Archive of articles - February 2011, page 11
If you desire to read an old article, use the search bar or select the publication date.
Finance Minister Mikloš says central heating plants will be sold
The Slovak government has decided to sell its state-owned heating plants, Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš announced at a press conference following a cabinet meeting on February 9, the TASR newswire reported. "We've issued a recommendation to the chair of the executive committee of the National Property Fund (FNM) that they, in conjunction with the Economy Ministry, should draw up a project on privatisation," said Mikloš.
Parliamentary committee suspends disciplinary action against Finance Minister Mikloš
Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš from the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union party (SDKÚ) will not lose a year's pay – a sanction he was facing for having allegedly promoted a travel agency. The parliamentary committee on Conflicts of Interest failed to arrive at a decision on February 9 and the disciplinary action against Mikloš was suspended, the TASR newswire reported. Coalition and opposition lawmakers on the committee were unable to jointly rule as to whether Mikloš, as a government official, broke the law when in November two photographs of him appeared in an advertisement for Bubo, a Bratislava-based travel agency. The advertising material featured a caption in which Mikloš is quoted as recommending the agency. Mikloš claims he received no remuneration for this.
ÚRSO states that PM Radičová might have gotten poor information on energy prices
When advised and briefed on energy price-setting, Prime Minister Iveta Radičová might have been misled, the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO) stated, as reported by the TASR newswire. "She may have not been provided with relevant background materials on ... electricity prices in Slovakia. In reality, both network fees and supply prices which are subject to the office’s regulation have decreased recently," said ÚRSO spokesman Miroslav Lupták on February 9 in response to Radičová's statements from February 7 when she had criticised a recent ÚRSO decision on electricity prices.
Slovak aviation sector to receive free emissions quotas
Slovakia’s aviation sector will become part of the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) as of March, according to an amendment to the Emission Quotas Trading Act approved in parliament on February 9, the TASR newswire reported.
Slovakia’s Constitutional Court returns judge-recall case to Supreme Court
The Slovak Supreme Court will have to deal again with a decision by former justice minister Štefan Harabin – who now serves as the Supreme Court’s president – when he recalled judge Robert Urban from the post of Žilina Regional Court chairman almost five years ago.
Finance Ministry improves its GDP growth forecasts for Slovakia
The Finance Ministry has moderately increased its prognosis for growth in the Slovak economy over the next few years, the SITA newswire reported.
MP’s proposal to change layoff terms rejected by parliament
On February 9 the Slovak Parliament did not approve a draft proposal by MP Ľudovít Kaník (Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ)) to cancel the concurrent provision of a period of notice for layoff and severance pay for employees dismissed due to organisational reasons (for instance, cost-cutting which eliminated jobs and positions).
Deputy foreign minister says Slovakia’s development aid must be used in a transparent way
Slovakia wants to continue helping poorer countries but every single euro coming from Slovak taxpayers for development aid needs to be used in a proper and transparent way, Foreign Ministry State Secretary Milan Ježovica (Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ)) said after meeting the EU Commissioner for Development Aid, Andris Piebalgs, on February 8, the TASR newswire reported.
Industrial output index up nearly 20 percent y-o-y in December
Slovakia's industrial output continued to rise in December, with the index of industrial production going up by 19.7 percent year-on-year, the Slovak Statistics Office announced on Tuesday, February 8.
SNS preparing charter of Slovak rights
The opposition Slovak National Party (SNS) is preparing a charter of the rights of the Slovak nation, a document that the party expects to be signed by various Slovak personalities, SNS vice-chair Rafael Rafaj announced on Tuesday, February 8.
US special forces and Slovak 5th Regiment to cooperate in Afghanistan
Major-General Michael Repass of the US Special Operations Command Europe paid a visit to Slovakia this week to observe drills by Slovakia's Žilina 5th Special Regiment, which is set to be deployed to Afghanistan.
Krajcer backs Zemková as 'best candidate' for RTVS top job
Culture Minister Daniel Krajcer on Tuesday, February 8, said that the current, interim head of Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS), Miloslava Zemková, is his favourite among the 18 candidates competing to become RTVS' permanent head.
Union to halt buses in Žilina today in Labour Code protest
The KOVO trade union announced on Tuesday, February 8, that the local public transport service in Žilina will be suspended between 14:30 and 15:00 today, Wednesday, February 9, for a KOVO-led protest against planned changes to the Labour Code, KOVO head Emil Machyňa said, as reported by the TASR newswire.
Justice Ministry announces proposed changes in law on prosecutors
Limiting the tenure of the general prosecutor to only one term, abolishing the Military Prosecutor's Office and introducing the obligation to publish all prosecutors' decisions to halt criminal prosecutions are three of the changes set to be introduced by an amendment to the Act on Prosecuting Authorities drafted by Slovakia’s justice ministry, the TASR newswire reported. These proposals were announced by Premier Iveta Radičová and Justice Minister Lucia Žitňanská at a press conference on February 7. The amendment was submitted for comments from other ministries and other parties on February 4. Radičová said that the proposal is based on experience of how prosecutors' offices work not only from the viewpoint of politicians but mainly from that of the general public. Source: TASR
Ruling coalition will not seek Fico's ouster as Deputy Speaker of Parliament
The ruling coalition will not seek Robert Fico’s ouster as a Deputy Speaker of Parliament, leaders of the governing parties announced after the February 7 meeting of their Coalition Council, the TASR newswire reported. The idea to propose Fico's dismissal was brought forward by Richard Sulík, Speaker of Parliament and head of the Freedom and Solidarity party. He claimed that the move was aimed at making Fico “face the music” over losses to the state worth millions of euros that Fico had caused with a law banning private health insurance companies from paying dividends to shareholders. Slovakia’s Constitutional Court ruled on January 26 that this legislation was in violation of the constitution. Sulík's idea failed to garner support among fellow coalition partners. "We'll strive to reduce the damage that's been caused by the laws deemed as anti-constitutional. The laws fall within responsibilities of all MPs who voted for them," said Prime Minister Iveta Radičová to TASR. However, she noted that it is up to each politician to decide on how to deal with the issue.
Coalition undecided on fate of Slovakia’s state-owned central heating firms
Privatisation of Slovakia’s central heating companies remained an open issue after a meeting of the four-party Coalition Council on February 7, with Prime Minister Iveta Radičová stating after the session that the sale of the firms will be evaluated individually but that some of them might be privatised, the SITA newswire reported. The prime minister indicated that the privatisation could be advantageous for some of the heating companies if an appropriate strategic investor can be found, adding that their economic performance under state control has been problematic, SITA wrote. Slovakia’s National Property Fund, which is the owner of the facilities, is also expected to table alternative solutions including privatisation projects in which local governments and municipalities could participate.
Sulík says payment he received from past employer was proper
Speaker of Parliament Richard Sulík of the Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS) said that the payment of Sk500,000 (€16,597) that he received in 2006 at the end of his tenure as the director of OLO, a waste disposal company owned by the city of Bratislava, was proper, the TASR newswire reported. Sulík was reacting to critical statements made earlier on February 7 by Smer chairman Robert Fico. "That was part of a nine-month-old outstanding claim that I made them pay me at my leaving the company. It equalled five of my salaries, I was earning Sk100,000 (€3,319) a month at OLO," Sulík told TASR. He stated the sum represented a total of Sk500,000 ((€16,597) for two years of work and not €90,000 for 40 days, as was the case with the former heads of the Košice-based TEKO heating plant that has caused an uproar among the public and politicians. Sulík rejected Fico's charges of him having family relations with Ivan Zich, who was nominated to head the Košice heating plant by SaS.
Danube Wings announces summer routes to Croatia
The Slovak air carrier Danube Wings served 86,894 passengers last year, an increase of 11.7 percent from a year earlier when carrier transported 77,800 passengers, the SITA newswire reported. The air carrier also announced it will operate regular flights to Croatian destinations along the Adriatic Sea this summer. The routes from Bratislava to Zadar and Split in Croatia will open on June 18 and the connection between Bratislava, Košice and Rijeka in Croatia will begin on June 23, the company's media representative, Ľudovít Tóth, told SITA.
Coalition Council discusses potential sale of central heating companies
The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) is not very enthusiastic about the proposed privatisation of heating companies, its party caucus chairman Pavol Hrušovský said on February 7 prior to a meeting of the four-party Coalition Council that was scheduled to discuss the issue later that evening, the SITA newswire reported.
Draft law will permit Trnka to run for re-election as General Prosecutor
Former general prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka, whose term in office expired on February 2, will be able to run for re-election, the SITA newswire reported, based on a draft amendment to the law on the prosecutor’s office that Prime Minister Iveta Radičová and Justice Minister Lucia Žitňanská presented at a news conference on February 7.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Legendary captain Zdeno Chára inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame Video
- 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
- Liberal MP's boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- 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
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- 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
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- 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
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Legendary captain Zdeno Chára inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame Video
- Liberal MP's boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- 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 More articles ›
