Good evening. Here is theMonday, February 26 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Explaining PM Fico's comments about soldiers, losing his post
Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer). (source: TASR)
On Sunday evening, PM Robert Fico announced that he decided to hold a Security Council meeting on Monday in order to consult Slovakia's position with coalition partners Hlas and SNS, as well as intelligence agencies and the police. This position will later be presented at an informal meeting with the leaders of EU and NATO member states in Paris, in which further support for Ukraine will be discussed.
Without providing explanation, he gave the impression that he could be in danger of losing his position and Slovakia forced to send its soldiers to Ukraine.
"Even if my position were to cost me the post of prime minister, I would do everything to prevent the direct participation of Slovak soldiers in the war in Ukraine," he claimed.
The Smer chair also asserted that the topics the leaders are supposed to talk about in Paris are 'chilling' and he called the entire informal summit a 'combat meeting'.
There is no possibility of Fico losing his post based on his attitudes towards Ukraine. Find out more about what he said, including why he is the only one talking about sending soldiers to Ukraine, in this explainer.
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FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY
A war poster a day
Graphic designer Mykola Kovalenko. (source: Courtesy of M. K.)
Ukrainian graphic designer Mykola Kovalenko came to Bratislava in 2015. When investigative journalist Ján Kuciak was killed and the Russians invaded Ukraine, anxiety and shock overcame him.
He mobilised graphic designers all over the world to show solidarity with Slovak journalists, and he himself has been publishing a new poster about the war every day for two years.
EVENT FOR TUESDAY
When two musicians meet
Cellist Jozef Lupták. (source: TASR)
Tomorrow at 18:00 in Knižnica Kornela a Nade Földváriovcov (The Kornel and Naďa Földváry Library) of the Slovak National Gallery, Slovak cellist Jozef Lupták and Italian guitarist Alberto Mesirca will play a selection of the works of Bach, Schubert and other famous composers. Admission is voluntary, the venue in Námestie Ľudovíta Štúra square.
IN OTHER NEWS
According to new research by experts from the Slovak Academy of Sciences, since the war in Ukraine started Ukrainians have felt accepted in Slovakia. The research says that although women often managed to get a job, many are performing unqualified and low-paid jobs despite their university education. Many women with children are also overburdened. However, many live in uncertainty over the reduction of the allowance for those providing accommodation for Ukrainian refugees, the sometimes insufficient accommodation, and how the situation in their homeland will unfold. (SAV)
A new poll for the private TV Markíza shows that had the second round of the presidential election taken place in February, Speaker of Parliament and Hlas chair Peter Pellegrini would have won with almost 55 percent of the votes, followed by former foreign affairs minister Ivan Korčok with 45. In the first round, Pellegrini would have gained 35 percent, Korčok 34 percent, ex-justice minister Štefan Harabin 11 percent, and opposition 'Slovensko' (formerly OĽaNO) leader Igor Matovič 5 percent. (TASR)
Attending a Slovak-Indian business forum that took place last Thursday, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer) said that the country has an open door to the Indian market. The event was attended by 22 Slovak businesses and representatives of various institutions as well as more than 100 Indian business partners. (TASR)
Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas) announced that first to fourth graders in primary schools may be banned from using mobile phones, while fifth to ninth graders may be restricted in their use. The Education Ministry should finish updating guidelines by the end of March. (TASR)
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY: Occasional fog in the morning. Cloud cover will change throughout the day. Daily temperatures between 11 °C to 18 °C. Level 1 wind warning applies to the mountainous regions in the northern Slovakia, see map here. (SHMÚ)
FEBRUARY 27 NAME'S DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Alexander
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