Good to have you with us! Here is your latest edition of Today in Slovakia - all the top news of the day, wrapped up in one place!
Fico: Slovakia will never recognise Kosovo’s independence
PM Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade, Serbia, on Thursday, November 21, 2024. (source: Facebook - Robert Fico)
Fresh from a mysterious rendezvous with Poland’s Donald Tusk near the Polish-Slovak border – a meeting shrouded in secrecy but graced with influencer-worthy photo ops – Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) continued his whirlwind foreign policy tour on Thursday with an official visit to Serbia.
There, the Smer leader met Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, a fellow pro-Russia politician, who hailed Fico as “one of the most significant world leaders.” The two discussed economic cooperation and bilateral ties, with Fico praising Serbia’s economic progress, its sovereign foreign policy, and its treatment of the Slovak-Serb community.
“What would the West give for such [economic] achievements?” Fico mused, before casually revealing that they plan to visit Moscow together in May 2025 to mark the anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
In recent months, Slovak politicians seem increasingly drawn to Russia, with trips to Moscow becoming a trend. Pro-Russian MEP Ľuboš Blaha has delighted his followers with a flurry of pictures and videos extolling the charms of Moscow in autumn, portraying it as a city thriving despite Western sanctions. This summer, former MP Gyimesi György, who is said to become the environment minister’s adviser, travelled to Moscow, showcasing the gleaming new Mercedes models and the Russian take on McDonald’s, while questioning the effectiveness of anti-Russian sanctions. Not to be outdone, Andrej Danko, one of Slovakia’s deputy speakers of parliament, has announced plans for yet another pilgrimage to the Russian capital. Another deputy speaker, Tibor Gašpar of Smer, is also considering joining Danko.
But back to Fico’s Thursday trip to Serbia, which came after a meeting with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Vučić in Komárno, southern Slovakia, a month earlier, where illegal migration was the main topic on the agenda. In Serbia, Fico doubled down on his support, declaring: “The European Union, and I’m not exaggerating, should kiss Serbia’s hands for the cooperation it has shown alongside Hungary in protecting the Schengen borders.”
Reaffirming Slovakia’s stance on Kosovo, Fico vowed never to recognise its independence. The country declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but five EU countries, including Slovakia, do not recognise it. “We are clear on this,” he said, while announcing that Slovak soldiers would rejoin a NATO peace mission in the region after 15 years. The goal? “To contribute to an objective picture of what’s happening in Kosovo,” he explained.
At a joint press conference, Fico also lamented how rarely they meet. “It is a big mistake that we do not meet more often,” he said.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR
The Christmas market in Bratislava's Old Town kicked off on November 21, 2024. This year's Christmas tree will be lit up on November 22, 2024. (source: Pavol Zachar)
Confused mayor: Speaking of trips to Moscow, a Slovak mayor has also made the journey. He brought money to Russian people, repeated Russian propaganda, and donned a Slovak military uniform – the perfect guest for Russian media.
Ultimatum: The National Gallery may face closure in January (and possibly beyond) if most of its employees follow through with their threat to quit in protest over the poor management of the interim head and the culture minister’s indifference. For now, they are “just” threatening to walk out.
Let it snow: Good news: the first snow of the season has fallen across nearly all Slovak regions. Bad news (for some): Bratislava is not among them.
Where to go for a good time: Although snow is yet to arrive, Bratislava is already getting into the Christmas spirit. If you’re keen to hear carols or support a good cause, here are the places to visit.
History talks: Krupina, one of the oldest towns in Slovakia, had its fortifications built by unpaid workers. Not because they wanted to, but because they had no choice.
BFFs: President Peter Pellegrini has a long-standing Christmas tradition: posting photos of himself holding a carp, a fish traditionally eaten by many Slovaks on Christmas Eve. We expect him to share another one next month, even though the rules for stall carp sales have changed.
If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and subscribe to our newsletters.
SLOVAK MATTERS
Slovakia has its own ‘Lenon’, a villain who sang to the nation
Former Slovak PM Vladimír Mečiar (source: Archive of SME)
There’s no mistake in Slovakia’s ‘Lenon’ name—don’t worry. One N is enough. It’s one of the nicknames for former semi-authoritarian PM Vladimír Mečiar. We won’t spoil the reason, but you’ll find the answer in this republished ‘Slovak Matters’ story, which was first published over 20 years ago (thanks, Tom!). The piece is still relevant today. We hope you’ll pick up a few new Slovak phrases along the way.
A QUICK HEALTH REMINDER FOR YOU
Know your status
As part of European Testing Week (November 18-25), you can take advantage of testing for HIV, as well as Hepatitis B and C. Testing is available at any of the 11 regional public health offices across Slovakia. The National Reference Centre for HIV/AIDS Prevention and the HIV Check Point in Bratislava are also offering testing services.
IN OTHER NEWS
Former Slovak president Andrej Kiska lost his personal security detail at midnight on Thursday. Recently convicted of tax fraud, he is now deprived of this privilege under a new law passed after the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico, which removes such protection for convicted presidents. Kiska called the move unconstitutional, adding that during his tenure, he had faced numerous threats.
Data from the Health Care Supervision Office, cited by the Medical Trade Union Association (LOZ), shows that hospitals owned by financial groups receive significantly higher payments from health insurance companies than state-run hospitals, which handle the most complex and costly patients. The office and the VšZP, a state-run health insurance company, criticised the association for the interpretation of the data.
The man accused of shooting at Prime Minister Fico in May, Juraj Cintula, will remain in custody for an additional four months, according to General Prosecutor Maroš Žilinka. Six months after the shooting, the case is still under investigation, but details remain scarce.
Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) announced that the police team “Darca” (Donor) will investigate suspicions of illegal actions related to the donation of Slovak military equipment to Ukraine during the previous government. Former defence minister and leader of the Demokrati party, Jaroslav Naď, believes the move is the minister’s attempt to cover up problems within the police force.
The Čertovica mountain pass, central Slovakia, will be completely closed to all traffic over the weekend due to a stress test of a bridge in the village of Jarabá, in the Brezno district. The I/72 road will be shut from Saturday evening until Sunday morning. (source: Ján Krošlák)
The police inspectorate has charged a second police officer involved in the beating and death of a homeless man in Košice while on duty. This officer passively observed as his senior colleague assaulted the 48-year-old man with reinforced gloves in early November.
Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer) has acknowledged considering the creation of a court specialising in media-related issues. However, he denied that the government, which has fraught relations with the media, intends to target them. The opposition party SaS warned that such courts would pose a threat to democracy and independent journalism.
The endless saga: The section of the D1 highway between Lietavská Lúčka and Dubná Skala, including the Višňové tunnel—it will be the longest tunnel in Slovakia—will be completed only in 2026. The D1 is intended to link Bratislava with Košice, the capital of eastern Slovakia.
PERFECT DAY FOR A HOME OFFICE: Get ready for a cold Friday! It’ll be mostly cloudy to overcast, with snow falling in many places. Down south, expect a mix of rain, sleet, and snow. But don’t worry, things will calm down as the day goes on. Temperatures will range from -1°C to +4°C, and it’ll be a bit chillier up north. Stay warm and cosy!
PARTY TIME: Happy namesday to all the Cecílias out there! Celebrate in style this Friday, November 22—it’s your special day in Slovakia!
Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.
P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram(@slovakspectator). For news from Slovakia in Ukrainian, click here or follow Novyny on Telegram, Facebook, and Instagram.
