Archive of articles - March 2014, page 7
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Bardejov court head is fired
JUSTICE Minister Tomáš Borec has sacked Judge Karol Krochta from the post of chair of the Bardejov District Court. Krochta lost trust after a selection procedure was won by his sister and he is suspected of assaulting someone two years ago, the Sme daily reported in its March 20 issue.
Fico does not support sanctions against Russia
PRIOR TO the summit of the European Union leaders, Prime Minister Robert Fico said that the EU should not take responsibility for the Ukrainian economy.
First Ukrainian protesters will come to Slovakia
THE FIRST group of Ukrainians who participated in the protests against former government in Kiev will arrive to a rehabilitation facility at the Zemplínska Šírava recreation resort, Košice Region. The group includes two nurses who treated injured demonstrators, the TASR newswire reported on March 20.
Debate over constitutional changes begins
SPEAKER of Parliament Pavol Paška opened debate over proposed constitutional changes, including a definition of marriage and plans to reform the judiciary, on March 20.
Unemployment down in February
THE NUMBER of the unemployed in Slovakia dropped in February in monthly as well as annual terms, as a result of lower figure of new unemployed registered by the labour offices and stable number of new-found jobs on the market. The labour offices also reported the increase in empty positions, the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (ÚPSVaR) said on March 20.
The changing face of Bratislava
When strolling through Hviezdoslavovo Námestie, it is easy to get swept up in the square’s tranquil atmosphere and lovely historical buildings. The tree-lined, cobblestoned promenade is irresistible, while the castle in the distance beckons from its majestic hilltop setting. But suddenly, the square ends and you are standing at the side of a busy freeway. To the left, a suspension bridge crossing the Danube is capped by something resembling a flying saucer from a 1950s sci-fi film. Directly below the road is a noisy, graffiti-encrusted bus depot. Looking over the traffic to the right, you start wondering how you’re supposed to reach the castle on the other side. You wouldn’t be the first to stand at this odd collision of old and new, and wonder, “What the hell happened here?”
Fico to surprisingly change own data law
Prime Minister Robert Fico is making concessions to businesses and changing the law on personal data protection, the Sme daily wrote in March 20.
Opposition proposes no-confidence vote for Justice Minister
Justice Minister Tomáš Borec will face a no-confidence vote in parliament for the second time this election term.
Opposition criticises rules for drawing the savings from pension funds
The amendment to the law on old-age pensions-saving which made it to the second reading in parliament on March 19 stipulates the rules for drawing the savings.
Scientologists deny connection with presidential candidate Kiska
Scientologists have distanced themselves from the independent presidential candidate Andrej Kiska - and the presidential campaign generally.
Poll: 66 percent say Slovakia’s EU entry right move
Slovakia joining the European Union in 2004 is supported by 66.3 percent of people ten years later. The MVK agency conducted a poll between February 26 and March 4 on a sample of 834 respondents.
Lipšic accuses Fico of abusing police for presidential campaign
Regional police directorates earlier this week sent e-mails to district directorates throughout Slovakia demanding statistics on suicides related to non-banking institutions in a quest to defame presidential candidate Andrej Kiska, leader of non-parliamentary party NOVA Daniel Lipšic said March 19. At a press conference, he also cited an e-mail sent from an unnamed regional directorate: “I was also requested that you should find out, if possible, by 15:00 [on Wednesday], the possible motives related to the bankruptcy of non-banking institutions, etc.” Lipšic said that Prime Minister Robert Fico who is facing Kiska in the presidential run-off March 29 has promised to present evidence of human tragedies related to Kiska’s business activities in the past. According to Lipšic, many people confuse hire-purchase companies Triangel and Quatro co-founded by Kiska and sold to VÚB bank in 2005 with financial companies providing easy loans to low-income groups at exorbitant interest rates. Fico, well aware of this, is attempting to misuse this confusion, said Lipšic. “This is proof that Fico is misusing his position in the presidential campaign,” Lipšic said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “It’s a proof that Fico doesn’t shy away from misusing the Police Corps for producing defaming materials against his rival in the presidential elections. I view this as unacceptable.”
Regional court reduces driving ban for Slota
The higher-instance, Regional Court in Žilina reduced the original lower-instance Čadca District Court verdict for Ján Slota. He is not allowed to drive for 12 months.
Gašparovič says Slovakia does not recognise independent Crimea
The Slovak Republic, in principle, does not recognise the unilateral and illegitimate declaration of independence of the so-called Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, nor their subsequent annexation by the Russian Federation, reads a statement by President Ivan Gašparovič.
Poll: One in five will vote in EP elections
A mere 20.2 percent of the public are resolved to go to the polls to vote for European Parliament May 24, according to MVK agency survey released March 19. Another 39.6 percent of voters are considering whether or not to vote, according to the February 26 and March 4 survey. Of those who have decided to go to the ballot-boxes, the governing Smer party is backed by 38.8 percent, followed by the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) at 12 percent and Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) at 8.5 percent. The NOVA party followed with 7.5 percent, with Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) and the ethnic-Hungarian SMK party coming next with 6.4 and 5.2 percent, respectively. Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) was supported by 5.1 percent of those asked. Most-Híd and the Slovak National Party (SNS) were supported by a total of 4.7 percent of the respondents each. “The support of a rather large group of the respondents - 25.8 percent - would be different from their current support in a general election,” MVK’s Pavel Haulík told the TASR newswire. “Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and SDKÚ posted better figures in the EP poll, while Smer and SNS came off worse.” Slovakia had the lowest voter turnouts in the two previous elections to the EP in 2004 and 2009. While five years ago, 19.64 percent of the voters came out to vote, even fewer - 16.96 percent - took part in the first ever European elections in 2004.
Scientológia
SLOVAKIA has huge unemployment and a broken judiciary, tens of thousands of its Roma live in medieval conditions and its biggest neighbour is close to war. And what’s the main topic of the presidential elections? Scientology.
Fico plays rough in campaign
PRIME MINISTER Robert Fico, who in the first round of presidential voting failed to carry anywhere near the vote count his Smer party did in the 2012 parliamentary elections, has his campaign reloaded and ready to go as he takes on philanthropist Andrej Kiska in the second round run-off scheduled for March 29. Based on recent evidence, the country looks set for confrontational days ahead.
Fico’s government subsidised firm with Scientology ties
THE ECONOMY Ministry under Smer provided funding to a company whose top representative is a Scientologist. This information surfaced in the presidential campaign after Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is running in the election as Smer’s candidate, repeatedly accused his run-off opponent, Andrej Kiska, of being a scientologist.
Smer MEP Flašíková-Beňová slammed for supporting Crimea referendum
THE RULING Smer party should not run the current MEP Monika Flašíková-Beňová on its slate for the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, SDKÚ chairman Pavol Frešo said in reaction to the MEP’s statements on the referendum in Crimea, the TASR newswire reported.
Porsche to move Cayenne SUV production to Slovakia
FOR THE first time, Porsche will produce one of its vehicles completely outside Germany, the Financial Times daily informed on March 18.
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- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
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- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
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- UK appoints Bilal Zahid as new ambassador to Slovakia
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- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
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- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
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- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
- 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
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
