Archive of articles - May 1999, page 4

Slovakofarma Hlohovec to pay out dividends for 1998

May 29 presidential elections deeply symbolic

The results of the May 15 presidential elections show that former Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar remains a powerful force in Slovakia. Why is Mečiar still so popular here despite his autocratic style of leadership and his ambiguous committment to democratic principles?Many rent their garments in dismay at Mečiar's 37% showing - ruling coalition deputies, international investors and democratically-minded Slovaks had been hoping that Mečiar would suffer a humiliating defeat and leave politics with his tail between his legs. Instead, Mečiar captured enough votes to give him a realistic chance of winning the second, winner-takes-all round on May 29: enough support, also, to leave his HZDS party mates talking about a steady upward trend in HZDS popularity since 1994.

V4 embraces new Slovakia

On what Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda deemed "an historic day for Slovakia and an historic day for the whole region," the prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia met for the first time May 14 since the founding of the Visegrad 4 organization in 1991.The summit, which took place in Bratislava, provided the four leaders with the opportunity to re-affirm their commitment to broad-based regional cooperation and also gave the leaders of the three stronger central European nations the chance to proclaim their support of Slovakia's EU and NATO ambitions in the strongest of terms.

PMs avoid serious debt issues

A cordial one-on-one meeting between Slovak Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda and Czech Prime Minister Miloš Zeman on May 15 produced only limited progress on the thorny issue of how to divide jointly-owned property and debts left over from the former Czechoslovak federal republic."We have spoken concretely about the situations in our national banks, we spoke about [soon-to-be privatised] Československá Obchodní Banka [ČSOB], about a mutual exchange of shares in [Slovak] Všeobecná Úverová Banka [VÚB] and [Czech] Komerčni Banka [KB] and other problematic areas," said Dzurinda at a press conference following the two-hour summit in Starý Smokovec, a mountain resort in northern Slovakia.

Forex markets

The Slovak crown failed to find any strong support even after the Ministry of Finance expressed its interest in preventing any further decline of the currency on May 10. The foreign exchange market was caught short of euros when emerging markets plunged on May 12.Markets were reacting to the increasing political problems in Russia, and the Slovak currency moved to another historic low versus the euro, closing the day at EURSKK 45.480/580. This represents a one percent weakening in one week, which is according to the central bank "standard behaviour for a floating currency." Given the NBS statement, the market did not expected the central bank to intervene on the market. Foreign investors (mostly buyers of SKK during the last month) took a cautious approach because of uncertainty over the outcome of presidential elections and problems in Russia. Local demand for foreign currency remains high.

SNS boss Slota accuses SMK of plotting to form Greater Hungary

Around Slovakia

Bullet mailed to Mečiar'Spice Girls' wanna-be contestSlovan wins titleKošice celebrates birthday with 630-metre cakeEx-cop threatens to jump from court windowSchuster sent threatening mailSpring arrives two weeks early

Slovakia reports $12.05 billion gross foreign indebtedness in January

Kováč withdrawal draws plot accusations

As the presidential campaign drew to an end, a great furore was raised over the decision of former president Michal Kováč to give up his candidacy "in favour of the pro-coalition candidate", as he put it during a May 12 discussion on the state run Slovak Television station.Kováč explained that his intentions were to unite voters behind a candidate strong enough to ensure that his one-time ally and long-time foe Vladimír Mečiar would have no chance of winning the May 15 elections."I'm convinced that this is a step which will help prevent [Mečiar's possible electorate victory] and that in no case will the post-election development of Slovakia be endangered." he said.

Media watchdog fines Markíza TV 250,000 Sk

Letter to the Editor: Tourism needs immediate attention

Curtain drops on first presidential election campaign

On the last day of the presidential campaign, Rudolf Schuster, Chairman of the Party of Civic Reconciliation (SOP and the presidential candidate of the ruling joint coalition, held a rally hosted by the chairmen of the governments four ruling parties in Bratislava's SNP square.The fired-up group of some 1,000 supporters - and protesters - gathered around a small stage to encourage or heckle the man with the celebrated communist past who currently heads all major polling services ahead of his closest rival, HZDS chairman Vladimír Mečiar. On stage, the smiling Schuster was flanked by Prime Minister and SDK head MikulŠö Dzurinda, Parliamentary Speaker and SDL chairman Jozef Migaš, and the boss of the ethnic Hungarian party, Bela Bugar.

Investors losing patience with cabinet over Nafta Gbely sale

Members of cabinet are still split over how - or if - to sell the troubled gas storage company Nafta Gbely to a foreign investor. But as the dispute drags on, analysts are warning that the government's indecision may drive interested foreign investors away and damage Slovakia's image.The government announced after its election victory last September that it would move ahead quickly with revising suspicious sales of state companies like Nafta Gbely to investors close to the former government of Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar. One of the prime targets of this policy was Nafta, in which a 45.9% stake was sold in 1995 to entrepreneur Vladimír Poór for a little under one-sixth of its market value at the time.

Slovaks head to polls May 15 to elect president - but why?

Slovakia has had no president for the past 14 months, a fact that the May 15 direct presidential election was called to correct. And yet, even as voters prepared to hit the polls nationwide, many political professionals were remarking that the country seems to have been little affected by the lack of a head of state.The nine candidates vying for the post in the first round of the presidential elections also gave little insight during their campaigns into the purpose of the presidency, and have said little concrete about their plans if they won the seat. So what, exactly, is the need for a Slovak president?"You know, that's a good question," said US Ambassador to Slovakia Ralph Johnson when asked by The Slovak Spectator. "I don't really have a full answer... therefore I take my cue from the Slovak people. I think they want a president and that it's significant to them that the office be filled."

Bratislava Stock Exchange temporarily halts listing VSŽ shares

Number of people dependent on social benefits continues to grow

Parliament cancels wage regulation

American Ambassador to Slovakia Ralph Johnson: Enjoyed Slovak posting "more than any other job"

US Ambassador to Slovakia Ralph Johnson will be leaving his post on June 5, and not a few government officials will be sorry to see him go. Deputy Foreign Minister Ján Figeľ told The Slovak Spectator on May 12 that Johnson had been a "strong defender of democratic traditions and a good friend of civic society" in his three-year tenure. "He was among the most communicative and professional ambassadors we have had," Figeľ added. "Slovakia wishes to have many more like His Excellency Mr. Johnson."Johnson is a running enthusiast whose excellent command of Slovak won him widespread credit in the country's media and official circles. When The Slovak Spectator interviewed him on May 12 at the US Embassy in Bratislava, he had just returned from an hour-long phone-in programme called "Hour of Truth" and a run around the bridges below the castle. "I don't set any speed records," he began.

Visegrad ministers make waste recycling a priority