Good evening. Here is the Tuesday, October 3 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Special prosecutor slams Fico for his threats
Special Prosecutor Daniel Lipšic during a press briefing on October 3, 2023. (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
Special Prosecutor Daniel Lipšic condemned Smer leader Robert Fico's attacks on the prosecutors of the Special Prosecutor's Office.
"I consider it unacceptable that political power threatens representatives of judicial authorities," he said. He emphasised that high-ranking persons are also being prosecuted today. "Dozens of persons have been convicted."
The Special Prosecutor's Office supervises, for example, cases related to the parties Smer, Hlas and SNS - all the three may form the next government.
Lipšic, a former politician and lawyer, does not plan to leave the post of special prosecutor even if Smer forms the government. The police chief, Štefan Hamran, has confirmed several times that he will resign from his position if Fico comes to power.
Quote: "I have never run away from any fight and I will not run away now." (Lipšic on October 3)
Background: On Sunday, after the election, Fico said that Smer is ready for personnel changes in law enforcement institutions, but its goal is not changes in the basic infrastructure of these institutions. He wants to replace Lipšic, some prosecutors and Hamran. "Nobody will arrest them. That's a matter for law enforcement," Fico said Fico on October 1. Hlas leader Peter Pellegrini wants to get rid of Hamran and Lipšic too. All senior officers in the police can be dismissed without giving a reason, according to the current civil service law. In the case of Lipšic, Fico would need a relevant reason to lay him off.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Illegal migration: Poland, Austria and Czechia will reintroduce border checks from midnight. Slovakia will respond to the move of its neighbours on Wednesday.
Transport: People travelling to Vienna by train are advised to use the station in Bratislava-Petržalka due to renovation work in Marchegg.
Election:Slovakia's Foreign Ministry slammed the Russian intelligence service for questioning the integrity of free and democratic elections in Slovakia.
Travel: The extensive restoration of the Western Palace of Beckov Castle, western Slovakia, is completed.
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PODCAST FOR TUESDAY
Slovak graffiti artist loved by Americans and Germans
Doke, Graffiti artist and videomaker from Slovakia. (source: Facebook/DokeTV)
Martin Hirner, better known as Doke, the man behind the YouTube profile DokeTV, is a Slovak graffiti artist. Not only is he famous for his videos on the popular social network, but Doke has also been listed as the second top graffiti TikTok Influencer on InBeat's list of Top 10 Graffiti TikTok Influencers in 2023.
Listen to the podcast with Doke.
EVENT FOR WEDNESDAY
Illustrated children's books return to Bratislava
The Biennial of Illustrations in Bratislava (BIB) — the international exhibition of original illustrations of books for children and young people, opens on October 4. It will present the best works from the world of children's illustration in the last 2 years until December. The event is organised by BIBIANA, International House of Art for Children.
In other news
The Constitutional Court ruled that the compulsory imposition of the penalty of forfeiture of property for certain crimes is at odds with the constitution. The chief justice of the Constitutional Court, Ivan Fiačan, said that such an obligation contradicts the principle of proportionality of punishments. At the same time, it can create disproportionate interference with property rights. On the other hand, the Constitutional Court does not consider it justified to exclude the penalty
of forfeiture of property from the catalogue of available repressive instruments and has no reason to question it, as long as it meets the basic constitutional parameters.The 10th edition of the international defence and security technology fair IDEB Defense & Security opened in Bratislava on Tuesday.
Total deposits for Saturday's parliamentary election in the Fortuna betting office reached almost €2 million. Bettors bet the most on the victory of the Smer party. The highest bets were worth almost €8,000.
Šútovské Jazero lake in northern Slovakia. (source: Daniel Stehlík.)
WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: In some places, we can expect temporarily increased cloud cover and occasional showers. The highest daytime temperature will rise to 23°C. Wednesday will be cooler in Žilina Region and in Upper Spiš. (SHMÚ)
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