Good evening. Here is theTuesday, March 26 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Smer MP appears on anti-Semite’s show
Daniel Bombic (l), Tibor Gašpar (c) and Judita Laššáková (r). (source: YouTube)
On Tuesday, opposition MPs wanted to know why Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok appeared last week on a show hosted by prosecuted hoaxer Daniel Bombic.
However, the defence and security committee didn’t start as many lawmakers were absent. Its chair Tibor Gašpar (Smer), who is a former police chief facing criminal charges, promised to raise the matter at the committee next week. The minister will thus have to show up again.
Unsurprisingly, Gašpar was also Bombic’s guest tonight. The Smer MP told the Sme daily that he got an invitation from Judita Laššáková, one of Smer’s candidates for the MEP. He added that he didn’t know if Bombic, also known as Danny Kollár, would join in. (The interior minister used a similar argument last week and said it was important to address people who follow alternative media.) The discussion was streamed on Bombic’s channel.
Like the interior minister, Gašpar argued that Bombic isn’t a convict, adding that his prosecution is purposeful. Gašpar also appeared on the show in April of last year.
“They threaten the security of the country, but they also undermine the trust of our allies,” said SaS MP Juraj Krúpa.
Related: The extradition proceedings on Bombic’s extradition to Slovakia were supposed to take place on Tuesday, but were postponed again. The anti-Semite has been hiding in the UK.
FEATURE STORY FOR TUESDAY
Slovakia’s public broadcaster: Star Wars
The Slovak Public Television building in Bratislava. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
“What’s happening in RTVS is unseen – it has nothing to do with public service,” PM Robert Fico says. Many disagree and accuse Fico and his government of trying to turn RTVS into a state propaganda channel.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Politics: Former PM Peter Pellegrini handed over a Slovak military base to the USA, says ex-defence minister Jaroslav Naď.
Police: Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok’s further changes to the police will limit corruption investigation, an anti-corruption foundation says.
Culture: Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová appoints her Kittsee neighbour as children’s art gallery head.
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MUSIC FOR TUESDAY
Karin Ann - false good
Slovak artist Karin Ann’s debut album ‘Through The Telescope’ will be released on May 10. But you can explore more about her life and music in an interview run by NME. It was published yesterday.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION UPDATES:
The Slovensko party is ready to meet with presidential candidate Ivan Korčok. Korčok said on Monday that he is communicating with Slovensko leader Igor Matovič.
The opposition KDH party unequivocally supports candidate Korčok in the second round of the presidential election, said KDH chair Milan Majerský.
The coalition parties Slovenská Národná Strana (SNS) and Smer will fully endorse presidential candidate and Speaker of Parliament Peter Pellegrini in the second round. PM Robert Fico has called Korčok a warmonger, claiming that Korčok would send Slovak soldiers to Ukraine. Korčok has repeatedly refuted this claim.
Hlas politicians continue to claim that Korčok, as president, would help abolish the right of veto in the EU. However, it is a lie. He would not have the competence to do so. After Brussels, the Slovak parliament would have to decide on narrowing or cancelling the right of veto.
The Extra plus magazine, which supported Pellegrini and criticised Korčok, was sent to every fifth household, said Transparency International Slovakia.
Korčok and Pellegrini will meet in the first debate ahead of the second round in RTVS. The debate will be broadcast by Rádio Slovensko and RTVS:24 at 12:30 on Thursday. On social media, the two candidates accuse one another of avoiding the pre-election debates.
On Tuesday, the Labour Ministry presented a new tool to help unemployed young people. Pellegrini also attended the press conference of the ministry, and spoke for about 10 minutes. He did not hide the fact that it is part of his campaign.
Pellegrini met mayors from southern Slovakia yesterday. He promised them good relations with Viktor Orbán.
Presidential candidate Ivan Korčok in Banská Bystrica on March 26, 2024. (source: Facebook/Ivan Korčok)
WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: The weather is expected to be mostly cloudy with occasional showers throughout the day. Strong winds are forecast for most regions of Slovakia. Wind warnings are in place. Temperature-wise, the daily range is forecast to be between 14 to 19 degrees Celsius. (SHMÚ)
MARCH 27 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Alena.
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