Archive of articles - March 2014, page 8
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EC: Slovak courts plagued by delays, unsolved cases
CIVIC and business lawsuits last over 400 days, and Slovakia’s bankruptcy proceedings last longer than any others in the EU, the European Commission wrote in its comparative study on the quality of justice in the EU member states.
Judiciary-marriage amendment to be debated before election; opposition protests
THE MPs will debate the constitutional definition of marriage and judiciary reform during the campaign before the presidential election run-off after Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paška changed the programme of the March parliamentary session, which started on March 18.
Prosecution against former police president Spišiak cancelled
The criminal prosecution against former Police Corps President Jaroslav Spišiak was a display of bullying and intimidation while its cancellation is a sign of buck-passing, NOVA party leader Daniel Lipšic said on March 18. Lipšic, acting in the capacity of Spišiak’s legal representative, was speaking after aktualne.sk website reported that the prosecution against Spišiak had been stopped. General Prosecutor’s Office (GPO) spokeswoman Andrea Predajňová told the TASR newswire that it was determined that rather than a crime, Spišiak had committed an infraction. Such infractions are usually dealt with by district offices, rather than courts, and may result in a fine. A statute of limitations of two years applies in such cases, which means that Spišiak can’t face any penalty for what was concluded to be a minor civil infraction dating from 2011. Three members of the Office for Fight against Organised Crime - Ivan Šefčík, Milan Lučanský and Jozef Mičieta - filed a legal complaint against Spišiak in November 2011, claiming that by criticising their work on the case of suspect Karol Mello, Spišiak committed slander. All three of them left the police during the Prime Minister Iveta Radičová’s government, but came back after early election in 2012 which brought Smer back to the helm. Speaking in parliament on March 18, Lipšic said that Spišiak only told the truth and went on to urge the GPO to take measures against Spišiak if they truly believe he’s guilty of having violated a rule – no matter how petty it was. Spišiak didn’t comment on the issue for aktualne.sk.
Procházka: “I will vote for Andrej Kiska”
The presidential candidate who ended up third in the first round of election with 21.24 percent of the vote, Radoslav Procházka, said “I will vote for Andrej Kiska” to a press briefing in parliament March 18.
Crystal Wing winner on OĽaNO EP slate
Ordinary People and Independent Personalities’ (OĽaNO) slate for the European Parliament elections (EP) is set to be topped by party MP Jozef Viskupič, with laureate of the Crystal Wing award for philanthropy Viera Dubačová and teacher Oto Žarnay coming next, the TASR newswire wrote on March 18. “We did just the same as when drawing up our list of candidates for the parliamentary election, that is to make sure in the first place that it has people with their own heart, their own senses and their own conscience,” said OĽaNO leader Igor Matovič, as quoted by the TASR newswire. The 13-strong list also includes incumbent OĽaNO MP Branislav Škripek, activist Mária Raučinová, head of the Association of Small Businesses Vladimír Sirotka, specialist in educating the Roma Stano Daniel, theatre director Jakub Nvota and European Federation of Parents and Carers at Home Vice President Stanislav Trnovec.
Most-Híd drops out of People’s Platform
Opposition party Most-Híd has officially abandoned its membership in the People’s Platform in which it was grouped with Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), Most-Híd chairman Béla Bugár told a press conference on March 18. The Platform didn’t work properly, and it failed to meet the expectations of the public and even the parties that were its members, according to Bugár. He pointed to the difficult process of striking agreement on a joint presidential candidate - KDH’s Pavol Hrušovský – and how some SDKÚ top officials even voiced support for other candidates. “After carefully weighing these facts and after realising that people don’t believe the People's Platform can act as an alternative to Smer, we’ve decided to let our partners know that Most-Híd has decided to leave (the platform),” said Bugár, as quoted by the TASR newswire . The People’s Platform was formed in November 2012 following an initiative from the ranks of KDH. The grouping’s primary goal was to provide a centre-right alternative to Prime Minister Robert Fico’s single-party government. This dream began to dissolve approximately a year later due to the platform’s inability to form coalitions in support of joint candidates in the November regional elections, however. The crisis in the grouping’s co-operation was only deepened in the run-up to the recent presidential election, when KDH agreed on a deal with the governing Smer concerning major constitutional changes associated with the judiciary and the definition of marriage. In addition, the poor election result (3.3 percent) of KDH’s caucus chairman Hrušovský, who was the joint presidential candidate of the Platform, is considered to be the final nail in the coffin for the grouping.
Brno rejects Amazon for third time, Bratislava and Malacky among options
The construction of the distribution centre of the US company Amazon in the Czech city of Brno was not approved on its third attempt. The city council on March 18 didn’t approve the sale of plots in Černovická Terasa industrial park to the developer, the CTP company. It means end of the negotiations between the developer and the city, according to Brno councillor Roman Onderka who favoured the sale.
VW trade unions closer to strike
EMPLOYEES of the Bratislava-based carmaker Volkswagen Slovakia may announce a strike alert soon, according to the head of the company’s trade unions, Zoroslav Smolinský.
Bookies favour Kiska
BOOKMAKERS are favouring independent candidate Andrej Kiska to defeat Prime Minister Robert Fico in the run-off election scheduled for March 29.
Two new bribery cases investigated in Gorilla case
A SPECIAL team tasked with investigating the Gorilla case, an alleged corruption scandal that was leaked to the internet and the media in late December 2011, has launched probes into two new criminal cases involving bribery, news-only website Aktuálne.sk reported on March 17.
Fico accuses Kiska of Scientology ties; Kiska submits criminal complaint
PRIME MINISTER and presidential candidate Robert Fico continues to insist that his main opponent, philanthropist and businessman Andrej Kiska, has ties to Scientology.
MVK Poll: Kiska would defeat Fico in run-off
PHILANTHROPIST and businessman Andrej Kiska would defeat Prime Minister Robert Fico, according to the poll carried out by the MVK agency between February 26 and March 4 on 834 respondents. Kiska would get 53 percent of the vote, compared to Fico’s 47 percent, the SITA newswire reported.
Slovakia does not recognise Crimea referendum
SLOVAKIA does not consider the March 16 referendum in Crimea to be valid and as such does not recognise it. At the same time, the Slovak Foreign Ministry called on Russia to respect the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and to refrain from any steps that would further escalate tension in that country, the ministry wrote in an official statement.
Harmonised inflation down by 0.1 percent
HARMONISED inflation continues to mirror consumer prices when measured using the national methodology.
€300 million in EU funds to go to Roma projects by 2020
PROJECTS aimed at the integration of Roma communities will be able to secure financing from EU funds. In the current 2014-2020 programme period, the EU assigned almost €300 million for such efforts in Slovakia, government proxy for Roma communities Peter Pollák said on March 17.
MEP: Not recognising Crimea referendum is irresponsible
WHILE the Slovak authorities officially announced that they do not recognise the March 16 referendum in Crimea, Slovak MEP Monika Flašíková-Beňová disagrees with this stance.
Slovakia sells €260 million in two bond auctions
SLOVAKIA borrowed more than €260 million on the financial market on March 17, the SITA newswire reported.
EU commissioner supports Fico, discusses Kiska
EUROPEAN Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič offered some statements of support for Smer’s presidential candidate, Prime Minister Robert Fico, ahead of the election run-off scheduled for March 29.
Gašparovič: I hope my tip wins
INCUMBENT President Ivan Gašparovič voted in the presidential election at a primary school on Jelačičova Street in Bratislava on Saturday, accompanied by his wife Silvia.
Man collapses at polling station, dies in ambulance
AN ELDERLY man collapsed at the polling station in the village of Jedlinka in Prešov Region only moments before casting his vote in the presidential election on March 15, Emergency Medical Service Operational Centre spokesman Boris Chmel confirmed for the TASR newswire on the same day.
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- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
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- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
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- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
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- 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
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- 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
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- 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
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process More articles ›
