List of author's articles
What do they think?
The first round of the presidential election will take place on Saturday, March 21. The Slovak Spectator put six questions before all seven candidates for the position of President of the Slovak Republic and is publishing their detailed responses.
European Commission acts to preserve jobs in turbulent times
Europe is facing difficult economic times, people are worried about their jobs and their concerns are fully understandable, says European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimír Špidla. In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, Špidla explains that the commission has already taken much action to ease the impacts of the economic crisis on the real economy and especially to preserve jobs. But the commissioner agrees that there are many challenges ahead.
Report slams government for rising corruption
THE SLOVAK government has strengthened the influence of the state in the economy, and at the same time there has been a rise in corruption and party cronyism, according to the annual Global Report on the State of Society published by the non-governmental think-tank the Institute for Public Affairs (IVO). Its most recent edition was published this month.
Criticism in US report
SEVERAL human rights problems in Slovakia were noted in the 2008 Human Rights Report prepared by the US Department of State, “including some continuing reports of police mistreatment of Romani suspects and lengthy pre-trial detentions…” as well as “corruption in the judiciary, in local government, and in government health services.” The introduction to the report noted that “social discrimination and unprovoked violence against Roma and other minorities” was a continuing problem.
Election heats up after ecclesiastical intervention
THE BIGGEST uproar so far over the upcoming presidential election was not caused by the candidates themselves, but rather by the statements of Catholic priests and a bishop giving their opinions of various contenders in the election campaign.
PM says 'show contract'
THE CONTRACT recently awarded to supply and operate Slovakia's electronic highway toll system must be published, Prime Minister Robert Fico has said. He made the comment while speaking to public broadcaster Slovak Radio (SRo) a few weeks after several non-governmental organisations, the parliamentary opposition and various media had called for its publication.
Twelve die in crash tragedy
IN ONE of the worst traffic accidents in Slovakia’s history a collision between a bus and a train near the village of Polomka in central Slovakia claimed 12 lives. A passenger train with two carriages crashed into a bus which was carrying 37 skiers from Bánovce nad Bebravou to the ski resort Bučník at about 09:00 on Saturday, February 21.
Smoking half-banned
FROM early September restaurants in Slovakia should take on a different look, as the familiar smoky haze which currently pervades many of them begins to lift – at least partially. Under new rules approved by parliament, any restaurant that wishes to allow diners to smoke must confine them to an area at the back of the establishment separated by a wall from an area devoted to non-smoking customers.
Presidential election nears - but who will vote?
THE NEXT presidential election will take place in Slovakia in just one month, and there is still uncertainty about how many people will turn out to vote. The consensus among analysts seems to be: not many. What is known, however, is that holding the election will cost taxpayers more than €9.5 million (Sk286.2 million).
Contract kept under wraps
DETAILS of a contract worth hundreds of millions of euros, the outcome of the biggest tender in Slovakia’s history, for which only one bid was finally accepted, will not be released to the public.The Transport Ministry and the National Highway Company (NDS) have said the contract is a commercial secret. But non-governmental organisations are sounding the alarm, saying that by not releasing details about the contract, the law on public access to information is being blatantly violated.
Lajčák goes to Budapest
THE NEW Slovak foreign affairs minister, Miroslav Lajčák, says that the presence of the nationalist Slovak National Party (SNS) in the ruling coalition is not a problem. And three weeks after taking office he visited Budapest in an effort to smooth relations with Hungary, which began to deteriorate noticeably after the SNS became part of the ruling coalition in June 2006.
Crisis and Hungary top the agenda
SLOVAKIA'S membership of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are the strategic underpinnings of the country’s foreign policy and continuing this orientation and softening the impacts of the global economic crisis are the key priorities, said the new Foreign Affairs Minister of Slovakia, Miroslav Lajčák. He also told his first press conference that he will be discussing mutual problems with Hungary.
Big job losses at Defence Ministry
IT HAS EMERGED that the Slovak Defence Ministry cut its staff by 1,500 in a series of dismissals affecting civilian employees which began last year and continued up to the end of January. The ministry is now looking for further savings in other areas, according to Defence Minister Jaroslav Baška.
Minister stays in post
MARIÁN Janušek, Slovakia’s minister for construction and regional development, is still in his job despite more information emerging about a controversial tender, worth €119.5 million (Sk3.6 billion), which was awarded on his watch. Prime Minister Robert Fico has repeated that he will wait for the publication of two official investigations before pronouncing on Janušek’s fate.
New road law takes effect
NEW RULES came into force on Slovakia’s roads on February 1 with the primary goal of reducing the country’s high rate of accidents. The speed limit in towns and villages has been lowered to 50 kilometres per hour from its previous limit of 60, headlight use is required year-round and new rules for winter tyres are among the most significant changes. Fines for minor offences have been increased.
The ‘rocking chair’ under the construction minister
DISSOLUTION of the ruling coalition is not looming, the three chairmen of the coalition parties emphatically state. But the chair under the Minister of Construction and Regional Development Marian Janušek, a nominee of the Slovak National Party (SNS), is rocking violently and the SNS is not happy about it.
Malinová case nears conclusion?
THE LONG-RUNNING investigation into the case of Hedviga Malinová, a young Hungarian Slovak woman who was allegedly assaulted in Nitra in 2006 but was later accused by police and government ministers of making up the assault, is close to being finalised, General Prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka has announced.
Mending a watch with a hammer
Do politicians misuse even the tragedy of the Holocaust to gain popularity? And does anti-Semitism in Slovakia have a green light or not? These are some of the controversies which have surfaced after this year’s awarding of the titles Righteous among the Nations to 10 Slovakians.
From Balkans to cabinet
MIROSLAV Lajčák was appointed Slovakia’s new foreign affairs minister on January 26, replacing Ján Kubiš. Lajčák is currently serving as the High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the sixth ministerial personnel change since the government of Robert Fico took office in June 2006.
The strength of humanity rescued lives
THE NAMES of 10 Slovaks who helped to rescue Jews during the Second World War will be written on the Wall of Honour in the Garden of Righteous in Yad Vashem, at the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem.
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