Good to have you with us! Here is the latest edition of Today in Slovakia - all the top news from Thursday, wrapped up in one place!
Priorities, priorities
Prime Minister Robert Fico with his so-called "masterminds" at the Government Office on February 27, 2025. (source: Facebook - Robert Fico)
On Thursday, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) shared a photo on his social media, showcasing how busy he is with plans to amend the Constitution. As he put it, he welcomed “masterminds” to help him find a way to make Slovak laws take precedence over EU legislation and international treaties when it comes to cultural issues. In addition, Fico wants the Constitution to recognise only two genders – male and female – and to ensure that only heterosexual married couples can adopt children.
Fico could not have picked a “better” date. On the same day, a memorial plaque was unveiled on Zámocká Street in Bratislava in honour of Juraj Vankulič and Matúš Horváth, two queer individuals who lost their lives in the terrorist attack outside Tepláreň, an LGBT+ venue, in October 2022. Thursday also marked the opening of the Community and Integration Centre In – a new safe space for LGBT+ people, offering psychological, social, and legal support. Funding for the centre’s proper operation is secured until July. (You can support the project here.)
The ceremonial unveiling of a memorial plaque honouring Juraj Vankulič and Matúš Horváth, victims of the 2022 terrorist attack outside Tepláreň. (source: Jaroslav Novák)
The prime minister must be well aware that his plan is highly unlikely to succeed. The entire push to amend the Constitution appears more like political theatre, designed to distract from his coalition’s internal struggles and Slovakia’s real problems, from soaring prices to the dire state of public finances. In parliament, Fico can currently count on 76 MPs, but to change the Constitution, he needs 90 – a feat that would require nothing short of a miracle.
76: On Thursday, PM Fico met with President Peter Pellegrini, his former protégé and coalition partner (although he reportedly still wields influence over Hlas, his political offspring), to inform him that four rebel MPs from the non-parliamentary National Coalition party, led by Rudolf Huliak, will support his coalition. Fico delivered their signatures along with a proposal to appoint Huliak – an avid hunter, a sexist, and a climate change denier – as Minister for Sports and Tourism. Pellegrini is expected to meet with Huliak, leaving the extent of Huliak’s efforts to convince him yet to be seen. So far, Pellegrini has not offered much resistance to Fico. Meanwhile, Fico still needs to win over three more rebel MPs to restore his coalition’s parliamentary majority of 79 seats.
Decent conduct: While Fico cobbles together a coalition and takes shots at NGOs and opposition leader Michal Šimečka, the head of his office – and “one of Smer’s wolves” – Juraj Gedra has drafted a “Code of Conduct for Public Officials.” “The document grants the prime minister, currently Robert Fico, the power to morally assess public officials. He is to act as the arbiter of their behaviour, holding them accountable for adhering to the ethical code. If they lose his trust, they are to be stripped of their position,” writes Denník N. Ironically, Fico and his coalition would likely struggle to abide by the very code, which emphasises transparency, decency, and openness. The document also references NGOs, specifically stating that politicians should not be associated with them.
Smer MEP Erik Kaliňák and Government Office Chief Juraj Gedra (source: Jaroslav Novák)
NGOs: This week, as already mentioned, Fico also turned his attention to NGOs. He instructed the ministries to compile a list of grants that had been allocated to them. On Wednesday, he attacked opposition leader Michal Šimečka, arguing that the organisation run by Šimečka’s mother is entangled with a European agency that is demanding the return of €160,000 related to a project from over a decade ago. Šimečka’s mother acknowledged the problem. Fico had already targeted his opponent last year – accusing his family of nepotism over state subsidies (which Fico’s own relatives also received). The governing coalition subsequently removed Šimečka from his post as deputy speaker of the parliament.
Gedra: Let’s pause for a moment on Gedra. Aktuality.sk reported that last year, he earned an average of €8,700 per month – roughly the same as government ministers – thanks to bonuses amounting to a total of €32,000. On Thursday, Gedra apologised in a pro-Russian media outlet for Slovakia’s vote at the UN General Assembly on Monday’s resolution, which designated Russia as an aggressor. His apology came despite Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer) standing by Slovakia’s vote. According to Gedra, the Government Office instructed Slovakia’s representatives to vote in favour of the US-drafted resolution but without the EU-proposed amendments. It seems that even members of Smer are not entirely sure just how pro-Russian they are supposed to be. Slovakia’s vote had already been criticised by the coalition’s pro-Russian Slovak National Party.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR
The Italian “farmer” returns: After serving time for drug trafficking, Antonino Vadala is now focusing on cattle farming in eastern Slovakia.
Christmas miracle: With wallets drained by holiday shopping, few expected a flood of donations for drones for Ukraine. Then PM Fico went to Moscow – and the money poured in.
How not to hire: Most companies are stuck recruiting for yesterday’s jobs. A new Gartner study finds that 64 percent of HR leaders have no plan for how tech will reshape skills – leaving businesses unprepared for the future, writes expert Branislav Pavlakovič.
Through foreign eyes: From fashion to open-mindedness, Slovakia surprises. Three foreigners share what makes it feel like home.
Dúbravka benched – again: The Slovak goalkeeper extended his Newcastle contract, only for the manager to once more relegate him to “number two” status.
Martin Dúbravka (source: Newcastle United / Facebook)
Orbán’s football empire: A tiny Hungarian town’s club is closing in on the title –led by a Slovak coach.
Theatre with a warning: New English-language troupe Spare Parts stages Tony Kushner’s A Bright Room Called Day, drawing uneasy parallels between Weimar Germany and Slovakia today. Don’t miss it.
Free fun in Bratislava: Three events – yes, including a carnival –that will not cost you a cent.
Slovak matters: What to say when flirting, dating, or dumping in Slovak.
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FEATURE
A Slovak entrepreneur’s journey in America
Lýdia Martinez Majdišová and her family (source: Courtesy, Lýdia Martinez Majdišová)
She left Orava for a summer job in the USA, witnessed 9/11 firsthand, and spent nine years unable to return home. Now, Lýdia Martinez Majdišová runs a thriving business on Shelter Island – but she has never let go of her Slovak roots.
THE MINISTER WANTS TO KNOW...
Which media outlets receive foreign advertising?
The Culture Ministry, led by Martina Šimkovičová, plans to introduce new rules on disclosing information about state-funded advertising and foreign-financed adverts. Under the proposed legislation, advertisers placing state-funded ads could face fines of up to €100,000, while media outlets could be fined up to €20,000 for non-compliance. The amendment to the Media Services Act, currently under review, aims to increase transparency and curb the politicisation of the media, with its implementation expected in August. Šimkovičová’s proposal primarily aligns with changes required by the European Media Freedom Act. While publishers support the initiative, they fear potential parliamentary amendments that could threaten media freedom. (Aktuality.sk)
IN OTHER NEWS
Citizens have every right to express their dissatisfaction with government policies, the Lutheran Church stated in its response to current events in Slovakia. According to the statement, politicians are simply “reaping what they have sown...” The Lutheran Church also condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and expressed its support for the EU and NATO.
Former National Crime Agency (NAKA) officers Branislav Dunčko and Róbert Magula have had the charges against them dropped in the case that led to their arrest in early December 2024, their defence attorney, Peter Kubina, announced in a social media post on Thursday.
A taxi driver was assaulted late on Wednesday night, February 26, in Bratislava’s Ružinov district by three women. Shortly after, a man attacked him with a shovel and threatened to behead him with a machete. The Bratislava Regional Police reported the incident on social media.
Police have launched a criminal prosecution over the February 26 attack on a public official and public endangerment under the influence, after a man assaulted a police officer with a machete in Košice. (TASR)
The case of diplomat Ivan Novotný from Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár’s office is heading to court. As a gay man, the Foreign Ministry refuses to grant him the childbirth allowance, which the Human Rights Centre considers discriminatory. (Denník N)
FRIDAY WEATHER BRIEFING: A little bit of everything! Expect a mix of clouds, with some areas - especially in the east - getting a dose of rain or showers. In the north, even lower elevations might wake up to a dusting of snow. Temperatures will range from a mild 7 °C to 12 °C, though Orava, Liptov, and Horný Spiš will be chillier at around 5°C. Wind? Hardly worth mentioning - just a light breeze to keep things interesting. So, grab an umbrella, a jacket, and maybe even some sunglasses - because who knows what the sky has planned. (SHMÚ)
Považský Castle, a national cultural monument, bathed in the light of the setting sun above Považské Podhradie on Saturday, February 22, 2025. (source: TASR - Martin Medňanský)
PARTY TIME: February 28 is Zlatica’s special day, so if you know one, don’t forget to send her your warmest wishes. Všetko najlepšie!
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