Archive of articles - page 3 - The Slovak Spectator

Most-Híd: OKS will not be on our slate in March

Candidates from the Civic Conservative Party (OKS) will not appear on Most-Híd's slate in the general election scheduled for March 10, Most-Híd spokesperson Nora Czuczorová told the TASR newswire on Thursday, October 27. Four OKS MPs were elected to parliament on the Most-Híd slate at the 2010 general election. The Most-Híd statement came following talks between Most-Hid chairman Béla Bugár and OKS leader Peter Zajac on possible co-operation.

Slovakia takes part in NATO exercise

Slovakia's armed forces were put through their paces when they participated in the annual NATO international crisis management exercise (CMX) from October 19 to 26, the army reported on its website on Thursday, October 27. The exercise, which took place in northern Europe, was based on a fictitious scenario that involved NATO's collective defences being invoked by an attack on one of the allied countries.

Dzurinda: Tunisian election a great victory for democracy

Slovakia stands ready to support the process of democratisation in Tunisia and plans to actively contribute to its realisation as an EU member and also via the mutual Slovak-Dutch Task Force, the TASR newswire reported on Wednesday, October 26, citing the Foreign Ministry press department.

Health Minister seeks cabinet approval for hospitals’ transformation

The Slovak cabinet will have to decide whether to change the legal form of state-run hospitals to joint-stock companies. On Wednesday, October 26, Health Minister Ivan Uhliarik (Christian Democratic Movement (KDH)) said that he would ask his colleagues for a clear position on whether his ministry should or should not continue the reforms after Prime Minister Iveta Radičová's government lost the confidence of parliament earlier this month.

Labaš answers question over Malinová case

Roman Kvasnica, the lawyer of Hedviga Malinová-Žáková, says his client’s case is finally progressing, the Sme daily wrote on Thursday, October 27. However, he rejected a claim made by general prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka earlier this month that the controversial case was nearing conclusion.

Prime minister’s former adviser released

The Slovak Supreme Court has ordered the release of a former aide of Prime Minister Iveta Radičová, Martin Novotný, who has been accused in a corruption case surrounding construction of a sports facility in Osrblie. The Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok refused to release him two weeks ago over concerns that Novotný might contact businessman Pavol Prečuch with a view to thwarting the investigation.

Construction of another D1 highway stretch begins next week

Construction of another D1 highway stretch begins next weekThe construction of the D1 motorway stretch between Dubná Skala and Turany in Žilina Region is set to begin next week after the building site was officially handed over by the National Highway Company (NDS) to the Váhostav construction company, said the firm’s representative, Ján Kato, at a press conference on October 26, as reported by the TASR newswire. The NDS signed the contract with the construction company on October 26 authorising it to construct the section. Váhostav's bid of €137.7 million was the lowest in the tender and will cost €205 million less than the same construction would have cost if it had been carried out via a PPP (public private partnership).

TASR reports that OKS and KDS will likely run on Ordinary People’s slate

The Civic Conservative Party (OKS) and Conservative Democrats of Slovakia (KDS) will most likely attempt to reach parliament on the slate of Igor Matovič's Ordinary People (OL) which will petition for registration as a political party at the Interior Ministry within a few days, the TASR newswire reported.

Clock moves back one hour at 3:00 on Sunday, October 30

On Sunday, October 30 Slovakia will switch from Central European Summer Time (CEST) to Central European Time (CET), the TASR newswire wrote.

Radičová attends historic eurozone summit in Brussels

Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová attended a crucial eurozone summit in Brussels on October 26/27. It was held to find solutions to the continent’s sovereign debt crisis, which threatens the banking system and the euro’s future existence. The prime minister received a mandate to participate in the negotiations from the Slovak Parliament's European Affairs Committee, the SITA newswire wrote.

Survey finds 59 percent of Slovaks actively use the internet

A total of 59.2 percent of Slovaks actively use the internet, meaning at least once a month, according to a survey conducted by the TNS Slovakia agency in May. Only 2.3 percent use the internet less frequently with 38.5 percent saying they no experience with the internet, the TASR newswire reported. Most internet users are 39 or under with higher university education and are from Bratislava Region, TASR wrote about the survey results. It is mostly older people (over 50) and less educated people who do not use the internet at all.

VW Slovakia launches construction of metal pressing shop worth €90m

Bratislava-based plant Volkswagen Slovakia commenced construction of a press shop on Wednesday, October 25. The €90-million investment will create 100 jobs. "The press shop is an important milestone on our path to growth. Production will intensify and it will also have a positive impact on the circulation time for materials and logistics processes," company chairman Andreas Tostmann told the SITA newswire.

Slovak Police thwart cocaine deal in Košice

Police officers from the Office for the Fight Against Organised Crime (ÚBOK) and their colleagues in Košice say they have succeeded in detaining an important local cocaine dealer and his accomplice. They say the pair were in the process of selling 180 grams of cocaine but when caught red-handed in a parking lot in front of a hotel in Košice.

Current account deficit was close to €34 million in August

The current account of Slovakia's balance of payments showed a deficit of €33.8 million in August 2011, according to flash estimates published by the National Bank of Slovakia. The figure marked a significant change from July's deficit of over €220 million. A year ago, the deficit exceeded €530 million.

Prices for new flats in Bratislava fall markedly

The cost of a newly-built apartment in Bratislava has dropped by 14-15 percent year-on-year, Michal Zajíček from the Lexxus real estate agency told a press conference on Tuesday, October 25.

Neither Mikloš nor Žitňanská will run to become SDKÚ's election leader

Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) deputy chairpersons Ivan Mikloš and Lucia Žitňanská are not planning to run for the post of party election leader prior to Slovakia's March 10 general election, the two ministers announced at a news conference on Tuesday, October 25.

Váhostav to sign new contract

Construction company Váhostav is close to signing another big contract after emerging the winner in a public procurement competition announced by the Transport Ministry. The company offered €137.7 million to build a 16-kilometre section of the cross-country D1 highway between Dubná Skala and Turany, the Sme daily reported.

European leaders still to agree on eurozone plan

European leaders have yet to agree on a broad plan to help Greece, support European banks and bolster the euro. Originally they were supposed to announce a comprehensive solution to the debt crisis during the session being held later today, Wednesday, October 26, in Brussels, the TASR newswire reported.

Analysts predict 1.9-percent growth

Bank analysts expect that Slovakia’s economy will grow by only 1.9 percent in 2012. The forecast represents a 0.8-percentage point fall on the prediction made by seven Slovakia-based banks only a month ago, the TASR newswire reported on Tuesday, October 25.

Defence minister: Slovak jet fighters did not endanger passenger airliner

Defence Minister Ľubomír Galko rejected claims that two Slovak Armed Forces MiG-29 jet fighters which approached a Qatar Airways Boeing 747 over the weekend came too close or endangered the lives of those on board the civilian airliner. The source of the reports, published widely in the Slovak media on Tuesday, October 25, was not revealed, the TASR newswire reported.

Archive of articles - October 2011, page 3