Archive of articles - February 2013, page 10
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January 2013: year-on-year inflation hit 2.4 percent
The Slovak Statistics Office (ŠÚ) wrote on Wednesday, February 13, that in January 2013, the year-on-year inflation reached 2.4 percent in total, core inflation 2.8 percent and net inflation 2 percent.
Police launched prosecution over blog about president
Police initiated a prosecution in connection with the blog called Vrahovia medzi nami (Murderers Among Us) which opened a debate over president Ivan Gašparovič’s whereabouts at the time of a hunting trip during which forester Michal Bobák was fatally shot by accident, the private TV channel Markíza informed.
Political parties reject proposal to change financing of political parties
The current system for public financing of political parties will not change after separate proposals by Igor Matovič, leader of the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) party, and Daniel Lipšic, an independent MP who leads the new NOVA party, both failed to receive sufficient support among MPs, the TASR newswire reported on February 12.
MPs will discuss changes to public procurement using fast-tracked proceeding
Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paška used recently-acquired new powers for the first time on February 12 to include a discussion over the changes to the law on public procurement into the programme of the ongoing parliamentary session. He did so after the government asked MPs to pass the amendment using a fast-tracked proceeding, the TASR newswire reported.
Both candidates for ÚPN post are very good, says KDH MP
Parliament will attempt, for the third time, to elect a new head for the Nation’s Memory Institute (ÚPN) at its February 13 parliamentary session. Both candidates – Ondrej Krajňák, proposed by the ruling Smer party, and Marián Gula, nominated by the People’s Platform grouping of three opposition parties – appeared before the parliamentary committee for human rights, the SITA newswire reported.
Municipalities consider laying off hundreds of school staff to pay for salary hikes
The planned increase in the salaries of teachers and changes to the financing of schools may result in mass dismissals of school employees. Representatives of towns and villages plan to meet with Education Minister Dušan Čaplovič to discuss the issue on February 13, the TASR newswire reported.
Interior Minister confirmed fine for Penta
According to information acquired by the Sme daily, Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák on Monday, February 11, confirmed the fine at €55,000 for Privatbanka, owned by the Penta financial group.
Activists protest possible uranium mining in Jahodná
Around 50 people gathered in front of Košice’s city hall on Monday, to voice their opposition to potential uranium mining in Jahodná, where extensive deposits have recently been discovered. Organiser of the protest Ladislav Rovinský handed leaflets to councillors that state that information about ongoing preparations for mining has emerged, even though the council has ruled against mining activities.
Slovak detained in Iran talks about his detainment
Slovak Matej Valuch (aged 26), who recently returned from Iran after being detained by authorities there, says he had been in custody since August 23, although his parents, as well as Slovak diplomats, learned about it only in January. He continued to tell the Sme daily that he spent the first 40 days in seclusion, which was the most difficult phase for him, but denies that he was tortured or abused by the Iranians.
SEPA initiative to simplify payments within Europe
Consumers and companies in 32 European countries united in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) initiative will be able to make financial transfers to foreign countries under the same conditions as at home as of February 1, 2014, spokesperson of the European Commission Delegation in Slovakia Andrej Králik told journalists at a press conference on Monday, February 11.
Government: Parts of Public Procurements Act to be debated immediately
Certain sections of the Public Procurements Act should be debated in parliament via fast-tracked legislative proceedings, possibly during the current parliamentary session, according to a proposal approved by the government at its special session on Monday, February 11. It remains unclear which exact parts of the law are in question, as the document itself has not been revealed.
Slovak bishops surprised by Pope's resignation, but respect it
While the Slovak Bishops’ Conference (KBS) was surprised by Pope Benedict XVI's announcement that he is resigning, the organisation fully respects the Pope's decision, the TASR newswire was told by KBS spokesman Jozef Kováčik on Monday, February 11.
Committee disagrees over impeachment process against president
The parliamentary constitutional committee at a session on Monday, February 11, did not approve a resolution that would recommend the house to launch an impeachment process against President Ivan Gašparovič for his refusal to appoint Jozef Čentéš as general prosecutor.
Finance Ministry: State revenues will decrease by €361 million
Though the Finance Ministry predicts that this year’s state revenues will be lower by €361 million compared to the approved state budget plan, Finance Minister Peter Kažimír still intends to bring the deficit down below 3 percent of GDP, the TASR newswire reported on February 8.
Smer nominates Ondrej Krajňák to ÚPN board
The ruling Smer party nominated Ondrej Krajňák as a candidate to the chair of the top post of the Nation’s Memory Institute (ÚPN), which among other things administers the files of the communist-era ŠtB secret police. Krajňák currently works for the ÚPN’s Oral History department, the SITA newswire reported on February 8.
Slovak foreign trade reports surplus at €316 million
Slovak foreign trade reported a surplus at €315.7 million in November 2012. Therefore the Statistics Office surplus increased its original predictions by €21.5 million, the SITA newswire reported on February 8.
Slovak universities dropped from the elite
Slovak universities have not been successful in their attempts to make it to the world university elite. The two best universities in the country, Comenius University and the Slovak Technical University, both in Bratislava, placed among the first top thousand according to Webometrics this year, while last year they belonged among the top 500, the Hospodárske Noviny daily reported on February 11.
Fico praises deal over EU budget
The negotiations of leaders of the European Union’s member states on the draft budget for 2014-2020 were difficult, but very successful for Slovakia, said Prime Minister Robert Fico after the discussion.
Citizenship complaint reaches EP
THE EUROPEAN Parliament has on its table a petition by Hungarian citizens concerning what they deem a violation of their civil rights by the Slovak Republic. They are demanding an investigation into the matter by the relevant EU institutions, the SITA newswire wrote on February 4.
Insurer acts to block plan
ACHMEA, the Dutch owner of Union, a health insurance firm operating in Slovakia, is taking the government of Robert Fico’s plans to reintroduce a unitary health insurance system quite seriously. So much so that it served notice of arbitration to the Slovak government on February 6 over what it views as the threat of expropriation of private health insurers. Achmea has already won a long-running court case over controversial legislation that prevented privately-owned public health insurers from retaining profits or distributing them to shareholders. Around the same time, the Slovak Health Ministry said that the project of switching the country to a unitary health insurance system is advancing so far without any problems.
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