Archive of articles - August 2010, page 9
If you desire to read an old article, use the search bar or select the publication date.
Slovak Finance Ministry to sue Supreme Court chief Harabin
The Finance Ministry is preparing a legal motion which it intends to file against Supreme Court President Štefan Harabin. The ministry is to lodge a complaint with the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Police Presidium, Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš told the SITA newswire on Thursday, August 12. Mikloš has previously stated that Harabin might have committed a crime by abusing the powers of a public official in his repeated refusal to allow a Finance Ministry audit at the Supreme Court.
Expert: SkyToll failed to meet one of its collection targets
Slovakia’s road-toll system provider SkyToll has met all its contractual requirements, except one that concerns the effective collection of tolls, according to a report released by an independent expert on Wednesday, August 11.
Volkswagen Slovakia still looking for new employees
Following a two-week stoppage at its Bratislava plant, car-maker Volkswagen Slovakia recommenced full production on Monday, August 9, the TASR newswire reported.
Parliament fails to elect head of FNM supervisory board
Parliament on Wednesday, August 11, failed to elect a new supervisory board chairman for the National Property Fund (FNM), after neither candidate for the post – Ľubomír Neslušal (Slovak National Party-SNS) and Ján Valko (Smer) – managed to get an absolute majority of votes.
Environment Ministry to become stand-alone authority again
As of September 1, 2010, the Environment Ministry will re-emerge as a separate, stand-alone authority, Parliament decided on Wednesday, August 11. The decision is in line with an amendment to the General Administration Act, which returns to the arrangement in place in the period before July 1, the day on which the old ministry was merged with the Agriculture Ministry.
Minister of Defence Galko says his predecessors signed questionable helicopter contracts
The former management of the Defence Ministry signed a contract just before the general election in June for installing new devices in ten helicopters, one of which officially became obsolete on July 31, 2010, said new Defence Minister Ľubomír Galko (SaS) on Wednesday, August 11, the TASR newswire wrote. Galko stated that his ministry has already filed a criminal complaint concerning the violation of the duty to administer public property and the abuse of power of a public official.
Parliamentary committee launches proceedings against Speaker of Parliament Sulík
The parliamentary committee for conflicts of interest on Wednesday, August 11, launched proceedings against Speaker of Parliament Richard Sulík from the Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS) over his recent flight he took to Salzburg on a private jet, the TASR newswire reported. According to the committee’s unanimous decision, Sulík must submit an invoice for the flight to the committee or he may be penalised by losing a year’s salary. Based on information presented in the media, Sulík recently flew to the Austrian city of Salzburg onboard a private jet that is owned by a company close to entrepreneur Vladimír Póor, an alleged sponsor of the opposition Smer party.
Parliament approves Slovakia’s participation in EFSF
The Slovak parliament on Wednesday, August 11, almost unanimously approved the country’s participation in the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), with a potential cost of almost €4.4 billion in the form of guarantees, the TASR newswire wrote.
Slovak parliament rejects loan assistance to Greece
The Slovak parliament decided on Wednesday, August 11, that Slovakia will not provide Greece with a bilateral loan that was supposed to reach €816 million over the next three years with MPs following the government's recommendation, the TASR newswire reported. The former government led by Robert Fico (Smer) agreed to Slovakia taking part in a rescue package totalling €110 billion provided by the eurozone and the International Monetary Fund.
Courts will not be able to return cases for further investigation
PARLIAMENT has passed an amendment to the Criminal Code which will stop courts from returning cases for further investigation due to the lack of evidence.
Immunity limits passed to second reading in parliament
THE SLOVAK government's proposal to limit the immunity of MPs and judges was passed by parliament to its second reading on today, August 11. Apart from the 79 votes of the ruling coalition MPs, it won the support of two MPs from the opposition Slovak National Party (SNS), Anna Belousovová and former construction minister Igor Štefanov. Deputies for the largest opposition party, Smer, did not support the proposal, the SITA newswire reported.
Slovakia’s preliminary trade surplus was €208.2 million in June
SLOVAKIA’S foreign trade continues to post positive results. According to preliminary figures released by the Slovak Statistics Office on August 11, foreign trade in June posted a surplus of €208.2 million, up €199.9 million year-on-year, the SITA newswire reported.
Slovakia receives CoE recommendations on minority languages
SLOVAKIA has received several recommendations from the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) concerning the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages. The recommendations were designed by a committee of experts appointed by the CoE’s committee of ministers, the TASR newswire reported.
Radičová’s government finally gets parliament’s OK (video included)
THE SLOVAK parliament approved the programme statement of Prime Minister Iveta Radičová’s government on August 10, following a week-long debate which was characterised by coalition and opposition MPs attacking each other more often than criticising the programme itself. In the end, all 79 MPs of the ruling coalition parties voted for the programme. They have a majority in the 150-member assembly and their vote represented the first vote of confidence by parliament in the new government.
Slovak government programme finally approved by parliament
Slovakia’s parliament on Tuesday, August 10, approved the programme of the new government, at the same time expressing confidence in the administration of Iveta Radičová (Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ)). On the fifth day of the parliamentary session held to discuss the programme, 79 out of the 145 MPs present voted in favour, while 66 voted against. As expected, all the coalition MPs present supported the document, while both opposition parties voted against it, the TASR newswire wrote.
Andrea Gulová becomes temporary SARIO chief
Economy and Construction Minister Juraj Miškov has appointed Andrea Gulová as the temporary head of the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO). She replaces dismissed former director Robert Šimončič and will remain in place until a new director is chosen.
Supreme Court files criminal complaint over ‘illegal’ attempted audits
The Slovak Supreme Court has filed a criminal complaint with the Office of the General Prosecutor in connection with the Finance Ministry’s attempt to carry out what the court views as an unlawful audit, the TASR newswire learnt on Tuesday, August 10.
Belousovová slaps Matovič across face for calling her ‘Anča’
Slovak National Party (SNS) MP and vice-chair Anna Belousovová and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MP Igor Matovič were involved in a physical altercation on Tuesday, August 10. Belousovová slapped Matovič across the face because of an article he had written in one of his own newspapers in which he referred to her as ‘Anča’ (a diminutive form of Anna), the TASR newswire reported.
Iveta Radičová’s government wins parliament’s approval
The Slovak Parliament approved the government’s programme statement, thus expressing confidence towards the Cabinet of Prime Minister Iveta Radičová. Seventy-nine of the 149 deputies present supported the program statement while 66 deputies voted against it, SITA newswire reported.
Extremists defend Svätopluk statue; police try new tactics
WHEN former Prime Minister Robert Fico unveiled the statue of Svätopluk at Bratislava Castle shortly before the June 2010 parliamentary elections, he expressed a wish for the statue to become a destination for pilgrims to honour Slovak nationhood. The first pilgrimage, of sorts, came earlier than anyone expected as a group of about 60 right-wing extremists gathered in Bratislava to honour ‘King Svätopluk’ in a National Pilgrammage.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process More articles ›
