Good evening. Here is theTuesday, October 15edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
PM Fico orders secret service to write report on May attack against... PM Fico
PM Robert Fico (l) and Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák. (source: TASR)
The Slovak Information Service (SIS), the country’s top secret agency, has been ordered to produce a report on the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer), following a directive from the prime minister himself.
Interior Minister and Hlas party leader Matúš Šutaj Eštok, Fico’s coalition partner, confirmed this, announcing on Tuesday that the report might be submitted to parliament by the end of the year.
The attack occurred in May, when a retired man shot Fico during his visit to the town of Handlová. The investigation is under a media embargo, although Fico has repeatedly claimed that the opposition and the media were behind the attack. While the case is currently being treated as a terrorist act, the courts have expressed doubts over this classification.
Eštok said the report would be factual, although Fico himself suggested on October 5 that “terrible things” would come to light in connection with the attack. Fico has again implied that the assailant had ties to the opposition, hinting at links that go “beyond opposition parties”.
Historically, the Slovak Information Service has been misused by political leaders. Former prime minister Vladimír Mečiar exploited the agency in the 1995 kidnapping of the son of then-president Michal Kováč, with whom he had a political feud. The SIS has also been implicated in the murder of police officer Róbert Remiáš. Two years ago, the SIS released a report claiming that police investigations into corruption were being manipulated—a situation that Robert Fico has exploited ever since.
The agency is currently led by Pavol Gašpar, the son of Tibor Gašpar, a former police chief and current Smer MP, who is facing criminal charges. Fico personally insisted on his appointment, despite Pavol Gašpar lacking relevant experience in intelligence. President Peter Pellegrini appointed Gašpar in August.
On Tuesday evening, Šutaj Eštok sent a statement to the media, stating that during the press conference, he did not talk about the SIS report on the assassination attempt from May 15, but rather a report concerning other potential attacks on the prime minister. However, the minister did not mention such a report earlier on Tuesday.
Related: Eštok announced on Tuesday that four police officials had been dismissed in connection with the handling of the prime minister’s shooting. Among those removed were the police chief for the Handlová district and two officials from the Office for the Protection of Constitutional Officials and Diplomatic Missions. The dismissals were linked to neglected training sessions from last year—before Fico’s government took office in October. No bodyguards or officers directly responsible for the prime minister’s security have been removed.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
Politics: A company linked to the ruling Smer party has been trading Slovak umbilical cord blood abroad for years, claims an opposition MP.
Police: The man accused of endorsing an attack on the prime minister and charged with terrorism is well-educated and owns eight cats.
Business: Is butter expensive in Slovakia? The public and the minister can’t seem to agree.
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FEATURE STORY
Inside Tomark’s journey in engineering and aviation
Daniel Tomko Jr. with his father Daniel Tomko from Tomark. (source: Lukáš Klčo)
In the heart of Prešov, Tomark defies economic odds, transforming from a traditional manufacturer into a key player in Slovakia’s aerospace industry. After weathering the 2008 financial storm, the family-run business pivoted to innovative aircraft production, now fulfilling soaring demand. With their sights set on future growth, they are ready to take flight in a new era of engineering excellence.
CONCERT
Time to tune in: Slovak Philharmonic kicks off another season
Daniel Raiskin conducts an orchestra. (source: Alexander Trizuljak)
Next week marks the beginning of the 76th season at the Slovak Philharmonic. While the opening concerts are nearly sold out, plenty of other performances are still available for selection. The season will run until June 26, 2025. Daniel Raiskin, a native of St. Petersburg who now resides in Amsterdam, will serve as the principal conductor for his fifth season. Numerous conductors will grace the stage at the Reduta, the Philharmonic’s home in Bratislava.
IN OTHER NEWS
On Tuesday, Interior Minister Šutaj Eštok has confirmed reports regarding alleged trafficking of appointment slots at the Foreigners’ Police offices, raising suspicions of traffickers infiltrating the online booking system. This issue is already being addressed by law enforcement agencies and the police inspectorate of the Interior Ministry. “We have also installed software to prevent similar cases from occurring,” the minister emphasised.
In September, inflation decreased to 2.6 percent, down from 2.8 percent in August. Food prices, however, have remained above 3 percent for the second consecutive month. (Statistics Office)
On Monday evening, Facebook blocked the page “All4Ukraine – Help for Ukraine,” citing a violation of its policies by impersonating another identity. The Facebook profile was restored approximately 24 hours after it was blocked. The specifics behind the social media platform’s decision regarding the profile managed by the nonprofit organisation All4Ukraine remain unclear. (Sme)
At Gymnázium Leonarda Stöckela, a grammar school in Bardejov, eastern Slovakia, students aimed to commemorate the 2022 murder of two queer people in Bratislava. Initially, the school encouraged students to wear something colourful. However, after the event faced criticism from far-right MEP Milan Mazurek, it was rebranded as a general call for students to don their favourite colours. Mazurek labelled the memorial event as propaganda and ideological indoctrination on social media. Following the school’s decision to dilute the event’s focus, he remarked that he had triumphed over “rainbow fanatics”. A similar situation happened in Trenčín. (Korzár)
The government approved a budget today that projects revenues of €59.9 billion and expenditures of €66.5 billion, pending parliamentary approval. The public finance deficit is expected to decrease to 4.7 percent of GDP next year, 3.7 percent in 2026, and 3 percent by 2027. To achieve this gradual reduction, the Finance Ministry has indicated that additional consolidation measures amounting to 1.9 percent of GDP, or €2.8 billion, will need to be introduced by 2027. However, trade unions from the Confederation of Trade Unions have expressed their opposition to the proposed budget and are considering protests. Likewise, the largest employers’ organisations have also withheld support for the budget proposal for the upcoming year. (TASR)
The Antimonopoly Office conducted a raid last week on hospitals affiliated with the Association of Slovak Hospitals, which represents 75 healthcare facilities. Dominating the organisation are the two largest private hospital networks in Slovakia: Penta Hospitals and Agel. The office suspects these hospital networks of collusion, a claim that both Penta and Agel vehemently deny. (Sme)
Take That performs in Bratislava on October 15, 2024. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: On Wednesday, expect mostly clear to partly cloudy skies. In the morning, some areas may experience localized fog or low cloud cover. Daytime temperatures will range from 10°C to 17°C. Overall, it will be a pleasant day, with some morning mist dissipating as the sun rises. (SHMÚ)
OCTOBER 16 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Vladimíra.
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