Archive of articles - August 1997, page 4

Poll says Mečiar out, Kováč barely in

Slovak Premier Vladimír Mečiar would be recalled if a national referendum were held on the matter, according to a June poll carried out by the MVK polling agency. On the contrary, President Michal Kováč would survive if a similar hypothetical public vote were held.In the poll, 35.5 percent of those queried said that they would have voted for removing Mečiar, while 28 percent answered that they would have voted for the prime minister to remain in office.Another 27 percent would not have taken part in the vote, and 9.5 percent was undecided. For a referendum to be valid, a majority of the electorate must participate. That means Mečiar, whose party gathered by far the most votes in the 1994 national elections, would be recalled, since more than half of those participating would have agreed.

Children's book illustrations on show

An exhibition of children's book illustrations called "Biennale of Illustrations Bratislava 1997" (BIB), will be open to the public from September 5 until October 31, giving a chance for museum-goers to see artwork from 40 different countries. "Children's books are timeless," said Dušan Roll, BIB's general commissioner. "They give more fantasy, education and humanization to the child than anything else."BIB has been held for 30 years with the idea of presenting the world's best illustrations to children and adults alike. This year's exhibition will be the sixteenth in the history of BIB.All of the works including ones awarded with the prizes BIB Grand Prix, BIB Golden Apples and BIB Plaques will be displayed at Dom Umenia, on SNP Square in Bratislava. The exhibition's organizers, Bibiana Gallery and the Ministry of Culture, prepared a small exhibit in rememberance of Albín Brunovsky, one of BIB's founders and one of Slovakia's most popular illustrators.

Paltry security, lax watch led to Ľudová Banka theft

The surprisingly easy manner in which three masked men looted 51 million Sk ($1.5 million) from the downtown Bratislava branch of Ľudová Banka one month ago has opened questions into the adequacy of the bank's security system at the time of the theft and the competency of the guards on watch.On July 16 at 8:11 a.m., three men approached the door leading to the bank's underground cash counter used for depositing and withdrawing large sums. After donning ski-masks, two of the assailants forced three bank accountants to the floor, tied them up and snuck off with four leather suitcases stuffed with 20 million Slovak crowns (Sk) and the rest in foreign currencies. It was the second largest heist in Slovakia's history.The fact that the bank is situated on Bratislava's SNP square, one of the city's busiest intersections, raised eyebrows how the raid could have occurred so smoothly.

Slovakofarma shares quoted on BCPB

FNM makes great deal with itself

The National Property Fund (FNM) made a great deal for itself. In a two-round anonymous auction through the RM-System between July 7 and August 4, the privatization agency got rid of 172,395 more or less lousy shares from its portfolio with an average share price of 68 Sk, and earned back those bonds which it would have had to pay over 16,000 Sk for each in 2001 when they mature - indeed a real savings.According to information provided by the RM-System, 1,046 bondholders became shareholders after exchanging their FNM bonds for the offered shares, which have an overall nominal value of 11.723 million Sk. But that value was disputed by market analysts and traders directly involved with the auction, who said it was questionable.

Forex reserves up by $853 million

Cabinet unveils economic plan

In the last week of June, the Slovak government approved a wide-ranging set of economic moves that takes dead aim at the country's growing trade deficit The plan, however, is already being attacked by opposition leaders, who say the cabinet is shelving solving the real economic problems.Some regulations from the economic package came into force already on July 1, such as a 10 percent hike in electricity prices for businesses, a law regulating wages in certain sectors, an increased consumer tax for fuels and oils (followed by an increase in gasoline prices by about 1 Sk/liter) and the reintroduction of a 7 percent import surcharge.

Will he get back in?

The Constitutional Court ruled on July 24 that coalition deputies in the Slovak Parliament violated the Constitution when they booted out František Gaulieder, a former deputy of Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar's Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), last December. But Gaulieder's return to his seat in the assembly is far from being definitive, as the court left it up to those same deputies who kicked him out in the first place to decide whether to let him back in.After the ruling was made public, Gaulieder said his primary goal was to reclaim his seat. "I assume that soon I will pick up my deputy ID card again," he said, adding that upon his return he will join "a party within the Slovak Democratic Coalition," a recently established bloc uniting all opposition parties in parliament except for the Hungarian coalition (MK) and the Party for the Democratic Left (SDĽ).

Incheba director voted out

Jewish leaders decide not to pursue Tuka's Swiss stash

A biblical passage reads "divine mills churn slowly but surely." In the case of Slovakia's Jews, historical imbalances finally may be righting themselves.After two years of lobbying, Slovak Jewish leaders persuaded the Czech cabinet the week of July 21 to return property belonging to Slovak victims of the Holocaust. A foundation has been established to disburse the property, worth 36 million Sk and transferred from the Czech National Bank, leaders added.The same week that Slovakia's Jewry wrested the overdue property from the Czechs, Swiss banks released a list of dormant account holders which contained the name of Vojtech Tuka, prime minister of the Slovak War State from 1939-1945, and one of those responsible for the deportations of almost 60,000 Slovak Jews to concentration camps across Europe.

MONEY, FOREX Markets

Look for crown to be under significant depreciation pressure at year's endCrown depreciation at end of yearMoney marketT-bills for foreign investors

Tiptoeing around justice

If someone wears two faces too often, he may well be viewed as a clown. If an entire institution shows two faces too often, it might become viewed as a circus. If it is an institution that is supposed to command the respect of citizens, then it is a shame because - who respects a bunch of clowns?The Constitutional Court's July 24 ruling in the case of František Gaulieder, a deputy kicked out of Parliament last December by a coalition majority, tried to please both entangled sides - coalition and opposition - with its ruling, but in the end it didn't please either. On one hand, the Court ruled that the 59 deputies who passed the resolution taking away Gaulieder's parliamentary mandate against his will violated his constitutional right, because "the mandate was terminated in a way not envisioned by the Constitution," the official explanation said.