Good evening. Here is theMonday, October 23 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
SaS will elect new leader next spring
SaS chair Richard Sulík during a press conference on October 23, 2023 in Bratislava. (source: TASR)
SaS chair Richard Sulík will step down from the post of leader of the liberal Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party next year.
"Fifteen years of the existence of SaS also means 15 years of my life," Sulík said. "I would be very unhappy if this extraordinary political project ended together with its founder."
On Monday, he said that the party would elect his successor in March 2024. However, he wants to become the party's honorary chair. It would be a new post for Sulík. He would not possess any decision-making competences.
Sulík, who obtained 82,048 preference votes in the 2023 election, also confirmed that he would run in the EP election next year. The SaS chair plans to run in the 2027 parliamentary election as well.
"If SaS is in the government, I will be very happy to be a part of Slovak politics again," the Sas founder said.
History: The party, founded in 2009, got into parliament after every election. SaS was part of two governments that ended earlier than planned. SaS was, in part,responsible for the collapse of the cabinets. The party has seen many members leave the party. For example, in 2019, about 30 people quit the party.
Quote: "Richard Sulík will go down in the history of Slovakia as the historically most successful destroyer of democratic governments whose vanity twice ensured the return of absolute evil in the form of Fico's governments." (OĽaNO chair Igor Matovič on October 23)
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Business: The Italian supermarket Cortelazzi will open its first store in Slovakia.
Politics: The Justice Ministry apologised to former three-time interior minister Robert Kaliňák from the Smer party for the unlawful criminal prosecution and detention in the Súmrak (Twilight) case.
Opinion: So normal and so bizarre, Michaela Terenzani writes about ministerial nominations in her Last Week in Slovakia. She explains what it means to "pull a Huliak", too.
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FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY
10 most profitable firms in Slovakia in 2022
U. S. Steel Košice. (source: TASR)
Many Slovak companies are experiencing great times, as indicated by their economic results for last year. Sitting in the top two positions is a pair of firms whose profit after tax almost reached the half-billion euros threshold.
EVENT FOR NOVEMBER
Warhol tour continues
Andy Warhol artworks will be exhibited at the SPP Gallery in Bratislava until November 30. (source: Facebook/Galéria SPP)
The SPP Art Gallery in Bratislava presents 55 Andy Warhol works until the end of November. The exhibited artworks come from the Andy Warhol Museum in eastern Slovakia, which is under reconstruction.
Address: Mlynské nivy 44/c near BC Apollo II (bus stop: Košická or Novohradská)
Opening hours: 11:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 16:00 on Saturday
Admission: free
In other news
The potential culture minister, disinformation TV presenter Martina Šimkovičová (SNS nom.), could stop the financial means that should contribute to the fight against disinformation. The decision has to be made by early November. (SME)
Lawyer Adam Puškár, who is charged with the murder of student Daniel Tupý from 2005, will remain in pre-trial custody, the judge decided last week. The trial should begin on November 15.
In September of this year, 99,300 foreigners worked in Slovakia, which was 39 more than in August. Compared to September 2022, there are 15,000 more foreigners working in Slovakia, the Labour Ministry said.
Almost every woman in Slovakia, 85 percent, is afraid if she walks alone outside in the late hours. This fear affects many women, regardless of age or the region in which they live, a September survey by the research agency NMS Market Research has shown. To protect themselves, almost half of women prefer not to go out late (48 percent) or walk alone after it gets dark outside (51 percent). The survey also revealed that 59 percent of women do not believe that the police will protect them from violent, sexually motivated crime.
The average monthly wage has increased more than sevenfold in the 30 years since Slovakia was founded, said the Statistics Office. In the first year of independent Slovakia, the average nominal monthly salary of an employee amounted to less than €179. In 30 years it gradually increased to €1,300.
The average monthly salary in Slovakia (1993-2022). (source: Statistics Office)
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY: Prepare for a foggy morning, cloudy skies throughout the day, and some rain. In the evening, rain is especially expected in western Slovakia. The highest daytime temperature will rise to 20°C. (SHMÚ)
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