Archive of articles - June 2014, page 16
If you desire to read an old article, use the search bar or select the publication date.
Žitňanská becomes new Most-Híd vice-chair
PRESIDIUM Council of the opposition party Most-Híd elected ex-justice minister and former prominent Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) member Lucia Žitňanská to the post of party vice-chair in its May 31 session.
Via Iuris opposes re-introduction of secret ballot for Judicial Council
THE VIA Iuris judiciary transparency NGO is calling upon legislators, especially those of the ruling Smer party and the opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) who are joining forces to pass constitutional amendments on the judiciary and the status of family, not to pass a proposal designed to re-introduce a secret ballot for Judicial Council votes on personnel issues, Milan Šagát of Via Iuris told the TASR newswire.
Slovak extremists out of the EP
IN LIGHT of the election results in the UK and France, but also in neighbouring Hungary, the absence of extremist candidates among Slovakia’s new MEPs appears to be a source of success for Slovak voters.
Learning the financial ABCs
A glossary of words as well as an exercise related to this article are also published online.
The apathy blame game
SLOVAKIA managed to avoid serious trauma despite posting the lowest ever voter turnout in the recent European Parliament elections. At 13 percent, Slovakia was the most uninterested nation in the European Union and pundits were busy pondering why it was possible for someone to reach the EP with as few as 14,896 votes. The explanations vary, but the fact that this is a real crisis for democracy is not in question.
Signature of Master Paul from Levoča discovered
WE NOW know without a doubt that the renowned wooden altar of St James in the church of the same name in Levoča was made by Master Paul. The proof is in his signature, found on the statue of St John by restoration experts working on the altar.
Turnout hits record low
THE RESULTS of the European elections proved less interesting to Slovak voters than the scores of the ice-hockey championships in Belarus, whose semi-finals coincided with the elections on May 24. So suggests the voter turnout, which in Slovakia stood at barely over 13 percent – a historic low in a country already known for its notoriously low EP election turnout since joining the EU.
What is the legitimacy of MEPs elected by just a fraction of voters?
Dariusz Kałan, Polish Institute of International AffairsThe brutal truth is that the factual legitimacy is the same as of these who received many more votes. Furthermore, some of these who lagged behind can be awarded with better positions in the new Parliament’s bodies, as they are quite often the party’s favourites. But personally for them it should be nothing but a warning sign. It is not to their credit.
Health problems abroad
WHEN travelling abroad, whether for business, study or holiday, Slovaks are exposed to numerous risks. Based on the statistics of the biggest insurance company in Slovakia, Allianz– Slovenská Poisťovňa, published in mid-May, subtropical and tropical countries pose the greatest risks, especially due to the different climate and hygienic conditions.
VW strike averted
THE THREAT of strike at Bratislava-based carmaker Volkswagen Slovakia was avoided as trade union representatives and the company’s management agreed on a salary increase, the TASR newswire reported on May 28.
Sweet welcome to Slovakia
THE DOLCE Vitaj festival, a play on words suggesting a connection between Italy (“dolce” means sweet) and Slovakia (“vitaj” means welcome), has become a staple of the yearly cultural activities in June, both in and outside Bratislava.
Record low election turnout blurs results
SLOVAKIA has set a new record for low turnout in the elections to the European Parliament, with just 13.05 percent of Slovaks going to the polling stations on May 24, as experts cite voter fatigue from the recent presidential elections and a generally negative campaign as the main explanations.
Chłoń: It is easier to mobilise protest voters
IT’S NOT necessarily the majority that did not want the Olympic Games, Polish Ambassador to Slovakia Tomasz Chłoń says, adding that in today’s Europe it is somehow easier to mobilise protest voters rather than those who would support such a project. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Chłoń about a referendum in which inhabitants of the Polish city of Krakow said ‘no’ to the bid to organise the Winter Olympic Games in 2022.
Fico sharpens Ukraine gas talk
SLOVAKIA is prepared for all possible scenarios in the event that Russia turns its gas taps off for Ukraine over unpaid bills, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on May 23 after a special session of Slovakia’s security council, which looked into a possible gas crisis coming on the heels of escalation of Russian-Ukrainian tensions.
Achmea loses against Slovakia
SLOVAKIA has won the arbitration proceedings initiated by Dutch company Achmea, the owner of the health insurer Union, against the Slovak government, which plans to merge the three existing health insurers and introduce a unitary system of public health insurance. Achmea is required to pay Slovakia €1.340 million, but the disputing parties differ in their interpretation of the verdict. While the Robert Fico government celebrates the victory and sees the verdict as a green light for its project, Achmea claims that it achieved its goal, too, in terms of averting expropriation.
Survey: 50 percent of Slovaks can’t imagine life without internet
AS MANY as three-quarters of Slovaks connect to the internet regularly (61 percent every day), and 50 percent say that they cannot imagine their lives without the internet, the TASR newswire reported, quoting a recent Google survey.
Glossary: Learning the financial ABCs
Spectator College provides readers of The Slovak Spectator who are trying to improve their English with glossaries of useful and frequently used words and expressions from stories published as part of the Spectator College as well as in the rest of the newspaper. As well as this special glossary, which relates to the article Learning the financial ABCs, you can find more expressions in our Glossary for politics & business or in the List of names of institutions in English and Slovak.
Skalica sets new record with longest trdelník
LOCALS from the western-Slovak town of Skalica set a new record on May 17 when they made the longest ever trdelník, a traditional, coil-shaped pastry originating from the town. At 208 centimetres long, the trdelník was 1.5 centimetres longer than last year’s. Trdelníks are usually about 30 centimetres in length.
Knihobežník international project supports interest in books
THERE are several ways to boost interest in books, and one of them involves travelling and taking books to read on trips.
New election rules passed
THE 2016 parliamentary elections will be held under new rules as parliament passed a new election code during its May 29 session. When signed by the president, the law will come into force as of July 1, 2015.
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Poland edges toward green light on long-delayed Kraków–Košice rail revival
- A divided Slovakia still deserves hope, president says in national address
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- News digest: Slovakia lacks lasting vision, says President in special address Photo
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- News digest: Fico tells Berlin Slovakia will not take lessons on Russia
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Poland edges toward green light on long-delayed Kraków–Košice rail revival
- Fico turns to X to shape his global image
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- News digest: Brussels committee launches scrutiny of EU funds in Slovakia
- News digest: Fico tells Berlin Slovakia will not take lessons on Russia
- They could have left. But these young Slovaks stayed
- 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
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- News digest: Slovakia lacks lasting vision, says President in special address Photo
- One year on: Slovakia still unable to deport alleged terror suspect
- A divided Slovakia still deserves hope, president says in national address
- Where can vegetarians and gluten-free diners eat out in Bratislava?
- Slovak physicist: I do not employ doctoral students; I make them go abroad. I expect them to push us forward
- Fico turns to X to shape his global image
- Iron Age hillfort found in remote Slovak woodland Photo
- News digest: Fico tells Berlin Slovakia will not take lessons on Russia More articles ›
