Archive of articles - October 2011
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Ordinary People group files for registration as a political party
The Ordinary People group led by MP Igor Matovič filed for registration as a political party on October 28 using the name ‘Ordinary People and Independent Personalities’ or only Ordinary People in short, the TASR newswire reported. "We submitted more than 13,000 signatures to the Interior Ministry today [October 28]. We view this as a first step towards enabling the emergence of a slate of independent candidates and allowing people who will bring expertise rather than political jerseys to get into Parliament. We've taken the first step in a fight against partocracy in Slovakia," said one of the group's four MPs, Jozef Viskupič.
Controversy escalates over sale of platinum filters from state reserves
Slovakia’s State Material Reserves’ Administration (SŠHR) sold 63,000 grams of platinum filters with a rhodium admixture for €667,000 in an electronic auction when the market price of this amount of platinum with rhodium might have been €2,425,000, the TASR newswire reported on October 16.
Radičová formally announces that she will not be a candidate for SDKÚ
Prime Minister Iveta Radičová officially announced that she will not be a candidate for the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union party (SDKÚ) before a session of the party's central bodies on October 30, the TASR newswire reported. "I won't be your companion ... as a member of this team anymore," said Radičová, as quoted by TASR newswire, adding that she made the decision after "considering the external circumstances" as well as the internal situation in the party.
Interior Minister Lipšic says PPP highway project analysis was falsified
Slovakia’s Office for the Fight against Corruption has pressed charges against a person identified only as P.H. for manipulating an analysis of the viability of using PPP projects for the construction of the D1 motorway between Martin in Žilina region and Prešov, Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic announced at a press conference on October 28, the TASR newswire reported. The analysis was allegedly falsified in March 2010 when the ministry was headed by Smer party’s Ľubomír Vážny. The ministry at that time commissioned Wood & Company to draw up an analysis comparing financing of the motorway construction from public sources with that of PPP projects. The analysis claimed that the PPP project would be €546 million more expensive.
‘Green’ is more than a colour when talking about buildings
SUSTAINABLE architecture and ‘green buildings’ have become an important component of architects’ and builders’ thinking in many highly-developed parts of the world. While Slovakia lags somewhat behind in this trend, the first shoots of spring growth have been spotted here. Those experts who hope to see the concept take further root expect that recent positive examples that demonstrate that it is worthwhile to be eco-friendly can convince more Slovak builders, architects and developers to give it a try.
Film festival turns 13
THE INTERNATIONAL Film Festival Bratislava turns 13 this autumn. As it becomes a teenager it is also moving, after eight years on the right bank of the Danube, to Cinema City in the Eurovea complex on the left bank. Three screens at Cinema City will be devoted to festival films, but these will also be shown at other venues around the city.
Health minister will tour hospitals
HOSPITALS might be forced to postpone planned surgeries, merge wards and even layoff nurses if the doctors who are protesting against the Health Ministry’s plan to transform their hospitals into joint-stock companies do not withdraw their notices terminating their employment contracts. Slovakia’s health minister also announced that he is planning to tour the country to persuade doctors not to resign.
A dancer’s body is their laboratory
THE 15TH YEAR of the Bratislava v pohybe (Bratislava in Movement) festival of modern dance was marked by the themes of individuality, solitude, uprooting and human communication, or the lack thereof. From the very first performance, which in fact consisted of two pieces, Krv a Kráľ (Blood and King), and Mono, by Debris company – to the last show, Cesta domov (Journey Home) by Les SlovaKs, a Slovak–Belgian ensemble, these aspects were at the core of the artistic interpretation by individual companies and artists at the festival.
Slovak fighters intercept airliner
DEFENCE Minister Ľubomír Galko rejected claims that two Slovak Armed Forces MiG-29 jet fighters which approached a Qatar Airways Boeing 747 on Saturday, October 22, came too close or endangered the lives of those on board the civilian airliner. The jumbo jet later turned out to be transporting US armed forces personnel. The source of the reports, published widely in the Slovak media on Tuesday, October 25, was not revealed, the TASR newswire reported.
Giving voice to Slovak youth
TOUGH negotiations, assembly meetings, visiting delegations, committee decisions: every year the exciting world of the United Nations opens to one carefully-selected young Slovak who travels to New York to represent Slovak young people at the ‘world’s government’.
1944 battle re-enacted
A RE-ENACTMENT of a historic World War II battle for control of Ostrô hill, above the road between Ružomberok and Banská Bystrica, attracted more than 2,000 people on September 10. During the World War II Ostrô hill was an important symbol of the 1944 Slovak National Uprising. Twice German soldiers captured the hill and twice the resistance army won it back. If the Nazis and their collaborators had held the site they would have been able to drive their tanks over the mountains towards Banská Bystrica and into the heart of the national uprising.
RTVS concession fees to be scrapped in 2013
THE MONTHLY fee of just under €5 that nearly every Slovak household and business pays to support Slovakia’s public-service TV and radio stations is set to be abolished in one year’s time. At the same time, other major changes in the structure and financing of the heavily indebted public-service media are continuing apace.
Oldest philosophy faculty celebrates
UP TO 4,000 students attending 60 study programmes in 31 departments – this is the current image of the Faculty of Philosophy at Comenius University, which is celebrating its 90th birthday. During its long history, the faculty has become alma mater to nearly 31,000 graduates who have since gone on to work in various fields of Slovak society.
Constitutional Court rules on Tipos
TIPOS, the state-owned lottery company, will not have to pay €66 million to a Cypriot company, Lemikon. Slovakia’s Constitutional Court recently ruled that a decision handed down by the Supreme Court at the end of 2010 had violated Tipos’ rights to legal protection and a fair trial because the case was reassigned to judges other than those originally appointed. The Sme daily wrote that this ruling may lead to a disciplinary case being brought against Supreme Court president Štefan Harabin.
Former Smer MP charged by police
A FORMER MP for the Smer party, Ján Kvorka, and two other people have been charged with attempted assault and limiting personal freedom, the SITA newswire reported. Kvorka could face up to three years in prison if convicted.
Jobless rate reaches six-year high
THE NUMBER of unemployed Slovaks grew in September and the country’s unemployment rate increased to 13.37 percent from the August rate of 13.13 percent. This unemployment rate is calculated based on unemployed persons who are immediately ready to accept work. If the rate is calculated including those who are on sick leave or living abroad, the unemployment rate would be 14.64 percent, the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (ÚPSVAR) announced on October 20.
MPs amend constitution to plug gap
THE CRISIS that erupted after parliament failed to express its confidence in the government of Iveta Radičová in a vote on October 11 not only revealed deep disagreement within the governing coalition over core European issues – it also threw an unforgiving light on Slovakia’s constitution. The document was unable to provide an unambiguous answer to the question of what should follow the dismissal of a government. As a result, politicians agreed to amend Slovakia’s basic law.
Novotný released from custody
ANOTHER person accused of corruption in relation to the construction of a biathlon stadium in Osrblie, Banská Bystrica Region, has been released from custody. Martin Novotný was freed after the Supreme Court decided that he would not attempt to influence witnesses, the SITA newswire reported on October 26.
Radičová will not run for election in March
SLOVAKIA’S first woman prime minister, whose government collapsed after losing a confidence vote over Slovakia’s approval of changes to the eurozone bailout scheme, will not seek re-election in the next general election, due on March 10, 2012. But until then Iveta Radičová will remain prime minister of an interim government.
Dubious platinum sale stirs the political waters
THE RECENT sale of state-owned platinum mesh is unlikely to join the list of deals both transparent and advantageous for the state, say critics of a transaction in which the State Material Reserves’ Administration (SŠHR) sold 63,000 grammes of platina mesh in an electronic auction for almost €668,000. The market price of the same amount of platinum is estimated to be €2.425 million. The management of the state institution in charge of the country’s material reserves insists that no laws or regulations were violated during the auction.
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