Archive of articles - March 2010, page 4
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Smer and Sme fight over cartoons
WHILE Prime Minister Robert Fico is suing the Sme daily over a cartoon, his Smer party is using cartoons in its political fight, Sme reported.
Some electricity suppliers
Traditional electricity distributors and suppliers:
IPI Slovakia condemns Supreme Court's damages claim towards the Trend weekly
The International Press Institute (IPI) Slovakia on March 25 condemned the Slovak Supreme Court's claim for Trend weekly magazine to pay €200,000 in compensation for an investigative article on dubious assigning of court files that bypass the electronic registry. IPI Slovakia views the demand as disgraceful and a 'liquidation' of the free media. "IPI Slovakia expresses its full support to the aforementioned weekly and calls for all responsible state bodies, institutions and individuals to reverse this and other attempts to restrict the free exchange of information in Slovakia," IPI Slovakia chair Pavol Múdry told the TASR newswire. Through incomplete data in (two) articles and through taking information out of the context, the articles suggest that unlawful assigning of court files at the Supreme Court is taking place," reads a note released by the Supreme Court. According to the Court, the articles have affected its solid reputation and have degraded its dignity. If Trend's publisher Trend Holding does not pay the compensation within 17 days, the Supreme Court threatens to take further legal action.
SNS seeks more special police in Roma settlements
The co-ruling Slovak National Party (SNS) is pressing for a show of for force, with regard to, the country's Roma settlements, which are frequently accused of high crime and delinquency rates. The issue emerged at a news conference after SNS representatives met Police President Ján Packa to discuss their proposals earlier on Thursday, March 25. "I've asked the police president to increase Special Forces dispatched to Roma settlements to prevent crime," said SNS lawmaker Jakub Gajdošík. "It was agreed that Packa would, in the weeks ahead, send a further 400 officers to Roma-populated areas instead of the, originally, planned increase of 300," said SNS vice-chair Rudolf Pučík. Gajdošík, for his part, named among other Roma-related issues the payment of social benefits, which, he claimed, many of the Roma simply drink away within days. He suggests cashless payments via social cards that would only allow purchases of food and sanitary supplies, and certainly not including alcohol and cigarettes.
NBS: Analysts expect that Slovak economy has grown by 4% in 1Q10
Slovakia's economy has increased 4 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2010, according to the latest macroeconomic predictions drawn up by selected commercial banks and released by Slovakia's central bank (NBS) on March 25. As regards to the whole year of 2010, the analysts foresee 2.6-percent growth, with their expectations remaining unchanged compared to those in February. They have also made their first predictions concerning 2011, for which they expect 3.7-percent growth, the TASR newswire wrote. In their latest prognoses, the analysts slightly changed their expectations, in relation to, rising prices. They expect that the EU-harmonized inflation rate to stand at 1.6 percent in 2010, up from the 1.5-percent prediction made last month. A slight change was also observed in forecasts concerning the 2010 inflation rate measured according to national methodology - up from the 2 percent expected in February to 2.1 percent in March. Both the Finance Ministry and NBS foresee better prospects for the Slovak economy following last year's contraction of 4.7 percent. The ministry expects the economy to grow by 2.8 percent this year, while NBS was even more optimistic, in its latest prognosis, estimating growth at 3.1 percent. By and large, the performance of Slovakia's economy in the final quarter of 2009 was better than expected. As previously mentioned, the economy reported a slump of 4.7 percent for the full 2009 year, which is actually slightly better than both NBS and the Finance Ministry were forecasting - the bank in December expected a contraction of 4.9 percent year-on-year, while the ministry predicted that the economy would shrink by 4.8 percent.
Boosting Slovak language education shouldn't be up to politicians
Boosting the quality of Slovak language education at minority-language schools should not be up to the politicians and parties, as this is the worst possible way of tackling the issue, ethnic-Hungarian SMK party vice-chair László Szigeti told a press conference on Thursday, March 25. The issue should be dealt with by the experts, instead, added the former education minister. A thorough analysis of the quality of Slovak language education at Hungarian-language schools is needed before any shortcomings, if found, are addressed. However, Szigeti said that he disapproves of special inspections by the State School Inspectorate as announced by Education Minister Ján Mikolaj (Slovak National Party,SNS). He also brought up Mikolaj's recent statement that the cabinet's decision on the inspections was made partly in response to recent comments made by Hungarian President László Sólyom. According to Szigeti, it is hypocritical of the Government to raise this issue just a couple of months prior to the end of its term in office. "SMK has the opinion that improving the quality of teaching Slovak at minority-language schools is too significant an issue to become the subject of election battles between political parties," he said. The party would certainly oppose a higher number of Slovak language and literature classes at minority-language schools if such a measure were proposed by the cabinet, the TASR newswire wrote. The quality would be boosted if pupils were divided into smaller groups. "We advocate introducing new progressive methods of teaching the Slovak language on a communication basis," added Szigeti. Conversation in Slovak should be given more weight than grammar or literature, he suggested.
Ruling coalition backs tax rise
Prime Minister Robert Fico has revealed part of his tax plans in the event his Smer party wins the June general election, the Sme daily reported on March 25: he would increase taxes on the rich. However, it is not yet clear who will fall into this category.
Supreme Court chief Harabin limits judges’ internet access
After blocking previously approved bonuses for some judges, making changes to their working schedules and agenda, swapping judges between court senates, and even initiating criminal proceedings against some Supreme Court justices, Supreme Court president Štefan Harabin is now coming under fire for allegedly interfering in judges’ use of their workplace computers.
Renewable energy could increase electricity prices by 14 percent
Renewable energy sources might increase the price of electric power for households in Slovakia by 14 percent in the near future. Such an increase in prices would become a reality if all the approved projects, as well as all projects awaiting approval, are connected to thepower grid, according to the Institute for Energy Security.
Medvedev won’t meet Obama in Bratislava
Rumours that a meeting could take place between US President Barack Obama and his Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Bratislava have been scotched.
Interblue: man ‘behind’ emissions quotas deal gives press conference
In yet another bizarre twist to the tale of Slovakia’s sale of excess carbon dioxide emissions quotas, a man claiming to have represented Interblue Group, the mysterious purchaser, in its negotiations with the Slovak government emerged on Wednesday, March 24, to give an unexpected press conference in Bratislava.
Regulation of solar power projects changes
Regulation of the construction of solar power plants in Slovakia will be tightened by an amendment to the Energy Act drafted by the Economy Ministry and signed into law by President Ivan Gašparovič.
Slovak police capture illegal Ukrainian and Vietnamese immigrants
Slovakia’s Foreigners’ Police caught five Ukrainian men with no residence permit or Slovak work permit during a crackdown on Tuesday, March 23, Interior Ministry spokesperson Lucia Garajová told the TASR newswire.
SPF Board can function without opposition nominees
Based on an amendment to the Act on Ownership Rights that was signed by President Ivan Gašparovič on Wednesday, March 24, the Slovak Land Fund (SPF) board will be able to function without having any members proposed by the opposition, which has refused to nominate two candidates over a dispute about the fund's activities, the TASR newswire wrote on March 24.
Carmakers in Slovakia produced 459,749 cars in 2009
Factories in Slovakia manufactured 459,749 cars last year, according to information published by automakers. Compared with 2008, this represented a 20 percent decline, or 116,000 fewer vehicles. In 2008, production rose by 4,700 vehicles compared to the previous year.
Interblue: Swiss prosecutor confirms money laundering investigation
The Swiss Federal Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that it is conducting an investigation into suspicions of money laundering related to a trade conducted between Interblue Group, the purchaser of Slovakia’s excess carbon dioxide emissions quotas, and a firm based in a tax haven, the Sme daily has reported.
SNS leader warns of ‘Hungarian invasion plans’
Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Ján Slota has warned that Hungary is planning a military attack on Slovakia and that the Slovak army’s combat readiness must be improved. Slota, speaking to journalists on Tuesday, March 23, said: “Hungary is planning on military invasions of neighbouring countries.” This, he said, was in order to alter the borders set by the 1920 Treaty of Trianon. He added that the Slovak army is almost completely unready in this respect at the moment, the newswire TASR reported.
Environment minister will not support crude pipeline route to Austria
Slovak Environment Minister Jozef Medveď confirmed on March 23 that his department would not support a project to build a crude oil pipeline across Žitný Ostrov, a protected area of Slovakia which is believed to be the largest source of drinking water in central Europe.
Slovak PM suggests 'more progressive' income tax
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Tuesday, March 23, that he is convinced that the concept of higher progressiveness in personal income tax is still alive. Speaking following a meeting with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic, he said he did not rule out reopening the topic in future months.
Pravda daily gets new owner and editor-in-chief
Karol Biermann is the new owner of the Pravda daily, the paper's online news portal, Pravda.sk, has announced. In an article entitled 'Owner of Pravda daily is Karol Biermann' it says that publishing houses Perex, a.s., which publishes Pravda, and Avízo, s.r.o. are in the hands of Florena, a.s. Its owner is businessman Karol Biermann, who will also hold the position of the CEO of Perex.
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