 10 Mar 2010

Medveď: Contract with Interblue now terminated

ČTK

Feature Photo Environment Minister Jozef Medveď announced on March 3 that he considers Slovakia's contract with Interblue Group for sale of excess CO2 emissions quotas to now be terminated. 8 Mar 2010

Slovakia lost the bronze medal game

SITA/AP

Feature Photo Slovakia lost 3-5 to Finland in the bronze medal game on Saturday evening, February 27 in Vancoover Canada ending in the tournament on the fourth place. However, it has been the best performance of the Slovak ice hockey team at the Olympics ever. 28 Feb 2010

Slovakia lost the bronze medal game

ČTK

Feature Photo Slovakia lost 3-5 to Finland in the bronze medal game on Saturday evening, February 27 in Vancoover Canada ending in the tournament on the fourth place. However, it has been the best performance of the Slovak ice hockey team at the Olympics ever. 28 Feb 2010

Anastasia Kuzmina won gold and a silver medal for Slovakia

TASR/AP

Feature Photo Russian-born Anastasia Kuzmina won both a gold and a silver medal for Slovakia at the Winter Olympics. Her success came as a surprise as Slovakia had no medal expectations for its athletes in Vancouver. 22 Feb 2010

Justice Minister Viera Petríková

SITA

Feature Photo Justice Minister Viera Petríková is among those suing the state over claims of wage discimination. 15 Feb 2010

SDKÚ Chairman Mikuláš Dzurinda

TASR

Feature Photo SDKÚ Chairman Mikuláš Dzurinda has decided not to run for parliament in the June elections. The party's head since its founding in 2000, Dzurinda announced his withdrawl from the ballot in the wake of money laundering accusations. 8 Feb 2010

Slovakia at this year's Winter Olympics

TASR

Feature Photo Seventy-three athletes will represent Slovakia at this year's Winter Olympics, more than ever before in Slovakia's independent history. Slovaks will compete in the men's and women's ice hockey, downhill and cross-country skiing, ski jump, biathlon, figure skating, luge and bobsleigh. On January 27, the athletes met Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič. 1 Feb 2010

Maroš Šefčovič

ČTK

Feature Photo After receiving the approval of MEPs, Maroš Šefčovič, Slovakia's commissioner-designate to the EC is now set to become one of the commission's seven vice-presidents, with responsibility for inter-institutional relations and administration. 25 Jan 2010

Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák

TASR

Feature Photo Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák has had a rocky start to 2010, with embarrassment over a botched airport security operation and news of a suspect escaping from police custody. He now faces a no-confidence motion in the coming days. 18 Jan 2010

Truck drivers briefly blocked a main road

Sme - Pavol Funtál

Feature Photo Truck drivers briefly blocked a main road leading into Bratislava on the morning of Thursday, January 7, in protest at the new electronic road-toll system introduced at the beginning of the year. Further protests are planned. 11 Jan 2010

Christmas

TASR

Feature Photo Hviezdoslavovo Square in Bratislava is traditionally adorned with a huge Christmas tree during the festive season. The square also hosts part of the capital's annual Christmas market. 21 Dec 2009

Robert Fico addresses members of his Smer party

ČTK

Feature Photo Prime Minister Robert Fico addresses members of his Smer party, which celebrated its tenth anniversary by holding a congress in early December. Fico, who is also Smer's chairman, used his speech to attack the Slovak media. 14 Dec 2009

Restituents received land in the High Tatras

Sme-Ján Krošlák

Feature Photo A scenario from two years ago is repeated (see story below). Restituents received land in the High Tatras (above) rather than in the areas in which they live, only for them to sell it to a company close to a government politician. 5 Dec 2009

Swine flu in Slovakia

ČTK

Feature Photo

The Slovak authorities announced that they have selected a supplier for vaccinations against the novel flu virus - otherwise known as swine flu. The first confirmed death from the disease in Slovakia occurred in Prievidza in late November. 28 Nov 2009

The Heart of Europe

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo The Heart of Europe memorial is unveiled on Bratislava's Hviezdoslavovo Square. Its original version was hastily fashioned by artist Daniel Brunovský 20 years ago from barbed wire torn from the border fence in Devín. 23 Nov 2009

Velvet Revolution: 20 years since freedom returned

TASR

Feature Photo December 10, 1989, at the border between Czechoslovakia and Austria near Devín: only weeks earlier these Slovaks would have faced arrest - or worse - for approaching the fence. This month marks 20 years since freedom returned. 16 Nov 2009

Slovakia's regions have elected leaders

Sme - Ján Krošlák

Feature Photo Regional elections are likely to be the last big issue on this year’s political agenda in Slovakia, coming just after one of the annual milestones – the passing of the state budget.

Read more...
14 Nov 2009

Slovakia's regions elect leaders

Sme - Ján Krošlák

Feature Photo Regional elections are likely to be the last big issue on this year’s political agenda in Slovakia, coming just after one of the annual milestones – the passing of the state budget. 14 Nov 2009

State budget for 2010 was passed

SITA

Feature Photo Finance Minister Ján Počiatek in parliament on Wednesday, November 4, after the state budget for 2010 was passed by a large majority. MPs approved expenditure of €16.28 billion next year, nearly €3.75 billion more than projected revenue. 8 Nov 2009

Slovakia's first 6-lane highway.

Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo

The main road between Bratislava and Trnava recently reopened as Slovakia's first 6-lane highway. Drivers are still getting used to the new link, which was widened by removal of the emergency lane. 2 Nov 2009

The informal meeting of NATO

SITA

Feature Photo The informal meeting of NATO defence ministers in Bratislava was the first chaired by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO 's Secretary General. His first official foreign trip after becoming Danish prime minister in 2001 was also to Bratislava. 26 Oct 2009

Slovakia quanfies for the World Cup

Sme Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo

Slovakia's footballers celebrated in the snow at Chorzow after their 1-0 victory over Poland on October 14 assured the team of its first-ever qualification for the World Cup finals, to be held in South Africa next year. 19 Oct 2009

Igor Štefanov is claiming that Slovakia "won't lose a single euro"

Sme - Peter Žákovič

Feature Photo Construction Minister Igor Štefanov holds up a copy of the Sme daily bearing a front-page photograph of himself. The minister mocked reports that Slovakia would lose out on EU funds, despite an EC decision to the contrary. 12 Oct 2009

Počiatek trusts his draft budget

SITA

Feature Photo The draft state budget prepared by Ján Počiatek's Finance Ministry for next year sailed smoothly through the Slovak cabinet 5 Oct 2009

Tennis player Dominik Hrbatý has left the Davis Cup

Sme

Feature Photo Tennis player Dominik Hrbatý has left the Davis Cup in grand style after representing Slovakia for 14 seasons. In his farewell match on September 20 in Bratislava he defeated Macedonia's Tomislav Jotovski 6:0, 6:0. 28 Sep 2009

State Language Act

Sme - Pavol Funtál

Feature Photo OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek and Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák exchange pleasantries at a press conference during Vollebaek's September 16 visit to Bratislava. 21 Sep 2009

Prime ministers met in Hungary

ČTK

Feature Photo There were handshakes and guarded smiles as Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai (left) and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico met in Hungary on September 10, in an effort to resolve recent bilateral tensions. 14 Sep 2009

SkyEurope flights were cancelled

Sme - Pavol Funtál

Feature Photo All SkyEurope flights were cancelled on August 31 after the Slovakia-based airline was declared bankrupt. It was the end of a seven-year journey for the low-cost carrier, which never succeeded in turning an annual profit. 7 Sep 2009

Slovak authorities denied Hungarian President László Sólyom entry

TASR

Feature Photo Hungarian President László Sólyom spoke to journalists on the bridge that connects the Hungarian town of Komárom and the Slovak town of Komárno and then walked backed to Hungary after the Slovak authorities denied him entry. 31 Aug 2009

Prime Minister Robert Fico sacks Turský from the Environment Ministry

TASR

Feature Photo The Environment Ministry has been under fire because of a scandalous contract on selling CO2 emissions quotas, a questionable deal for disposal of ash and slag from state-owned heating plants and general lacklustre performance. When Viliam Turský took over the ministerial post in May he told the Hospodárske Noviny daily: “I do not set any big goals for myself because I cannot promise something that I cannot do in one year.” 21 Aug 2009

Mourning in Handlová

TASR

Feature Photo People in Handlová, in the Upper Nitra region of western Slovakia, mourn the 20 mine workers who lost their lives in an underground explosion on August 10. It was the worst mining disaster in Slovakia since indepence in 1993. 17 Aug 2009

Coal mine blast kills 20 in Handlová

ČTK

Feature Photo Rescuers heading down the shaft of the underground coal mine in Handlová, where 11 mining rescuers and nine miners are thought to have died in an explosion of methane gas the morning of August 10. The bodies of seven victims have been recovered. 11 Aug 2009

Life in the fast lane

ČTK

Feature Photo Life in the fast lane: Agriculture Minister Stanislav Becík (r) has embarked on a horse-drawn journey across Slovakia. 31 Jul 2009

Major fire in Košice

SITA

Feature Photo A fire broke out shortly after midnight on July 28 at a large Baumax store in Košice. Three of the 37 firefighters who tackled the blaze were injured. A total of 16 fire engines from Košice and the surrounding towns of Moldava nad Bodvou, Trebišov and Rožňava attended the incident, and firefighters from the railway company ŽSR and U.S. Steel Košice steelworks were also involved in the operation. The fire is believed to have been started intentionally. 29 Jul 2009

Harvest season

SITA

Feature Photo Agriculture Minister Stanislav Becík (left) and Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák formally opened the harvest season in Slovakia in mid–July in Bánov near Nové Zámky. 20 Jul 2009

Levoča added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List

ČTK

Feature Photo In late June UNESCO extended the site of Spiš Castle and the associated cultural monuments, already on its world heritage list, to include the town of Levoča and the masterpieces by wood carver Master Paul which are located there. The extended site now features the fortified historical town centre of Levoča, which dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. Most of the site has been preserved and includes the 14th-century church of St James with its ten altars from the 15th and 16th centuries, and a remarkable collection of polychrome works in the Late Gothic style including an 18.6-metre high altarpiece completed around 1510 by Master Paul. 8 Jul 2009

A hunting redoubt

Sme - Ján Krošlák

Feature Photo A hunting redoubt on land owned by state forest company Lesy SR, whose management faces being sacked en masse by the government after an employee revolt. 6 Jul 2009

Summer on the Danube

SITA

Feature Photo Summer on the Danube: cyclists in Bratislava contemplate going for a paddle after a rise in river levels in late June. The effects were more serious in neighbouring Austria and the Czech Republic, which experienced serious flooding. 29 Jun 2009

Protest during a visit by China's President Hu Jintao on June 18.

TASR

Feature Photo A Slovak police officer looks on as activists in Hodžovo square in Bratislava protest against Chinese human rights abuses during a visit by China's President Hu Jintao on June 18. The protesters, whose demonstration did not have official authorisation, clashed with Chinese citizens who were also in the square. The police detained six Slovaks and three Chinese, the TASR newswire reported. 22 Jun 2009

Supporters of Chinese President Hu Jintao clashed with Slovak human right activists

ČTK

Feature Photo Six Slovak human right activists were arrested along with three Chinese supporters of President Hu Jintao during a clash between supporters of Chinese President Hu Jintao and Slovak human right activists. China's President Hu Jintao arrived in Slovakia on June 18 for a two-day visit with nourishing economic cooperation on his agenda. 19 Jun 2009

Where is everyone?

Sme - Pavol Funtál

Feature Photo Where is everyone? For the second time in succession, Slovakia recorded the lowest voter turnout among all EU countries in the European Parliament elections. Less than 20 percent of eligible voters went to the polls on June 6. 15 Jun 2009

Slovak milk producers protest low prices

Sme - Pavol Funtál

Feature Photo Angry milk producers symbolically ‘drowned’ Mariann Fischer Boel, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, in a vat of milk to protest low prices for their products and the EU’s agriculture policy in Bratislava on June 4. 5 Jun 2009

PM Fico attends V4 meeting in Poland

Photo: SITA

Feature Photo Prime Ministers Robert Fico of Slovakia, Jan Fischer of the Czech Republic, Donald Tusk of Poland and Gordon Bajnai of Hungary, from left, pose for a photo in a salt mine 125 metres underground during a meeting of the heads of the Visegrad states (V4) in Wieliczka, near Krakow, Poland, on June 3. 4 Jun 2009

European Parliament election campaign

SITA

Feature Photo With the Slovak public showing little interest in the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament, the largest party in the ruling coalition, Smer, has tuned to an unusual campaigning tactic: water bottles emblazoned with the images of its candidates and party leader, Prime Minister Robert Fico. The label pictured here shows Fico alongside candidate Boris Zala, who hopes to be elected as one of Slovakia’s 13 MEPs on June 6. 1 Jun 2009

People voice support for the Special Court

TASR

Feature Photo Hundreds of people gathered in Bratislava on May 27 to voice their support for the Special Court, the continued existence of which was cast into doubt by a May 20 ruling by the Constitutional Court. Those present heard from opposition leader and former prime minister Mikuláš Dzurinda (pictured above). A similar rally also took place in Košice 1 Jun 2009

Štefan Harabin aspires to chair the Slovak Supreme Court

Sme – Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Slovak Justice Minister Štefan Harabin has declared his candidacy for the post of president of the country's Supreme Court. 25 May 2009

Coming or going?

TASR

Feature Photo Recently appointed construction minister Igor Štefanov has come under intense pressure for his role in the controversial bulletin-board tender which last month cost his predecessor Marian Janušek his job.

(For more information please see article: Bulletin-board affair refuses to die) 18 May 2009

Ján Chrbet has lost his job

: Sme - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Ján Chrbet, a nominee of the Slovak National Party (SNS), was sacked as environment minister on May 5. He is the second SNS-nominated minister to be fired in the past month. Chrbet himself replaced another SNS-nominated minister who was sacked less than a year ago. All three were recalled over questionable deals involving public money 11 May 2009

Slovakia progresses to the second round

ČTK

Feature Photo Slovak goaltender Jaroslav Halák suffers an anxious moment during the national team's game against Canada in the Ice Hockey World Championships in Switzerland on April 28. It was one of many: Slovakia went down to a 7-3 defeat. Despite losing against Canada, an earlier victory against Hungary meant that Slovakia still progressed to the second round. 4 May 2009

High and dry

SITA

Feature Photo High and dry: demand for the large four-wheel drive cars currently made at Volkswagen's Bratislava plant has been badly affected by the economic crisis, so the company's announcement that it will invest €308 million to make its new Up! small family car at the factory has been welcomed.

(For more information please see article: Up! to be labelled ‘Made in Slovakia’. 27 Apr 2009

Milan Rastislav Štefánik returns

TASR

Feature Photo Construction workers installed an eight-metre tall sculpture of Milan Rastislav Štefánik, one of the most important and famous figures in modern Slovak history, in front of the new building of the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava on April 20. It will be ceremonially unveiled on May 4, the day on which Štefánik died near Bratislava in an aeroplane crash 90 years ago. 22 Apr 2009

Tender controversy continues

TASR

Feature Photo Former construction minister Marian Janušek, who resigned on April 14 , pictured with his successor Igor Štefanov (right), who was appointed the following day. 20 Apr 2009

Easter in Slovakia

TASR

Feature Photo On Easter Monday young Slovak girls are traditionally doused with water and then whipped. As a reward for their efforts, the whippers (pictured here in hats) are presented with food and drink by the girl's family. 13 Apr 2009

Gašparovič wins presidential race

ČTK

Feature Photo Incumbent Ivan Gašparovič, backed by two parties of the ruling coalition, Smer, the largest party in parliament and the Slovak National Party (SNS), will serve as the country’s president for the next five years, according to the official results announced by the Central Election Commission on April 5. 5 Apr 2009

Presidential election

Petit Press - Vladimír Šimíček

Feature Photo Incumbent Ivan Gašparovič, backed by the ruling coalition; Smer, the largest ruling party in parliament and the junior coalition party Slovak National Party (SNS) and the joint candidate of the parliamentary opposition parties Iveta Radičová, will be competing in the second round of presidential elections in Slovakia scheduled for April 4. 23 Mar 2009

PM Fico greets International Women's Day

TASR

Feature Photo Continuing a tradition from the past, Prime Minister Robert Fico congratulated women of all ages and professions on the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8 9 Mar 2009

People lit candles in Bánovce nad Bebravou

TASR

Feature Photo People lit candles in front of the city council building in Bánovce nad Bebravou to honour the 12 victims of a tragic accident which occurred near Polomka on February 21. 2 Mar 2009

Children in Orava enjoyed the results of heavy snow in mid Februar

Peter Pallo

Feature Photo Schoolchildren in western Slovakia were on holiday from February 16; their counterparts in eastern and central regions will go on holiday in the following weeks. 23 Feb 2009

Passenger train crashes into a bus

SITA

Feature Photo The bus, carrying 37 skiers, tried to cross a railway crossing without an electronic warning system and the driver failed to spot the nearing train. The tragic accident claimed 12 lives. 23 Feb 2009

Car sales have been dropping world-wide

Reuters

Feature Photo Slovak-manufactured cars wait for buyers outside the Kia factory where they were made, in Teplička nad Váhom, near Žilina. 16 Feb 2009

Economy gets crisis package

TASR

Feature Photo State officials, including Prime Minister Robert Fico (second from right), spent the first week of February in a series of meetings to address the impact of the economic crisis. 9 Feb 2009

Lajčák was appointed Slovakia's new foreign affairs minister

Sme - Pavol Funtál

Feature Photo Miroslav Lajčák (right) has replaced Ján Kubiš (left) as Foreign Affairs Minister on January 26. Lajčák will continue to serve as the Internation al High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina for several weeks.

(For more information please see article: From Balkans to cabinet) 2 Feb 2009

US ambassador with Slovak roots departs

TASR

Feature Photo US Ambassador Vincent Obsitnik stepped down after the inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington. Obsitnik, who was born in Slovakia, was appointed by former President George W Bush.

(For more information please see article: US ambassador with Slovak roots departs)
26 Jan 2009

Putin meets Fico to discuss gas

ČTK

Feature Photo Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin welcomes representatives of gas-crisis hit countries including Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (third right) at his Novo Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow on January 14. 19 Jan 2009

Cross-border gas pipelines were idle from Tuesday

TASR

Feature Photo Cross-border gas pipelines were idle from Tuesday night (January 6/7) after Russia halted all exports of natural gas through Ukraine. All Slovakia's natural gas requirements are imported via this route. 12 Jan 2009

Slovakia has become the 16th member of the eurozone on January 1.

TASR

Feature Photo Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico after midnight on January 1, made the very first ceremonial withdrawal of a euro banknote, €100 (Sk3,012.60), from a Slovak cash machine. Fico said that the adoption of the euro will fully integrate Slovakia to the economically prosperous Europe. 2 Jan 2009

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