Good evening. Here is theThursday, November 7 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
PM Fico’s fiscal plan will hit families with children hard
An illustrative image. (source: Pexels)
The fiscal consolidation package approved in early October will have a far greater impact on people’s budgets than initially anticipated, according to the Council for Budget Responsibility’s latest analysis. The council’s report, which includes indirect effects such as corporate tax adjustments, suggests that families with children will feel the package’s impact most keenly, notes council chair Ján Tóth.
According to the council’s estimates, individual incomes are set to decrease by €180 annually, while a two-person household with one child could see a reduction of nearly €500 per year. Families with children will be most affected, with reductions or eliminations of child benefits depending on the child’s age. Meanwhile, childless couples may experience a fall in annual income of up to €520.
The average nominal monthly wage in the second quarter of 2024 stood at €1,520.
Pensioners, many of whom support the ruling coalition, will also feel the effects, though their income will not decrease next year thanks to the additional 13th pension payment, which this year stands at €606. In 2024, the average retirement pension is nearly €670 per month.
The package, designed to improve public finances, has already begun to dent the government coalition’s popularity, which has started to slip.
Experts generally welcome measures aimed at securing long-term fiscal sustainability but argue that the package’s composition is less than ideal. A greater reliance on VAT, which has only a temporary effect on the economy, would have been preferable to higher corporate taxes, which risk stalling wage growth and broader economic expansion.
As it stands, the package’s current structure suggests that the government may need to pursue further fiscal consolidation in the years ahead.
MORE BUSINESS STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
Transport: The first train connecting Bratislava and Kyiv will depart in mid-December.
Pensions:Foreigners who worked in Slovakia for fewer than 10 years will not qualify for the full extra 13th pension payment.
Business: German companies in Slovakia report scaling back investment and plans for workforce expansion.
Energy: Shell Slovakia has opened its first LNG filling station for heavy-duty vehicles near Lozorno, in western Slovakia, bringing the country’s total number of LNG stations to nine.
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FEATURE STORY
The most common surnames in Slovakia, explained
Slovak surnames. (source: Sme/Flourish)
Explore the lists of popular surnames across Slovakia’s regional capitals, and uncover the linguistic and cultural threads woven into each name.
EVENTS
What’s on in Bratislava
Poprad players celebrate their 4-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava on November 3, 2024 in Poprad. (source: TASR - František Iván)
In the days ahead, Bratislava has something for everyone, whether you’re a lover of tunes, keys, or pucks. Dive into the beat of a folk music festival, settle in for an enchanting concert by a French pianist, or feel the adrenaline of a good hockey game. With both free and ticketed events on offer, the city invites you to take your pick.
IN OTHER NEWS
Coalition lawmakers have approved changes to the Freedom of Information Act. The amendments will introduce fees for accessing information from March 2024, although the law does not specify the amounts. The approved proposal also extends the basic timeframe for providing information to citizens from eight to 12 working days. The changes have been criticised by the opposition and non-governmental organisations. The proposal was put forward by the far-right Slovak National Party.
The number of doctor resignations in hospitals continues to rise, now exceeding 3,300. Doctors are also considering resigning over overtime work. Further negotiations between the doctors and the health minister are scheduled for next week.
There will be no ban on promoting or supporting ideas and views related to various sexual orientations and gender identities in schools after MPs rejected an amendment to the education law in a vote on Thursday. The amendment, proposed by far-right members of the Slovak National Party (SNS), also aimed to introduce an explicit definition of “non-traditional sexual orientation”, which the SNS argued would include any sexual orientation that deviates from the traditional understanding of a relationship between a man and a woman. (TASR)
On Thursday, the parliament swiftly condemned former president Andrej Kiska (2014-2019) following his conviction last week in a tax case. The resolution, presented by coalition lawmakers this week, accuses Kiska of deceiving citizens and presidential election opponents. Seventy-seven of the 79 coalition MPs supported the motion. Kiska, who has stepped back from politics, was once a vocal opponent of Prime Minister Robert Fico, who in 2022 faced charges of supporting a criminal group that sought to discredit Kiska. The former president now risks losing his presidential benefits, as stipulated by a law passed by the coalition-controlled parliament after a shooting attack on the prime minister in May 2024.
President Peter Pellegrini does not pay for his accommodation in a villa in Bratislava’s Vrakuňa district, which is owned by the little-known Hlas MP Peter Náhlik, according to Pellegrini’s asset declaration. Pellegrini is the former leader of the Hlas party. Náhlik was described as Pellegrini’s alleged boyfriend during the presidential campaign earlier this year. Náhlik hails from a family that does business with an oligarch linked to the ruling Smer party, led by Robert Fico. Pellegrini owns a three-room flat beneath Bratislava Castle, which he has described as “tiny”. He has yet to explain how he could afford the property, valued at over €400,000. (Denník N)
The dried-up Skalnaté Pleso mountain lake in the High Tatras on November 3, 2024. (source: TASR - František Iván)
Richard Glück, a member of the Smer party who gained notoriety for his controversial claim that a raped woman should report the crime to the police immediately, has been appointed chair of the parliamentary defence and security committee. The coalition MP secured 85 votes, with six opposition members also backing his appointment. These votes likely came from the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). Glück has previously physically attacked opposition politician and former prime minister Igor Matovič and has expressed refusal to fight for Slovakia in the event of war.
The purchase of the BBC 1 Plus building in Bratislava by the Justice Ministry for two city courts, valued at over €55 million, could soon be under scrutiny by the European Commission. The price — the highest of three offers — as well as the selection process, has raised concerns with the unsuccessful bidder, Pressburg Tower Property. Minister Boris Susko (Smer) cancelled the previous tender for the building and launched a new one. However, the same building emerged as the winner, this time at a cost several million euros higher. The ministry wants to use EU funds from the recovery plan to pay for the building. (Sme)
Lawmakers have wrapped up the October session, which was originally scheduled to end on October 31. They will reconvene in the debating chamber on November 26. However, they won’t be having a break, as parliamentary committees will continue to function.
WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: Mostly partly cloudy, with occasional fog or low cloud cover. Daytime highs ranging from 6°C to 14°C. (SHMÚ)
NOVEMBER 8 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Bohumír.
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