Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, May 14 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Mood has worsened since shooting, say Slovaks
The scene of the shooting. (source: TASR)
This Thursday marks one year since Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) was shot following a government meeting in the mining town of Handlová, western Slovakia.
In a rare moment of consensus, nearly 56 percent of voters—across both coalition and opposition parties—believe the atmosphere in society has deteriorated since the attack, according to a new survey conducted by the NMS agency for the daily Sme. In contrast, 29 percent say the situation has remained unchanged, while just over 3 percent feel it has improved. The remainder were either unsure or declined to respond.
Among opposition party voters, roughly 70 percent view the national mood negatively, with that figure rising to 78.5 percent among supporters of the non-parliamentary Demokrati party. Coalition supporters are somewhat more divided. The most "optimistic" are voters for the Hlas party, with only 40 percent perceiving the situation worse, compared to 57 percent of Smer voters and 68 percent of those backing SNS.
Political analyst Grigorij Mesežnikov suggests the decline in public sentiment cannot be attributed solely to the assassination attempt. He points to Prime Minister Fico's recent trips to Moscow and a growing pro-Russian stance—moves that have prompted large-scale protests—as further contributing factors. Mesežnikov also notes that public dissatisfaction with Fico and his government is exacerbating the situation.
The survey indicates that over 71 percent of Slovaks hold the government responsible for the country's current state of affairs—significantly more than those who blame the media (57 percent), the opposition (53 percent), or NGOs (41 percent).
Among coalition voters themselves, 62 percent place blame on the government, while 76 percent cite the opposition, 74 percent the media, and 69 percent NGOs.
Notably, nearly 30 percent of Smer voters believe the assassination attempt has negatively affected the prime minister. Mesežnikov observes that Fico has grown increasingly distrustful and combative. Earlier this year, more than 100 psychiatrists and psychologists signed an open letter to the prime minister, voicing serious concerns over the country's political trajectory under his leadership.
Related: In an open letter to Prime Minister Robert Fico, Progressive Slovakia chair Michal Šimečka urged him to step down, expressing regret that instead of calming tensions after the assassination attempt, Fico had further inflamed divisions. According to Šimečka, the prime minister is driven by self-interest rather than concern for the country, and is a source of hatred and polarisation. He believes Fico has lost touch with reality, sees enemies everywhere, and is leading both himself and Slovakia into isolation.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
HISTORY: Russian President Putin has taken liking to PM Robert Fico's proposal to erect a monument to a Soviet marshall. Not long ago, Prague decided to remove a similar one.
BUSINESS: Sugar tax has slasheed sugary drink sales as their prices have increased as much as 30 to 50 percent. State revenue may fall short of expectations.
WEDDINGS: If you happen to be part of a Slovak wedding, things can go from this idyllic image to downright strange.
TRAVEL: Add a unique dimension to stargazing by spending night in glass cabins. New eco-friendly accommodation opens in Slovakia's Rudohorie mountains.
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FEATURE STORY
Kúty will not sit in the corner
The train station in Kúty was finished in 1930. (source: TASR)
Situated in the western part of Slovakia, near the borders with the Czech Republic and Austria, the village of Kúty (literally "corners") derives its name from its position.
However, Mayor Branislav Vávra does not see it as a disadvantage, far from it. "We are not on the outskirts or in a corner; we are in the center of a prosperous region," he told our colleage Jozef Ryník during his recent visit. It is not just regular people who are moving to the village; more and more cyclists are also visiting it.
EVENT FOR THIS WEEKEND
A night in a museum
A previous edition of Night of Museums and Galleries in Žilina. (source: TASR)
Experience science, culture, history and art all during one night. This Saturday, museums, galleries and other institutions all accross Slovakia will once again open their gates as part of the very popular Noc Múzeí a Galérií (Night of Museums and Galleries) annual event.
In addition to visiting exhibitions accompanied with special lectures and guides, the venues also invite visitors to otherwise unavailable premises and learn the ins and outs of their various activities, allowing them to experience museums in totally different ways. Be sure to check this website for the list of participating institutions and what you can expect to see on this special day.
IN OTHER NEWS
Nine Slovak bishops are set to attend the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV in St Peter's Square, Vatican City, on Sunday, 18 May. The delegation will be led by Archbishop Bernard Bober, head of the Slovak Bishops Conference and Košice Archbishop. They will travel with President Peter Pellegrini's official delegation. (TASR)
Slovakia secured another victory at the Ice Hockey World Championship, edging out France 2–1 in a tightly contested match. After taking the lead in the second period, Slovakia conceded an equaliser five minutes later. In the final period, three French players were sent to the penalty box, and Slovakia capitalised, with Mislav Rosandič scoring the winning goal. Slovakia will next face Canada on Saturday evening.
The Slovak Academy of Sciences' Institute of Chemistry has dismissed as unsubstantiated the claims made by Peter Kotlár, the government's Covid-19 investigator. The institute criticised Kotlár's paper published on Tuesday, noting it appeared in a predatory journal lacking proper peer review. It added that the authors—several of whom are known for anti-vaccine views and political affiliations—are not experts in vaccines. The paper also lacks adequate data on methodology, lab conditions, and other scientific criteria. (TASR)
Consumer prices rose by 0.1 percent month-on-month and by 3.7 percent year-on-year in April 2025, marking the lowest inflation figures so far this year, down from 4 percent in March and 3.8 percent in February, the Statistics Office reported on Wednesday. Slovenská Sporiteľňa analyst Marián Kočiš warned, however, that inflation is expected to accelerate in the coming months. (TASR)
Private broadcaster TV Markíza has announced that presenters Viktor Vincze and Zuzana Čimová will no longer host its flagship evening news programme Televízne Noviny. Instead, they will transition to a new online news project targeting younger audiences in June. Vincze, who leads the newsroom's trade union at the TV, revealed on social media that the change was made without his knowledge or consent. He linked the move to his advocacy for journalistic integrity and employee rights, following tensions that emerged last autumn after the dismissal of anchor Michal Kovačič. Union representatives have criticised alleged interference in editorial work. The reshuffle comes in the wake of reports by News and Media Holding claiming internal dissent within the union under Vincze's leadership. (SME)
Police are investigating an incident at the Slovak Medical University in Bratislava on Tuesday, 13 May, involving a 46-year-old man allegedly carrying an object resembling a firearm. When approached, the man reportedly threatened an employee multiple times before fleeing the scene. He was later detained by police and admitted to a psychiatric facility. (TASR)
A new playground opened in Bratislava. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Cloudy to overcast skies, with showers and rain expected in many places. Daily temperatures are expected to reach between 14°C and 19°C, in northern areas between 8 °C to 13 °C. A Level 1 wind warning is in effect for south-western and south-eastern districts of Slovakia. (SHMÚ)
MAY 15 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: If you know someone named Žofia or Sofia, don't forget to send them the warmest wishes.
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