Archive of articles - September 2002, page 2

The evidence is in: It's the courts, stupid

IN ANNIE Proulx' novel The Shipping News, criminals appearing before Newfoundland courts keep tearing their clothes off in front of the judge to encourage not guilty by reason of insanity verdicts. Their behaviour becomes tediously predictable for the reporters of the Gammy Bird newspaper, although not wholly unamusing.Something similar, although very unfunny, has been happening in Slovakia. Judges keep sending airtight cases back to prosecutors and police "for further investigation" because they're either afraid to rule or have been paid not to.

Reader feedback: Congratulations, Slovakia

Reader feedback: Misjudgement

Do expats need a Slovak driving license?

IMAGINE YOU'VE just arrived in Slovakia and want to rent a car to see some of the country. Will your foreign driving license satisfy the rental agency and, if you are stopped, the police? At what point, if you decide to live here, will you have to get a Slovak driving license?The Slovak Spectator spent several days collecting information on this issue from the national traffic police headquarters. Here is a digest of what we learned:If you are a foreign national and NOT registered in Slovakia with the border and aliens police as living at a temporary address (i.e. if you are a tourist)

New cabinet in "a fortnight"

LESS THAN 24 hours after late September elections gave a parliamentary majority to four right-wing parties, their bosses announced a cabinet deal that promised to give Slovakia what foreign governments had urged - a pro-western and pro-reform administration assembled in record time ahead of crucial Nato and European Union summits."The new cabinet will be presented within a fortnight," promised Pavol Rusko of the smallest would-be government party, the New Citizen's Alliance (Ano).Rusko's Ano, together with PM Mikuláš Dzurinda's Slovak Democratic and Christian union (SDKÚ), the ethnic Hungarian Coalition (SMK) party and the Christian Democrats (KDH), took 78 seats in the 150-mandate parliament in September 20-21 elections.

Reader feedback: Positive thinking

Juraj Kukura is Aréna's new boss

ACTOR Juraj Kukura became the official new director of Aréna theatre, after former director, mime Milan Sládek, moved to Germany.

Losing leaders, outgoing parties sing post-election blues

AS THE WINNER of weekend elections, the HZDS opposition party invited journalists to join in a champagne toast at its headquarters after the polls closed on September 21.It felt more like a wake than a victory celebration.After scoring 19.5 per cent support, its worst-ever election showing since its 1991 formation, the HZDS was rejected as a government partner in immediate post-ballot statements by the leaders of the four pro-Western right-wing parties that had taken a narrow majority in parliament.

Reader feedback: Under my skin

What's the Bulgarian cook for?

LET'S SAY you choose a restaurant out of pure curiosity, wanting to taste a particular national cuisine about which you know nothing. You'd expect to be served something new, original and tasty, right?The newly opened Bulgarian restaurant Festina Lente, located in Bratislava's Trnávka district (towards airport) unfortunately fails in all three categories, even though (maybe because) it advertises authentic Bulgarian food prepared by an authentic Bulgarian cook.

Final cabinet deal close

HZDS revolt in works

Deficit better than expected

Public debt at 40% of GDP

SE bids come in

First cabinet struggles emerge

Lexa hospitalised

SE sale rolls on

Crown strength worries NBS