Archive of articles - November 2014, page 8
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Šváby is the Slovak candidate for European Court of Justice
Daniel Švaby has become Slovakia’s candidate for judge for the European Court of Justice, with his bid approved by Slovak cabinet on November 20. Šváby’s bid was proposed by Justice Minister Tomáš Borec. Šváby won in a secret ballot at the Judicial Council receiving 10 votes, no negative votes, while seven members abstained. His competitor Ján Mazák, a former constitutional court chairman (2000-06), received seven votes, two negative votes, and eight members abstained. The bid will be subsequently presented by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák to Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary general of the Council of Europe. The Court of Justice is composed of 28 judges, with each of the 28 EU members contributing one judge.
Babitzová leaves SDKÚ, plans to found new party
Former head of the private radio station Radio Expres, Eva Babitzová, who joined the opposition Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) only two months ago, is already leaving.
Jobless rate down by 0.08 percentage points to 12.35 percent in October
The unemployment rate in Slovakia was measured at 12.35 percent in October, falling from the 12.44 percent recorded in September, head of the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre (ÚPSVaR) Marián Valentovič informed the TASR newswire on November 20. On an annual basis the jobless rate shrank by 1.31 percentage points. Job centres had 333,257 people on their files that were immediately available for work in October. Their number dropped by 2,463 on the month and by 35,390 on the year. When all jobseekers including those who were not immediately available to work are taken into account, the unemployment rate in October reached 13.93 percent, which represented a drop of 0.08 percentage points year-on-year. A total of 375,978 people, including those not immediately available to take up work, were jobless in October. Month-on-month drops in the unemployment rate were recorded in seven out of the country's eight regions, while annual falls were seen in all eight regions.
Enel confirms non-binding bids from ČEZ and Slovnaft-MVM to buy SE
Italian energy trust Enel on November 20 confirmed that it has received several non-binding bids on purchasing its 66-percent stake in Slovak electricity utility Slovenské Elektrárne (SE). Enel did not specify the number of bidders, but confirmed that Czech company ČEZ and a consortium of Slovnaft and MVM are among them.
Dôvera health insurer earned the most over five years
The state Financial Policy Institute informed that the profit of the health insurer Dôvera owned by Penta and Prefto Holding Limited seated in Cyprus exceeded €600 million in the past five years – far more than rivals.
Poll: Slovaks still favour “third way” between socialism and capitalism
As was the case 25 years ago, Slovaks continue to view the so-called third way, or a kind of middle ground between socialism and capitalism, according to a study released November 19. According to Miroslav Tížik, head of a team in charge of the study at the Sociological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), the proportion of people who were proponents of the “third way” was 51 percent. The figure was 50 percent in November and December 1989, shortly after the Velvet Revolution that brought about the demise of Communism. The survey was carried out by the Focus agency on a sample of 1,215 respondents between May 29 and June 8, with the output then analysed by the aforementioned institute. “We rejected state bureaucratic socialism in November 1989, and the ideal became the non-totalitarian model of a state such as Sweden or Austria that offered a combination of high standards of living and social certainties," said Tížik, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “People long for this kind of state to this day.” The economic situation was not viewed in an overly negative light, but a different picture is painted when living standards as a whole are considered, including aspects such as social security and the functioning of public authorities.
New state secretary at Health Ministry named
The new state secretary at the Health Ministry is Mário Mikloši, appointed for the position on November 20 by the government, as proposed by the new Health Minister Viliam Čislák.
Opposition wanted to meet Fico, were refused
Part of Slovak opposition asked Prime Minister Robert Fico for a meeting to discuss six requirements specified at the meeting marking the 25th anniversary of the November 17 Revolution in Bratislava.
Supreme Court cancels compensation for Sadiki
THE SUPREME Court cancelled the verdict of the Bratislava Regional Court, based on which Štefan Harabin was to receive the financial compensation at €150,000 in damages, the Sme daily reported in its November 20 issue. This concerns a 2008 incident in which the General Prosecutor’s Office publicly confirmed that it had a 1994 transcript of what appeared to be a friendly telephone conversation between Harabin and convicted Kosovar drug lord Baki Sadiki.
Kiska returns law banning fast food at schools to parliament
OBJECTING to vagueness and ambiguity, President Andrej Kiska vetoed an amendment to the Education Act that was supposed to do away with junk food at schools. The parliament passed the legislation, proposed by Smer MP Renáta Zmajkovičová, on October 29.
Creditors’ committee approved Doprastav’s stabilisation plan
THE CREDITORS’ committee approved the final proposal of the restructuring plan submitted by construction firm Doprastav. Meanwhile, company Bankruptcy & Recovery Service, which is the restructuring administrator, announced the meeting of creditors that will take place on December 11. The main topic will be the vote over adopting the plan, the SITA newswire reported.
Tatra region remembers 10th anniversary of wind calamity
A PERSON can never win the fight with nature and has to adapt, said Pavol Majko, head of the Administration of the Tatra National Park (TANAP) on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the wind calamity in the High Tatras, the SITA newswire reported.
Independents surge, Smer gains on opposition
FEEDING on voters’ frustration with traditional parties, independent candidates led the way in municipal races on November 15, taking some 38 percent of the mayoral seats across the country. Bratislava went to an independent candidate, Ivo Nesrovnal, who in a closely watched race defeated the incumbent Smer-backed independent Milan Ftáčnik, and Milan Kňažko, who also ran as an independent backed by a number of opposition parties.
Hyundai Dymoss will expand production
REPRESENTATIVES of the South Korean company Hyundai Dymoss revealed their plans to boost production at the firm’s plant in Slovakia. They should invest altogether €23 million into its existing factory in Žilina, the TASR newswire reported on November 18.
Glváč reportedly finalises purchase without competition
DEFENCE Minister Martin Glváč plans to close a deal over purchasing new assault rifles and pistols without competition, the Sme daily reported in its November 19 issue. He will buy them from the Česká Zbrojovka Uherský Brod company which has already supplied weapons to the Czech army, based on the existing agreement, the TASR newswire wrote.
Unaccompanied asylum seeking adolescents will not go to the camps
ASYLUM seeking adolescents who come to Slovakia without their parents or other legal representative will not be sent to the camp for asylum seekers. They will wait for the decision at the facilities for social protection of children and social guardianship, according to the amendment to the law on asylum authored by the Interior Ministry.
Fedor leaves SDKÚ
MARTIN Fedor is leaving the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) and its caucus, he told the press on November 19. With his departure, the party caucus will have only seven members, which according to the law means that it will dissolve, the SITA newswire wrote.
MVK poll shows SDKÚ and SaS out of parliament
IF THE parliamentary elections took place in early November, they would have been won by the ruling Smer party supported by 38.8 percent of the vote. Second would become the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) with 12.2 percent, the poll carried out by MVK polling agency between November 1 and 7 on 1,125 respondents showed.
SDKÚ may see more defections
More party members are expected to leave the opposition Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), according to the information available to the TASR newswire. Part of the Bratislava members, as well as some of those outside the capital, allegedly consider leaving
President appoints new university rectors in Banská Bystrica and Košice
President Andrej Kiska on November 18 appointed new rectors of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica and the Košice-based Security Management University. Vladimír Hiadlovský became the new head of Matej Bel University and Miroslav Kelemen the director of the Security Management University, TASR newswire reported. Reflecting on the situation in the Slovak education sector, Kiska emphasised the need for change and to set up a right direction for the system and its future. He said that the higher education system should not aim at churning out numerous graduates but at nurturing highly qualified and well-educated people who would be ready to strive for leadership posts in their field.
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- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- 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
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 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
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- 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
- 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
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 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 ›
