Archive of articles - March 2012, page 5
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Finance Ministry unit predicts GDP growth of 2.3 percent
The Financial Policy Institute (IFP) of the Finance Ministry has re-evaluated the possible growth of Slovakia's GDP for 2012 and wrote that GDP is expected to increase between 1.9 and 2.6 percent, the TASR newswire reported. "It is 2.3-percent growth that seems most likely at the moment," the institute reported on March 21, adding that even after taking the lower revenues from excise taxes into account, the more dynamic economic growth could bring in €53 million more in comparison with the original estimates. IFP chose to draft a new prognosis due to more positive results of Slovakia's economy recorded in 4Q11 as well as better prospects for the eurozone economy in the first half of 2012.
VW Slovakia launches production of five-door Up! model
Volkswagen Slovakia's plant in Bratislava launched production of the five-door version of the Volkswagen Up! on March 21 and this particular vehicle will represent around 50 percent of the overall Up! production at the factory, VW Slovakia spokesman Vladimir Machalík told the TASR newswire. The five-door Up! will be available on the German market as of May but customers can pre-order it in March. It will reach other European markets in early summer. The city car will have its Slovak premiere at the Bratislava Autosalon in April.
MPs might donate a month’s salary to restore Krásna Hôrka Castle
Representatives of all parties that are in the new parliament are ready to consider an idea brought forth by President Ivan Gašparovič who called on legislators on March 21 to donate their first monthly salary as MPs towards restoration of the fire-ravaged Krásna Hôrka Castle near Rožňava in Košice region, the TASR newswire reported. "Far be it from me to issue messages that may sound populist or 'popular', but we all feel the responsibility for this exceptional national cultural monument that has fallen victim to irresponsible behaviour [the fire was started by youths lighting cigarettes]. I'm not ruling out any kind of active involvement in minimising the damage," said Pavol Hrušovský of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) parliamentary caucus.
99 Percent seeks to get election declared unconstitutional
The 99 Percent – Civic Voice party submitted a complaint to the Constitutional Court on Wednesday, March 21, stating that the recent general election was unconstitutional, the TASR newswire reported, citing one of the party’s leaders, Ivan Weiss. According to 99 Percent, a constitutional law whereby public officials can't use themselves, their names or photographs for advertising was violated.
NBS: Net debt in Slovak economy up €300 million in Q4 2011
Net debt in the Slovak economy rose by €300 million in the final quarter of 2011, the central bank (NBS) reported on Wednesday, March 21.
Nation's Memory Institute receives subsidy, withdraws some dismissal notices
The difficult financial situation at the Nation's Memory Institute (ÚPN), which in January announced its intention to lay off nine staff due to lack of funding, seems to have been partially resolved. The Finance Ministry has provided a subsidy of €57,000 to the institute, which in response has withdrawn three job termination notices, the institute's spokesman Ján Pálfy told the SITA newswire.
Gorilla book author appeals court's bar on publication
Investigative journalist Tom Nicholson is arguing that a court’s decision to block publication of a book he was preparing about the Gorilla file has restricted his right to work. The claim is the basis of an appeal Nicholson has launched against a preliminary injunction issued by the Bratislava I District Court based on a motion by Jaroslav Haščák, a co-owner of the Penta financial group whose name features heavily in the file.
Eximbanka to help Slovak Shipyards Komárno
State-run Eximbanka, which exists to provide support for exports and imports carried out by Slovak companies, will provide help to Slovak Shipyards Komárno, in Nitra Region, according to a government decision taken on Wednesday, March 21. Eximbanka, possibly with the help of commercial banks, is set to fund the construction of three ships this year and another three or four in 2013, the TASR newswire wrote.
Coca-Cola
ENJOYING Coca-Cola is nothing exceptional, so why are so many people discussing Robert Fico’s choice of drink on election night, even two weeks after the vote? Because of what it could be saying about the country’s future.
New government starts to take shape
LONG-TIME political allies of Robert Fico, whom he calls the pillars of Smer party, are expected to get powerful ministerial chairs in the new state administration. There is not any nail-biting involved in the nomination of the next interior minister as that portfolio will go to the deputy chairman of Smer, Robert Kaliňák, who held the post during the first Fico government between 2006 and 2010. Similarly, Marek Maďarič will return to the post of culture minister while the former state secretary (i.e. deputy minister) at the finance ministry, Peter Kažimír, will now take the minister’s seat. Dušan Čaplovič, who served as deputy prime minister for minorities, is expected to get a ministerial post and the media have speculated that he might become the country’s next minister of education.
Supreme Court confirms fine on freight railway company Cargo
The Slovak Supreme Court has confirmed the decision of the Antitrust Office to fine the freight rail company Železničná Spoločnosť Cargo Slovakia, according to a statement in the office’s website. The court's ruling ends a case that has been dragging on for almost six years, the SITA newswire wrote on Wednesday, March 21.
Protester files complaint against police over Gorilla Protest tactics
Štefan Potocký from Kalná nad Hronom (Nitra Region) has filed a criminal complaint with the Office of the General Prosecutor against the police for their intervention at the Gorilla Protest held in Bratislava on March 9, the TASR newswire reported on Tuesday, March 20.
No mention of Čentéš during president’s visit to Constitutional Court
President Ivan Gašparovič did not consider it important to discuss the issue of appointing the general prosecutor-elect, Jozef Čentéš, with Constitutional Court president Ivetta Macejková during his visit to Košice on March 20, the TASR newswire reported. Čentéš was selected by MPs on June 17, 2011, in a ballot whose constitutionality was confirmed by the Constitutional Court in October. Gašparovič, however, has repeatedly refused to appoint him.
Kia Slovakia reports profit of €68.6 million for 2011
A record-breaking 252,000 cars rolled off the production lines at the Kia Motors Slovakia plant in Teplička nad Váhom near Žilina last year. The plant also made 359,000 engines in 2011. The company reported a pre-tax profit of €68.6 million, with sales going up 15 percent and production 10 percent in year-on-year terms.
Slovakia to close its embassy in Syria
The Slovak Embassy in Damascus will be closed temporarily from March 29th, Slovak Foreign Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda announced, citing the worsening security situation in Syria. After this date, consular services for Slovak citizens in Syria will be provided on a limited scale by the consul, who will be temporarily situated in the Lebanese capital Beirut, the TASR newswire reported on Tuesday, March 20.
OĽaNO might nominate Jurinová as deputy speaker of parliament
Representatives of the centre-right opposition will probably propose Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) MP Erika Jurinová to one of the two deputy-speaker-of-parliament posts that the opposition has been offered by the ruling Smer party, outgoing Speaker Pavol Hrušovský said, as reported by the TASR newswire.
Unemployment rate rises to 13.76 percent
The jobless rate in Slovakia grew by 0.07 percentage points month-on-month to 13.76 percent in February 2012, according to data presented by the Statistics Office. Compared to February 2011, the number of unemployed people was up by 0.60 percentage points. In total the number of people registered at labour offices rose to 411,801, the SITA newswire reported.
Zvolenská to become health minister
Smer party leader Robert Fico has named another candidate for his new government. Zuzana Zvolenská, a former manager of private health insurer Dôvera as well as its state-run counterpart Všeobecná Zdravotná Poisťovňa, should become health minister, the Sme daily reported.
Fire damage at Krásna Hôrka Castle estimated at €8 million
A preliminary estimate of the damage caused by the March 10 fire at Krásna Hôrka Castle, in Košice Region, suggests it will cost approximately €8 million to repair, Jozef Tanzer from Generali Slovensko, the main insurer of the castle, told the TASR newswire.
Bratislava police investigate three alleged cases of child abduction
Police in Bratislava are investigating three reported attempts to abduct children. The cases were reported in three different districts in the capital, the Sme.sk website reported.
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