Archive of articles - page 3 - The Slovak Spectator

The transcript of refused homily published

THE AKTUALITY.sk website published a transcript of the controversial sermon of Greek Catholic priest Rastislav Baka which the regional Radio Regina refused to broadcast as it, in its opinion, violated the rules for broadcast before a referendum. The public-service Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) has not confirmed the authenticity of the transcript yet.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Second pillar will open for three months

SAVERS in the second private pension pillar will be allowed to leave it, as it will open for three months from March 15 to June 15. This stems from the amendment to the law on pension savings passed by the government at its January 28 session.

Compiled by Spectator staff

SE will get a new boss

CURRENT head of Slovakia’s dominant electricity producer Slovenské Elektrárne (SE) Luca D’Agnese ends at his post of the head of Enel group in eastern Europe. He will replace Luigi Ferraris, who resigned from the post of director for the Latin America region.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Opposition calls for dismissal of Pavlis

Opposition MPs Igor Matovič (Ordinary People and Independent Personalities-OĽaNO), Daniel Lipšic (independent, extra-parliamentary NOVA party) and MEP Richard Sulik (Freedom and Solidarity-SaS) call on Prime Minister Robert Fico to dismiss Economy Minister Pavol Pavlis due to his alleged conflict of interest in the lawsuit involving Port Service company and the National Property Fund (FNM) and as a result of which the state might lose €60 million. Pavlis has been aiding the firm in this lawsuit against the state in the long term – not only in the capacity of FNM Supervisory Board member but also as the Economy Minister, the opposition MPs claimed, as quoted by the TASR newswire. It was Veronika Remišová, Bratislava Old Town Borough councillor (supported by Christian-Democratic Movement-KDH, Most-Híd, NOVA, SaS, OĽaNO, and Conservative Democrats of Slovakia-KDS) that drew public attention to the case. Port Service, a company where Pavlis used to be the Board of Directors chair, is seeking legal action against FNM to receive money as compensation for the unsuccessful privatisation attempt of Slovak Shipping and Ports. The firm was expelled from the tender for its failure to meet the requirements, as its current owner is based in Curacao, an island off the coast of Venezuela. “Robert Fico has been trying long-term to create an impression of a fighter for transparency in politics, one who’s against mailbox companies,” Matovič told TASR on January 27. “In reality, however, when he gazes across the table at which he sits every Wednesday [during government sessions], a person sits there who put his firm into a tax haven five days prior to the election, spent a subsequent month coming to meetings of the general assembly and acted on behalf of the firm.” The lawmakers pointed out that the company filed a lawsuit against FNM only five days after Pavlis became a member of FNM’s Supervisory Board. It was from this post that Pavlis allegedly provided Port Services a loan of €20,000, seeing as the firm lost a legal battle against FNM at the Bratislava Regional Court in 2008 and in order to file an appeal with the Supreme Court it required money to pay legal fees. “We call on Fico to dismiss Pavol Pavlis,” Matovič added. “It’s evident that even as the Economy Minister he continues to pursue interests of the firm where he used to be an official owner until 2006 and is quite likely a tacit owner after 2006.” The case will be discussed by the Parliamentary Extraordinary Committee for Economic Affairs on January 29 at a session to which Pavlis is also invited. The opposition announced that if Fico fails to oust Pavlis, they will initiate the convening of an extraordinary parliamentary session to that end.

SOPK: Businesses expect 2015 to be worse than 2014

Entrepreneurs evaluated their own economic results from 2014 in a more negative light than a year earlier and, thus, their expectations for 2015 are significantly more pessimistic, according to the latest survey conducted by the Slovak Trade and Industry Chamber (SOPK).

Slovakia commemorates liberation of Auschwitz

Post-war generations are obliged to remember the victims of the Holocaust as a strong reminder of the fragility of civilisation and its values, the press section of the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry told the TASR on January 27, the day marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the infamous concentration camp Auschwitz. 

Smer unlikely to clear reestablishment of SaS caucus

The ruling Smer party will not allow, with all probability, the liberals of Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party to re-establish their parliamentary caucus, despite the fact that they now have the required eight lawmakers, Smer caucus chair Jana Laššáková told the TASR newswire on January 27. In April 2013, many members left the SaS, including a group of MPs, and this caused the end of the party caucus – which needs to have at least eight MPs to exist.

Ancient temple of ice is made in Jasná

THE WINTER premiere of a globally popular extreme hurdle race that takes place on the break of January and February in the ski resort Jasná will have a very original finishing hurdle.

Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská

Senior and handicapped Žiarans can use “social taxi”

SENIORS AND physically handicapped inhabitants of Žiar nad Hronom, a town in central Slovakia, area have been able to use the social taxi since the beginning of this year. The local town hall launched the social taxi as a new social service.

Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská

Chamois broke leg, had no chance to survive

AROUND January 20, a carcass of a chamois was found about 100 metres from a hiking trail near Skalnaté pleso in the High Tatras.

Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská

Cvernovka should return to “town in a town” concept

THE ZONING plan (ÚPN) Cvernovka in the Bratislava borough of Ružinov should at least lock onto the original concept of Cvernovka as “a town in a town”, architect Peter Žalman proposed.

Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská

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Western SLOVAKIA

Zuzana Vilikovská

More than €30 million on legal services

THE STATE paid to its advocates more than €30 million during the past three and half years. Of the ministries, the most was paid by the Finance Ministry (nearly €17 million). Slovakia paid the most for its representation at international arbitrations, the recent analysis by the Slovak Governance Institute (SGI) suggests.

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Reconstruction on Krásna Hôrka Castle continues

THE RECONSTRUCTION works on the Krásna Hôrka Castle, which was severely damaged by fire in 2012, continue in accordance with the plans, Judita Krajčiová of the Slovak National Museum (SNM) told the TASR newswire.

Slovakia improved in the Index of Economic Freedom

SLOVAKIA improved its position in the Index of Economic Freedom when it advanced by seven places to 50th position. It however did not succeed to rub out last year’s drop when it fell by 15 places, the SITA newswire reported on January 27.

Slovakia still struggles with deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases

THE HEALTH-care system in Slovakia is still average, but it is gradually improving. Compared to other European countries, Slovakia puts emphasis on electronic services in the sector. On the other hand, it still struggles with the high number of deaths caused by cardio-vascular diseases, hospital infections and corruptive behaviour of doctors.

The Judicial Council stops Harabin’s magazine

THE OFFICE of the Judicial Council halted the expensive order for delivering the Dimenzie (Dimensions) magazine which promoted its former chair and ex-president of the Supreme Court Štefan Harabin. The decision came after the Sme daily broke the story about the non-standard deal paid from state money on January 23.

LGBTI representatives will not converse with referendum organisers

REPRESENTATIVES of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community have decided not to participate in political shows focusing on the referendum on family broadcast by RTVS and TA3 on Sunday, despite the fact that they originally agreed to join in the debate, the SME daily reported on January 16.

Azerbaijan will open diplomatic mission in Bratislava

AZERBAIJAN will have a diplomatic mission in Slovakia, Foreign Affairs Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov announced after meeting his Slovak counterpart Miroslav Lajčák on January 26, the TASR newswire reported.

Government wants to support kindergartens

THE SLOVAK government in the pre-election year gradually presents a set of measures within the so-called “social package”; with the second measure being support for kindergartens and nursery schools amounting to EUR10 million, the Sme daily reported on January 27.

Archive of articles - January 2015, page 3

The transcript of refused homily published

Second pillar will open for three months

SE will get a new boss

Opposition calls for dismissal of Pavlis

SOPK: Businesses expect 2015 to be worse than 2014

Slovakia commemorates liberation of Auschwitz

Smer unlikely to clear reestablishment of SaS caucus

Ancient temple of ice is made in Jasná

Senior and handicapped Žiarans can use “social taxi”

Chamois broke leg, had no chance to survive

Cvernovka should return to “town in a town” concept

Countrywide Events

More than €30 million on legal services

Reconstruction on Krásna Hôrka Castle continues

Slovakia improved in the Index of Economic Freedom

Slovakia still struggles with deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases

The Judicial Council stops Harabin’s magazine

LGBTI representatives will not converse with referendum organisers

Azerbaijan will open diplomatic mission in Bratislava

Government wants to support kindergartens

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