Good evening. Here is theThursday, January 25edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Coalition MPs ignore warnings from Brussels
Smer MP with pro-Russian views Ľuboš Blaha. (source: TASR)
During the vote on Thursday, MPs decided that they would debate amendments to the Criminal Code, including the abolition of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, in a fast-track legislative procedure.
A debate on the proposal that would allow for the procedure in this case began on January 8. The opposition has tried to delay the vote for as long as possible.
The Thursday vote confirmed that the coalition didn’t take warnings coming from Brussels, the Slovak president, and the opposition seriously. The coalition had been warned against using this legislative tool. (No discussions about the amendments took place.) In addition, coalition MPs approved on Thursday a proposal that cut a debate on the changes to the law in the first reading to 20 hours. The opposition and President Zuzana Čaputová criticised the proposal on Thursday.
“The opposition cannot set the pace for us. We are the government,” PM Robert Fico (Smer) said.
The opposition considers turning to the Constitutional Court. Opposition MPs argue that their rights have been breached.
Proposed changes to the Criminal Code should be passed to the second reading on Friday afternoon. A debate in the second reading and the submission of additional amendments should start on Wednesday.
Related: Anti-government protests, which are organised by the opposition in most cases, continued around Slovakia on Thursday. It is estimated that about 45,000 people walked out to the streets despite a bomb threat. Slovaks in Paris, Prague, Brno, and Krakow also joined the protests.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
EU: The Slovak PM wants a pro-Russian Slovak citizen to be removed from the EU sanctions list. His cabinet will also send an unusual ‘diplomat’ to Brussels.
Ukraine: PM Fico met with Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal on Wednesday. Here’s what happened in Uzhhorod.
Travel: Explore the most popular sights in the Žilina Region of 2023.
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FEATURE STORY FOR THURSDAY
The scientist who was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka. (source: ESET Science Award/Linda Kisková Bohušová)
“I think humanity will be ready for the next pandemic. In the case of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, not so much,” says Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka, head of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague.
HOW TO ENJOY BRATISLAVA
3 things to do in Bratislava for free
The Czech Centre in Bratislava. (source: Facebook/České Centrum Bratislava)
The Czech Centre in the capital hosts an exhibition about inclusive fashion, but some decided to leave the city and seek a new adventure elsewhere.
In other news
Marián Magát, charged with extensive extremist criminal activity, is guilty. The verdict by the Specialised Criminal Court is not valid. Magát, who has questioned the Holocaust, will learn his punishment on Friday. The trial started in February 2023.
Pro-Russian politician and ex-judge Štefan Harabin helped anti-vaxxer and SNS MP Peter Kotlár create a team of experts that would investigate the management of the coronavirus pandemic by the previous OĽaNO-led governments. Harabin is also an anti-vaxxer and one of the 2024 presidential candidates.
A government meeting devoted to the transition of the Slovak car industry to electromobility must take place within a month, said PM Fico. A document will be prepared within a month. It will contain a whole range of specific legislative, institutional and financial measures, the PM added.
The bank levy could be invalid because the government did not fulfil its obligation to consult it with the European Central Bank, Slovakia thereby violated EU rules.
The food delivery service Bistro.sk continues to present its new creative campaignPovedal Niekto (Did Somebody Say). Stars Christina Aguilera and rapper Latto are the faces of the campaign. In the past, the campaign featured Katy Perry and the rapper Snoop Dogg. The campaign can be seen all over Slovakia. Bistro.sk belongs to Just Eat Takeaway.com.
WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: Cloud cover, rain or showers in places (snow above 600 m). The daytime temperature will range from -1°C to 8°C. Western Slovakia is and will be under a wind weather warning. (SHMÚ)
JANUARY 26 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Tamara.
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