Good evening. Here is the Friday, October 11edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Judge declines to halt Peter Kažimír's prosecution, citing uncertainty about Criminal Code amendment
Central bank governor Peter Kažimír (in cream coat) at the Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok. (source: Marko Erd)
Despite expectations that the judge might halt the prosecution of Smer's former finance minister and current governor of the National Bank of Slovakia, Peter Kažimír, his case will proceed towards a final verdict, Sme reports. Kažimír was found guilty of corruption in April last year, prompting widespread calls for him to resign. He appealed, ignoring the calls, and remains at the head of the central bank.
Kažimír's trial resumed on October 11 at the Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok, where he faces charges of bribing the then director of the Financial Administration, František Imrecze, seven years ago to ensure expedited VAT refunds for several companies amounting to over €3 million. Cooperating defendant Imrecze testified that he received a bribe of €48,000.
Kažimír, who maintains his innocence, described the allegations as unlawful and stated, "I have never influenced any tax proceedings in favour of or against any taxpayer."
As Denník N reports, based on the prosecutor's closing argument, the companies in question were owned by entrepreneur Ladislav Rehák, from whom Kažimír was purchasing a villa in the affluent Bratislava neighbourhood of Slavín. To secure the deal, Kažimír allegedly lobbied for Rehák's firms with Imrecze. The prosecutor also disclosed previously unknown details about Kažimír's finances. For instance, he transferred €1 million as a loan to a company from his personal bank account at the time he allegedly bribed Imrecze — a transaction he has never publicly acknowledged as a senior official. Additionally, around the time the bribe was reportedly given, Kažimír withdrew €60,000 from his account.
Kažimír did not clarify the source of the money, simply stating, "This judicial farce continues unabated."
His defence team, which dismissed all the allegations presented on Friday, recently requested that the court dismiss the case based on a recent reduction in the statute of limitations for corruption, but Judge Milan Cisarik decided not to stop the prosecution, noting that the legal community is still clarifying the implications of the recent amendment to the Criminal Code.
The supervising prosecutor has recommended an unconditional custodial sentence in a minimum-security prison for the bribery offence, which might range from six months to three years.
After an entire day of closing arguments, the judge ultimately adjourned the case to November 29. Kažimír's lawyer, Ondrej Mularčík, who spoke for four hours with breaks, informed the judge that he intends to speak for even longer. Afterward, Kažimír is also expected to deliver his own closing statement.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
Transportation: Transport Minister Jozef Ráž (Smer nom.) ordered Bratislava to modify a short section of cycle lane on a city-centre street, Vajanského Embankment, within 40 days. The city's mayor Matúš Vallo opposes the order. The lane is popular with cyclists but has attracted complaints from some motorists.
Politics: Comments in a speech by Prime Minister Robert Fico to mark a wartime anniversary, in which he criticised MEPs for their views on the Ukraine war and mused about a misile strike on Brussels, have attracted warm praise from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Good news: Enjoy a new selection of feel-good stories. This week,kapustnica (sauerkraut soup) is on the menu: it's captured a British influencer's heart; perhaps it's no coincidence that a Slovak team has won a 2024 European Street Food Award.
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FEATURE STORY
From garage beginnings to a leading manufacturer
(l-r) Current company head Ján Haramia Jr., founder Ján Haramia Sr., and Ján Jr.'s sister Zuzana Bystroňová. (source: Lukáš Klčo)
Slovakia has manufacturers it can be proud of. The Haramia family, who share a passion for electrical engineering, transformed their small garage business into Slovakia's leading manufacturer of kiosk transformer stations, establishing a strong reputation that has made them the "Mercedes" of their field.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
Magnificent felines
The largest cat breed in the world will also be on display at the exhibitions in Banská Bystrica. (source: bbonline.sk)
Cat lovers, take note! Banská Bystrica is hosting the 27th and 28th editions of the International Cat Exhibition, featuring 30 unique and rare breeds, including the largest domestic cat breed in the world. Admire the loveliest moggies in Europe!
IN OTHER NEWS
Zuzana Dolinková (Hlas) will not reclaim her seat in parliament following her recent decision to step down as health minister. She has officially notified the acting speaker of parliament, Peter Žiga (Hlas), that she will relinquish her parliamentary mandate. Dolinková stated that she needs some distance from politics and will consider her future direction. (TASR)
On Thursday evening, the winners of this year's ESET Science Award were announced, chosen by an international jury headed by Nobel Prize winner Emmanuelle Charpentier. Expert on artificial intelligence, machine learning and founder of the Kempelen Institute of Intelligent Technologies Mária Bieliková won the Outstanding Scientist in Slovakia category. Physicist František Herman won the Outstanding Scientist in Slovakia Under the Age of 35 category, and artificial intelligence expert Igor Farkaš won the Outstanding Academic in Slovakia. In addition, oncologist Michal Mego received 14,000 votes, winning him the Public Prize. (Eset Science Award)
Students from the Trenčín gymnasium commemorated the second anniversary of the terrorist attack (October 12) on Tepláreň, an LGBT+ bar in Bratislava, despite pressure from far-right politicians and criticism from Prime Minister Robert Fico. The memorial event was moved from the school to the streets. Throughout the morning, people lit candles beside photographs of Juraj Vankulič and Matúš Horváth, who lost their lives in the attack. The remembrance was initially planned to take place at the school, but the gymnasium cancelled it. (My Trenčín)
At the end of August, the Bratislava District Office ruled that Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) did not violate election campaign laws when he published several paid posts on social media that harmed one of the candidates, Ivan Korčok, and helped his opponent, Hlas leader Peter Pellegrini, during the heated presidential campaign earlier this year. Non-governmental organisations have condemned the Bratislava District Office's decision to uphold Šutaj Eštok's actions as absurd and are turning to the General Prosecutor's Office for intervention. The district office falls under Šutaj Eštok's jurisdiction. (SITA)
The Supreme Audit Office has reported that while partial solutions have been implemented in the health-care sector, comprehensive measures from the Health Ministry are still lacking. The audit revealed that the financial management of university and faculty health-care facilities is a major concern, with the 13 largest hospitals having over €1 billion in outstanding liabilities. Additionally, the office raised issues regarding the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, highlighting a lack of transparency and underutilization of purchased doses, and referred its findings to the European Prosecutor's Office and the European Parliament. (TASR)
Cities in Slovakia are planning to reduce their spending next year through a joint public procurement initiative for electricity and gas, which is expected to help save money amid government-imposed budget consolidations. Richard Rybníček, president of the Union of Slovak Cities, noted that around 14 cities have already joined the initiative, aiming to cut costs in energy purchases. Additionally, concerns were raised about the recently announced rise in VAT and a projected loss of 19 percent in personal income tax revenue for municipalities, which will exacerbate financial strain and limit investment in public infrastructure and services. (TASR)
Peter Pellegrini met ten other EU presidents in Krakow, Poland, to discuss the expansion of the union, support for Ukraine, and how to end the war there. He emphasized the importance of respectful dialogue and collaboration, noting that no country can be an isolated island in today's geopolitical landscape. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: Saturday's weather will be clear to partly cloudy. If you're travelling by road in the morning, watch out for fog. On Sunday, rain is expected, with some areas of Slovakia experiencing showers. However, later in the afternoon precipitation will ease and cloud cover will decrease. Daytime temperatures will range from 11°C to 17°C. The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) has issued a level 1 warning for Sunday in Banská Bystrica, Žilina and Prešov Regions due to high winds expected in the mountains. (SHMÚ)
NAME DAYS IN SLOVAKIA: Saturday, October 12 - Maximilián; Sunday, October 13 - Koloman; Monday, October 14 - Boris.
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