Archive of articles - December 2011
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Police to reopen Gorilla
THE POLICE will reopen their examination of information contained in an extensive document that describes alleged operations conducted by the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) under the codename Gorilla, with the aim of collecting information on what the document indicates to be the influence of the financial group Penta on Slovakia’s politics between 2005 and 2006. Though Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic refused to comment on the content of the files, which were published on the internet by an anonymous source, he confirmed for the daily Sme on December 27 that the police will be examining the information. He stated that the documents include several claims that could be “quite easily confirmed or denied”.
Partying the old year out in Bratislava
In recent years, the Slovak capital has become a popular city for fun-seekers and party-loving tourists. One of the occasions that merits an even bigger party than usual is New Year’s Eve, or Silvester as it is known in Slovak (so called due to the name celebrated on the very last day of the year). Although the economic crisis has somewhat dampened celebrations throughout the city, there undoubtedly remain numerous ways of spending the last few hours of 2011.
Poll: Number of Slovaks believing the country is on right track drops
Only 21 percent of respondents think that Slovakia is on the right track, with 74 percent unhappy with the way the country is heading, reads a recent poll by the Institute of Public Affairs (IVO) carried out between November 29-December 12 on a sample of 1,048 respondents. In November 2010, 40 percent were content with the way Slovakia was going, with 47 percent expressing criticism, the TASR newswire reported.
Tourists from Russia and Ukraine spending winter holidays in Tatras
Some 10,000 people from Russia and the Ukraine are estimated to have chosen Slovakia as their holiday destination this winter, with the majority of them opting for a skiing holiday in the Low Tatras region.
‘Minerva strategy’ seeks to move Slovakia to the first league
A LOW-WAGE labour force and investment incentives from the government cannot guarantee economic growth into the future, according to the government of Prime Minister Iveta Radičová, which said that only by generating innovative ideas within Slovakia can the country propel the economy forward and deliver sustainable growth and prosperity. Since this will not happen without a functional, knowledge-based economy the government elaborated a strategy called Minerva 2.0 that it says will do just that – build an economy based on locally-grown ideas and innovations that will create stable, quality workplaces and generate economic growth in coming years.
Average state pensions in Slovakia at €362 per Month in November
The average level of old-age pensions in Slovakia reached €362 per month in November, which represents a month-on-month increase of 22 euro cents, state social security provider Sociálna Poisťovňa states on its website. The number of people receiving old-age pensions was 955,485 in November. The level of the allowance for those taking early retirement reached €357. Sociálna Poisťovňa pays out pensions to more than 1.29 million people in Slovakia. Their number grew by 4,056 month-on-month in November. One pensioner may receive more than one allowance at the same time. The total number of allowances paid out by Sociálna Poisťovňa reached 1.6 million, the TASR newswire reported.
One in three unemployed Slovaks unable to find job for 24 months
One in three unemployed Slovaks has been looking for a job for more than two years, according to data presented by the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre (ÚPSVaR). The number of long-term unemployed Slovaks is over 121,600, with the highest figure (30,000) in Prešov region. Košice and Banská Bystrica region also reported high figures (almost 28,000 each), the TASR newswire reported.
Construction companies expecting drop in sales of 3.7 percent in 2012
Managers of Slovak construction companies are expecting a cut in sales next year, according to the quarterly analysis of the Slovak construction sector carried out by CEEC Research in November. According to the report, sales should go down by 3.7 percent year-on-year, the TASR newswire reported.
Eurobarometer: Only 11 percent of Slovaks consider current economy good
Only 11 percent of Slovaks think that the country's current economic situation is good, according to a public opinion survey published by Eurobarometer on December 22. The figures vary greatly across Europe, with up to 75 percent of citizens of Sweden, Luxembourg and Germany being generally happy with the economy unlike only 5 percent of people in Greece, Ireland and Spain, TASR reported.
Health minister planning to attract 300 Ukrainian doctors
Health Minister Ivan Uhliarik is planning to attract 300 Ukrainian doctors to work in Slovakia. The doctors concerned are mainly surgeons, traumatologists, anaesthetists and gynecologists, whose skills were most sorely missed at Slovak hospitals in late November and early December when more than 2,000 doctors submitted resignations en masse in an attempt to force the ministry to increase their salaries and comply with their demands, the Hospodárske Noviny daily reported on December 23. "[The Ukrainians] are university-educated doctors who will be able to bolster their qualifications via further education and practice in Slovak hospitals," said Health Ministry spokeswoman Katarína Zollerová as quoted by the daily.
Volkswagen extends non-stop production of SUVs until mid 2012
Carmaker Volkswagen Slovakia will extend non-stop production of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) until June 30, 2012 in response to continued high global demand for the SUVs produced at the Bratislava plant, the plant's spokesman Vladimír Machalík told TASR newswire on December 22.
Daniel Lipšic: Cooperation with Prosecutor General's Office is far from good
Unlike with the Special Prosecutor's Office (USP), the Police Corps' co-operation with the Prosecutor General's Office is far from excellent, said Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic, a nominee of the Christian Democratic Party (KDH) at a press conference on December 23.
Žitňanská files motions against two judges for delays in proceedings
Justice Minister Lucia Žitňanská has filed proposals for disciplinary action against two judges suspected of delaying court proceedings, ministry spokesman Peter Bubla told the TASR newswire on Tuesday, December 20.
MPs return to work unexpectedly after President Gašparovič vetoes two laws
Contrary to their original plans, MPs will hold another session prior to Christmas after President Ivan Gašparovič vetoed two laws recently passed by parliament, the TASR newswire reported on Tuesday, December 20.
Kaliňák alleges attempt to delete VOS wiretapping data
There was an attempt to delete all data from the Military Defence Intelligence (VOS) wiretapping system in October, opposition Smer MP and parliamentary defence committee member Robert Kaliňák said on Tuesday, December 20, as reported by the TASR newswire. Wiretapping of journalists by the VOS was the subject of a scandal late last month which cost the defence minister his job.
Jobless rate rose slightly to 13.33 percent in November
The number of Slovaks out of work rose slightly to reach 13.33 percent in November, an increase of 0.04 percentage points on the month, the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Office (ÚPSVaR) announced on Tuesday, December 20.
Merry Christmas / Veselé Vianoce
This is the last Flash News posting before Christmas. The Slovak Spectator would like to wish all its readers a happy Christmas, and a healthy, prosperous and safe New Year.
Roma Initiative party will not field candidates in the March election
The Roma Initiative of Slovakia (RIS), a political party, will not take part in the general election on March 10, the RIS Republican Council decided on December 19, the TASR newswire reported. "RIS is deeply disappointed at seeing certain Roma running on the slates of non-Roma political parties, seeking only personal gain and dreaming of big money," RIS chairman Václav Kappel told TASR, adding that RIS will support a party in the election that will defend the interests of the public in the spheres of employment and social policy.
Slovakia declares December 23 as official day of mourning for Václav Havel
Slovakia will hold a day of state mourning on Friday, December 23, between 8:00 and 18:00 in honour of Václav Havel, Czechoslovakia's last head of state, based on a decision taken by the Slovak government on December 19. TASR wrote that this will be the seventh day of state mourning declared in Slovakia since its independence. Havel became a symbol of the Velvet Revolution and the fundamental political changes in Czechoslovakia that brought the downfall of communism in 1989. He went on to become the Czechoslovak head of state (1989-92) and Czech president (1993-2003). Czech media reported that Havel, exhausted from working on his recent film debut as a director and from a respiratory illness, began cancelling his engagements and appeared frail at the premiere of the film, entitled 'Departure'. He died at the age of 75 at his cottage in Hrádeček pri Trutnove on Sunday morning, December 18.
Finance Ministry states Slovakia will meet its 4.9-percent deficit target for 2011
Slovakia’s Finance Ministry stated in its report on the National Reforms’ Programme for 2011-14 that the country will meet the deficit target for 2011 – a 3.2 percent reduction in the deficit to 4.9 percent of GDP, the TASR newswire reported. The report was submitted to the Slovak cabinet on December 19. The ministry wrote that it will be of vital importance to continue budgetary consolidation in upcoming years and push the deficit under 3 percent in 2013.
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- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
