Minister Igor Štefanov was sacked over a scandal. (source: TASR)
Publisher of Pravda daily changed – The Pravda daily changed ownership as the Florena company bought the daily from the British Daily Mail & General Trust. Florena is associated with Slovakia’s J&T group.
Tourism law adopted – Parliament adopted a law on March 3 to support tourism that becomes effective at the start of 2011. This is Slovakia’s first comprehensive law supporting the development of tourism and introduces a system under which the state will co-finance the revenues of tourist organisations from membership contributions paid by municipalities, regions and entrepreneurs in tourism at a 1:1 ratio.
Tighter regulations on solar power plants – On March 3, parliament adopted a revision to the Energy Act to more stringently regulate construction of new solar power plants in Slovakia. Effective May 1, the Ministry of Economy began requiring all investors to acquire a certificate that their plan to build a solar power plant complies with the government’s long-term energy policy. Previously, only investors who wanted to build solar power plants with installed capacity exceeding 1 MW had to get such certification. Investors who want to build solar power plants on buildings with an installed capacity of up to 100 kilowatts are exempt.
Ministry suspended Air Slovakia's licence – Air carrier Air Slovakia had its licence to provide air transport services suspended by the Transport Ministry on March 4. Later in the year the company filed for bankruptcy.
Construction minister is dismissed – President Ivan Gašparovič dismissed Igor Štefanov as the head of the Construction and Regional Development Ministry on March 11 at the request of Prime Minister Fico because of inappropriate use of public funds under the so-called bulletin-board tender contract. Fico asked Education Minister Ján Mikolaj to temporarily supervise the ministry until the June parliamentary election. Controversies surrounding the tender had not been resolved before the end of 2010.
