Greetings! This is Today in Slovakia – Tuesday, 22 July edition.
While many are soaking up the sun, others are using their summer for something bigger. As our colleague Oscar Brophy reports, one of his countrymen is currently cycling across Europe to Slovakia – all for a good cause. If you would like to support the effort, now’s the time. And if you are in Bratislava, do not miss the chance to give him – and his fellow cyclists – a warm welcome when they arrive.
But not everyone is enjoying the summer. In eastern Slovakia, several families are now in urgent need of help after a devastating fire left them homeless on Tuesday.
Devastating blaze in eastern Slovakia
Fire in Spišský Štiavnik, eastern Slovakia (source: Facebook – Office of the Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities)
A fire ripped through a settlement in the village of Spišský Štiavnik on Tuesday evening, destroying at least 15 homes and displacing around 150 people – including families with children. Many residents, living in modest wooden and metal shelters, lost everything in minutes, according to the TASR news agency.
What happened: The fire broke out just before 18:00 in one of the wooden dwellings and spread rapidly through the compact community. Firefighters from the nearby town of Poprad and surrounding villages rushed to the scene. Despite their swift response, flames engulfed the structures, fuelled by highly flammable materials.
The human cost: At least two people were injured, according to the regional fire service in Prešov. While no fatalities have been reported, entire families lost their homes and belongings. Many escaped with only the clothes on their backs. About 74 people, including 16 children, are expected to spend the night in a local community centre; others are sheltering with relatives.
Witnesses watched it all: Local media outlet Aktuality24.sk reported that dozens of residents stood by helplessly as flames consumed their homes. Firefighters managed to contain and extinguish the fire late in the evening, but not before it destroyed both makeshift shacks and masonry buildings.
Crisis response: Mayor Matúš Korheľ confirmed that 150 residents have been displaced. “This is a tragedy we’ve never experienced before,” he said. The village, with help from regional and national authorities, is providing blankets, mattresses, and emergency supplies. The government’s Office for Roma Communities has mobilised support, and a crisis team is now in place.
Why it matters: The affected settlement is home to many from Slovakia’s Roma minority, often living in substandard housing with limited access to infrastructure. The disaster is exposing vulnerabilities that could deepen without sustained support and long-term solutions.
Not the first time: A similar tragedy unfolded last year in Stropkov, eastern Slovakia, where a fire destroyed nine shacks, leaving 46 people homeless. Earlier this year, in Veľký Šariš, a town in eastern Slovakia, a deadly blaze tore through a marginalised Roma community, killing five people – including four small children – and destroying eight homes. Roughly 30 residents were affected, prompting local authorities to declare an emergency situation.
MEANWHILE, ELSEWHERE IN SLOVAKIA...
Plastic fire in Ilava: On Tuesday, six fire trucks and 16 firefighters responded to a blaze in the town of Ilava, western Slovakia, where a fire broke out in an industrial hall filled with plastic materials.
Six fire trucks and 16 firefighters responded to a blaze in the town of Ilava on 22 July 2025. (source: Facebook - Ilava)
Industrial fire in Dubnica: In the north-western town of Dubnica nad Váhom, 14 firefighters were called out Monday evening to tackle a fire in a private industrial building used for waste storage. No casualties were reported. The blaze, however, underscores growing concern over fire risks in summer heat.
Fields on fire in Trnava Region: Crews across the Trnava Region responded to a spate of wildfires on 21 July – with dry fields, grasslands, and forests going up in flames. In Vinohrady nad Váhom, the fire service fought an intense blaze in rugged terrain. They deployed quad bikes, water pumps, and multiple fire lines to contain the spread, but strong winds made things difficult.
Other fire hot spots in Trnava Region
Veľké Úľany: A stubble fire measuring 20x50 metres.
Boleráz: A hectare of barley fields burned – wind again a major challenge.
Šamorín and Radošovce: Fires broke out in dry grass and straw.
Dunajská Streda: A photovoltaic panel fire was reported on the roof of a car dealership.
Why this matters: Slovakia, like much of central Europe, is facing an increasingly volatile fire season as high summer temperatures and dry conditions persist. A map of fire-prone (red) districts is available below – and for more, check out photos and updates on regional Fire and Rescue Service Facebook pages, including Košický kraj and Banskobystrický kraj.
(source: Facebook - Slovakia's Fire and Rescue Service)
By the numbers: Slovakia’s Fire and Rescue Service released its latest weekly statistics on 21 July – and they paint a clear picture of a busy fire season: 177 fire incidents, with the Banská Bystrica Region in central Slovakia reporting the most (30 cases).
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR
HANCKO HIJACK: Slovak star Dávid Hancko’s €33M move to Al Nassr collapsed at the last minute, despite signed papers and full agreement – with Feyenoord calling the Saudi club’s reversal “scandalous.”
BYPASS BREAKTHROUGH: After years of delays, Slovakia’s new €80M Tvrdošín bypass officially opened on 21 July, easing pressure on a key cross-border route.
LABOUR LAW SHIFT: From a precedent-setting win for misclassified journalists to expanded protections for pregnant workers and complex corporate transfers, Slovak lawyers are quietly reshaping employment law.
VIEWPOINT VICTORY: After a decade of planning, Gačovská skala – a breathtaking new cliffside viewpoint in Slovak Paradise National Park – is now open to hikers, offering rare panoramic vistas in one of Slovakia’s most protected natural zones.
If you like what we’re doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.
NICE DRIVEWAY!
Anonymity in the age of celebrity
A masked police officer in Slovakia (source: SME - Marko Erd)
In a peaceful democracy, the rising visibility of minor public officials and the routine anonymity of heavily armed, masked police officers may signal a troubling shift – one where intimidation trumps accountability. As Slovakia politicises investigators and deploys balaclava-clad commandos for theatrical state operations, James Thomson asks: Are we drifting toward the optics of authoritarianism?
FROM CPAC TO 1600 PENN
Fico headed to The White House?
Prime Minister Robert Fico may soon be Washington-bound for a high-stakes visit that could see the signing of a historic nuclear energy deal with the United States.
The backstory: According to Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi (VSquare), Fico is preparing for a trip to the White House, where he is expected to finalise an intergovernmental agreement with the USA on building a new nuclear power plant at Jaslovské Bohunice. The investment – estimated at €13 to €15 billion — would be the largest in Slovak history.
Panyi cited a trusted source in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The Slovak government has not yet confirmed the trip, and the US embassy in Bratislava has not commented on any formal invitation. The agreement is undergoing technical procedures, including legal review and translation – a process that could take weeks or even months – according to the embassy.
(source: Platform X)
Opposition weighs in: MP Juraj Krúpa (SaS) claims the trip may be politically motivated: “Fico found a way to briefly get into Donald Trump’s good graces,” he said.
WHY IT MATTERS: The US-Slovak deal could shift Slovakia further from Russian influence in the energy sector and secure a new generation of nuclear infrastructure – led by Westinghouse, which was selected without a public tender.
No tender, no problem? Economy Minister Denisa Saková (Hlas) defended the direct selection, citing limited alternatives: Russia is off the table, France lacks capacity, and South Korea would still require licensing from Westinghouse. A US–Korea consortium is also being discussed.
Saková confirmed the deal is finalised on both sides and is only awaiting notification from the European Commission, expected by the end of July.
TRUMP, TARIFFS AND TIMING: The visit – if it happens – comes as Donald Trump escalates his trade rhetoric, proposing 30 percent tariffs on European imports. Slovakia, heavily dependent on automotive exports, could be hit hard. A Fico–Trump meeting could carry both symbolic and economic weight.
Fico’s US track record: This would not be Fico’s first time stateside. He previously met with Barack Obama (2013) and Joe Biden, and earlier this year addressed the CPAC conference, where Trump publicly thanked him for his praise.
IN OTHER NEWS
Historian, professor, and former MP Ivan Laluha – a close collaborator of Alexander Dubček and a key figure in Slovak public life after 1989 – died on 21 July at the age of 92, his family confirmed. Laluha served in both federal and Slovak parliaments, chaired major committees, and dedicated his life to scholarship, democracy, and preserving the legacy of the Prague Spring. (TASR)
The European Commission’s proposed TEDOR levy would redirect 15 percent of national tobacco tax revenues to the EU budget – a move Slovakia’s Finance Ministry says it is still evaluating, warning against burdening less prosperous countries. (SITA)
A civil initiative has accused GIB EnergyX Slovakia, the Economy Ministry, and MH Invest of bypassing proper environmental procedures in the construction of a battery plant in Šurany, calling for an immediate halt to building until a full environmental impact assessment is completed. MH Invest denies the claims, stating the project complies with legal requirements and that the battery plant is undergoing a separate, still-ongoing EIA process. (TASR)
Mark your calendars: The next season of Slovakia’s top football league, the Niké liga, kicks off on Saturday (26 July).
Pictured from left: MŠK Žilina head coach Pavol Staňo and team captain Miroslav Káčer during a press conference ahead of the 2025–2026 Niké liga season, held in Žilina on Tuesday, 22 July 2025. (source: TASR - Daniel Stehlík)
The Finance Ministry has warned of AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický (Smer), falsely promoting high-return investment schemes aimed at deceiving vulnerable users.
Slovakia’s Education Ministry defended the transparency of its new Higher Education Act draft, insisting it preserves academic autonomy and follows EU standards – despite calls from the Council of Higher Education Institutions (RVS) to withdraw the proposal over fears of politicisation and weakened academic self-governance. The ministry acknowledged differing views but stressed ongoing dialogue, while warning that some RVS demands could conflict with Slovakia’s Recovery Plan commitments. (TASR)
Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) remains Slovakia’s most trusted party leader, with 39 percent of respondents expressing confidence in him, closely followed by opposition leader Michal Šimečka at 38 percent, according to a SANEP/TA3 poll conducted in mid-July. Trailing far behind were figures like Slovensko leader Igor Matovič (15 percent), Demokrati leader Jaroslav Naď (11 percent), and Slovak National Party chair Andrej Danko (9 percent), while a significant share of respondents said they had no opinion or did not recognise some lower-profile party leaders.
WEDNESDAY WEATHER BRIEFING: Clear to partly cloudy skies. Daytime highs: 27°C to 32°C, around 25°C in northern regions. (SHMÚ)
OFF TO WARSAW? Don’t miss the exhibition “Slovenské stopy v Poľsku” (Slovak Footprints in Poland), now open at the Slovak Institute in Warsaw. Showcasing 30 stories that highlight the rich history of Slovak–Polish ties, the exhibit is based on a book marking 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries – and includes surprising links, like the role of Slovaks in the Warsaw Uprising. A must-see before it heads to other cities across Poland.
ON THE NAME DAY RADAR: It is Oľga’s turn in the spotlight on Wednesday. Among Slovakia’s well-known Oľgas is singer and presenter Oľga Záblacká – and yes, I am listening to one of her classics as I wrap up this newsletter. All the best to all the Oľgas out there!
Thanks for reading and subscribing – it truly means a lot. Enjoy your Wednesday – the weekend’s in sight.
P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
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