Archive of articles - August 2012, page 13
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On the Waves of the Danube exhibition uncovers history of Danube shipping
The current exhibition at the Transport Museum (Múzeum dopravy) of the Slovak Technical Museum in Bratislava presents 90 years of organised Czechoslovak and Slovak shipping on the European river Danube, through documents of shipping transport, photographs, and historical artefacts. The exhibition is the first of its kind in Slovakia and will last through the end of September.
Gregorian chanting under the stars
THE SUMMER season traditionally sees several musical events move from indoor venues into the open air. Although this mostly applies to rock and folklore festivals, several classical music festival have also ventured outdoors or into new spaces. These include the Zvolen Castle Plays, which include operatic performances, and the Bratislava Organ Festival, which is hosted in the precincts of Bratislava Castle. On the weekend of July 20-22, the courtyard of Bratislava’s Clarissen Church was due to welcome the second biennial Gregorian Meditations festival.
Kapušany Castle and its surroundings get a revamp
The surroundings of Kapušany Castle – as well as the historical structure itself – are being spruced up. People registered as jobseekers with the Labour Office can now work on the castle, located close to Prešov, thanks to the Cultural Heritage Preservation project. The municipality of Kapušany received €40,000 for materials from the Slovak Culture Ministry.
Banks and corporations required to pay special levies
A SPECIAL levy for companies doing business in regulated sectors and an increase in a similar levy already imposed on banks have now become a reality in Slovakia. The Slovak Parliament adopted the relevant legislation as part of austerity measures set out by the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, who wants to see companies with high profits contribute more to state coffers. The opposition and business circles have opposed the measures, calling then unsystematic and delivering only one-off effects. The temporary measures should raise approximately €312 million in tax revenues during the rest of 2012 and in 2013. The government promises that money collected in this way will be directed into a special non-budgetary account and will be used for government projects to support economic growth and employment.
MPs fail to elect next head of NKÚ
IT TOOK a weeks-long tug-of-war for the centre-right opposition parties in parliament to agree on a joint candidate for the top post at the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ), one of the very few senior posts that Robert Fico had promised to let them fill. However, Kamil Krnáč, a former MP who was nominated by the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and was the opposition’s sole candidate, failed to receive enough votes in a secret parliamentary vote held on July 26 to be appointed head of the NKÚ. Only 53 of the 146 MPs present voted for him, and well short of the 76 votes he needed to be elected. SaS lashed out at Prime Minister Robert Fico, arguing that he had failed to keep his promise to deliver the support of his Smer party’s 83 lawmakers for Krnáč’s appointment.
The ministry will not pay for the tax system
SLOVAKIA will not pay for the development of the KONS tax processing system developed for the tax administration, according to Finance Minister Peter Kažimír, who considers it a loss of €10 million for the state, the TASR newswire reported. The launch of the new system resulted in several problems for the tax offices at the beginning of the year.
Mika is the new RTVS General Manager
SLOVAKIA’S public broadcaster Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) has a new director, Václav Mika, who previously managed a private television network and a radio station. Mika, the former director of Markiza TV and Radio Express, was elected by parliament in a secret vote on August 1 by 74 of the 95 deputies present, out of the 150-member Slovak parliament.
Report on Gorilla investigation may not be presented in parliament this month
A report on the ongoing investigation into the Gorilla file – a document purportedly written by the SIS intelligence service and pointing to corruption and cronyism in politics and business in Slovakia in 2005-6 – probably will not be presented during the current session of parliament, opposition caucus chairmen confirmed to the TASR newswire on Thursday, August 2, after meeting Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paška (Smer).
Tax losses caused by businessman Vareha allegedly amounted to €58 million
Mikuláš Vareha, a colourful businessman sometimes dubbed 'The King of Zemplín' (a region of eastern Slovakia), fraudulently caused losses for the state estimated at €58.1 million, according to the Special Department of the Prosecutor General's Office, the Sme daily wrote on Friday, August 3.
Reform will abolish specialised regional state administration offices
The Interior Ministry is proposing to abolish 42 district and regional state administration offices. The move should be included in a draft bill of measures affecting local state administration being submitted for interdepartmental review, the SITA newswire reported.
MPs commemorate Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, propose solution for Roma settlements
MPs on Thursday observed a minute of silence to commemorate Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, a move proposed by MP Peter Pollák (Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO)), the only representative of the Roma minority in parliament. Roma Holocaust Memorial Day marks the events of the night of August 2, 1944, at the Nazi Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, when approximately 2,900 Roma men, women and children were sent to their deaths. According to the TASR newswire, Pollák asked MPs to search for responsible measures that would improve the situation of the Roma minority in Slovakia.
PAS: Entrepreneurial climate worsened in second quarter, hitting record low
The entrepreneurial environment in Slovakia further deteriorated in the second quarter of 2012, with businessmen complaining in particular about planned changes to the tax and payroll deductions burden and the lack of certainty about government measures in the sphere of economic policy, the executive director of the Slovak Business Alliance (PAS) lobbying group, Róbert Kičina, said on Thursday, August 2, as reported by the TASR newswire.
Health insurer Union again declares its interest in remaining on the market
Union, one of Slovakia’s two privately-owned public health insurance companies, has again declared its interest in remaining on the Slovak market despite the government’s stated intention of imposing a state-run monopoly. Union’s general director, Roman Podolák, assured the company’s policyholders that they need not fear, as the company would take care of its clients whatever happens.
Supreme Court president accuses MP of lying
Supreme Court president Štefan Harabin has accused opposition Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) MP Miroslav Beblavý of lying by accusing him of acquiring a flat in dubious circumstances. Harabin said that Beblavý had not provided any evidence to support his claims.
Cabinet okays EU-funded initiatives to create over 14,000 jobs
A total of 14,460 new jobs are set to be created in the next few months within three EU-funded projects that are designed to boost youth employment, according to a government decision dated Wednesday, August 1.
Council for NGOs set up as new advisory body to government
Prime Minister Robert Fico's cabinet has set up a new body to advise the government: a new government council for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which is to be chaired by Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák and whose members will be nominated by the end of August.
Former Police Academy Rector Krajník expelled from police
Former rector of the Police Academy in Bratislava Václav Krajník has been expelled from the Police Corps, Interior Ministry spokesperson Lucia Garajová confirmed to the TASR newswire on Wednesday, August 1.
Government: Muňko is rightful director of Sociálna Poisťovňa
Dušan Muňko is the rightful director of state-run social-insurer Sociálna poisťovňa (SP) following a ruling made by the Constitutional Court in June, according to which Muňko's ouster by Prime Minister Iveta Radičová's government was not justified, the government declared on Wednesday, August 1.
New NKÚ head election to take place on September 18
Members of Parliament can submit candidates for the post of Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) chairman until September 7, with the parliamentary vote set to take place September 18, Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paška announced on Wednesday, August 1.
State deficit in July reached €2.239 billion
The public-finance deficit decreased slightly in July to €2.239 billion, compared to €2.326 billion recorded in June, the Finance Ministry announced on Wednesday, August 1. In the same period of last year, public finances posted a deficit of €1.675 billion.
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- 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
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey 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 ›
