Good evening. Here is theWednesday, October 11edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Smer, Hlas, SNS sign memorandum
From left: Peter Pellegrini (Hlas), Robert Fico (Smer), Andrej Danko (SNS). (source: TASR)
On Wednesday, parties Smer, Hlas and SNS (Slovak National Party) signed a memorandum of understanding and agreed on signing a coalition agreement and distribution of posts.
As the winning party, Smer will hold the post of Prime Minister and control six ministries. SNS will staff three ministries, one of them being new and to be established on January 1, 2024.
According to the document, the parties guarantee Slovakia's foreign-political orientation based on the membership of the European Union, NATO, and other organisations, while "fully respecting the sovereignty and national interests of the Slovak Republic and strengthening healthy patriotism".
Robert Fico said they wanted to conclude the coalition agreement as soon as possible. He also declared that he would make sure the standard of living in Slovakia would not decrease, on the contrary, and that they are not obliged by the draft of the state budget approved by the technocratic government. The new government wants to tackle illegal migration and is against "gender ideologies".
After the signing, Hlas chair Peter Pellegrini declared that the memorandum is in full accordance with the party's priorities. SNS chair Andrej Danko said that their common goal is the alleviation of society and the consolidation of finances.
Click here to see a list of who might sit in Fico's new cabinet.
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FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY
Tackling problems in Slovak business service sector
A piece of positive news is that shared service and business service centres are scattered across all Slovakia. (source: Courtesy of AmCham)
The shared service and business service sector remains the third largest of the Slovak economy and keeps growing. Nevertheless, the lack of talent curbs its growth while several centres complain about a dramatic increase in costs.
The lack of local talent is one reason why shared service and business service are reaching for experts from abroad. Last year, the number of foreign workers accounted for 11 percent at BSCF member organisations.
CONCERT FOR TOMORROW
A disco concert you do not want to miss
Anthropologist, scientists, DJ and much more. David Doubek AKA Ventolin took the local disco scene by storm in 2017 and has not stopped. Tomorrow, October 12, he will perform his only set in Bratislava this year. If you want to experience something unique, show up at the Šafko Klub venue on the Šafárikovo Námestie square at 20:30. Get your tickets here.
IN OTHER NEWS
On Wednesday, the government prolonged the checks reintroduced at Slovakia's border with Hungary until November 3. Originally, they were due to end on October 14. The checks will be carried out as before along the entire length of Slovakia's border with Hungary. The goal is to reduce the number of illegal migrants transiting via Slovakia to other EU countries. (TASR)
Police chief Štefan Hamran is planning to resign from his position in the coming days. Previously, he announced that he would leave if Smer formed a new government. Other officials are also planning to leave the police corps. (TASR)
The International Monetary Fund lowered Slovakia's economic growth forecast for next year. Instead of an increase of 2.7 percent, IMF expects only 2.5 percent according to its new outlook. The growth estimate for this year remains at 1.3 percent. The fund expects inflation in Slovakia to be 10.9 percent this year and 4.8 percent next year. (Denník N)
Slovak citizens brought back from Israel by a special government aircraft on Wednesday. (source: TASR)
The publishing house News and Media Holding (NMH) will buy the tabloid Nový Čas and its website čas.sk. NMH is owned by the financial group Penta. Since 2015, the house has published the daily Plus 1 Deň, competition to Nový Čas. On Wednesday, the NMH itself confirmed the deal. (Denník N)
Churches damaged by the Monday earthquake in the villages of Jankovce and Nižná Sitnica in eastern Slovakia will have to be torn down. The decision in the case of the church in the village of Ďapalovce will be made once the structural engineer submits their opinion. Learn more on the earthquare here.
Although the technocratic government approved the draft of a balanced budget on Wednesday, it also says it should not pass in the parliament as it would threaten Slovakia's economy in a negative way. The government says that it was obliged to submit one. Still, according to PM Ľudovít Ódor, the draft has a purpose as it shows the state of public finances. If the forming coalition of Smer, Hlas and SNS does not submit a balanced budget, Slovakia will have a provisional budget from next year. (TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY
Partially cloudy, with a chance of fogs locally in the morning and before noon. Daily temperatures between 17 °C to 22 °C expected, with 26 °C occasionally in the western and southern parts of the country. (SHMÚ)
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