News digest: Fico wants Europe to take lessons from Uzbekistan

Good evening. Here is the Monday, June 9 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Fico flirts with authoritarianism on state visit to Uzbekistan

PM Robert Fico. (source: TASR/AP)

During an official visit to Uzbekistan on Monday, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) once again advocated for what he calls “effective governance”, and expressed admiration for one-party states.

According to the TASR newswire, Fico argued that Europe needs to reconsider its political systems based on free democratic elections. He suggested that countries such as Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and China have taken what he described as a “more economically efficient” path, while multi-party democracies struggle to keep up in the long run. In his opinion, Slovakia would benefit from reduction of the number of parties.

“When you have 100 political parties, you can't compete. When you have a government made up of four political entities, you can't compete,” Fico stated. Slovakia is currently governed by a three-party coalition consisting of Smer, Hlas, and SNS.

He went on to describe Uzbekistan as “a country built on a strong, wise, and educated president,” adding that his comments refer to democratically free parliamentary elections in Slovakia, but also to reducing the number of political parties.

However, rights groups and international observers paint a different picture of Uzbekistan’s political system. According to Amnesty International, the Uzbek authorities have continued to tighten control over freedom of expression and the media, stifling genuinely independent outlets.

In its report on the country’s 2024 parliamentary elections, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) concluded that, despite some reforms, voters lacked genuine choice. All five registered parties are loyal to the president, with opposition voices effectively excluded.

Fico concluded by stating that there is value in looking to alternative systems for inspiration.

Looking for the perfect lightning

(source: Benji)

When a storm approaches, most people seek shelter. Not these two. Andrea and Benji—as they prefer to be known—have been observing and documenting storms across central Slovakia for several years. They pursue storms intentionally, guided by weather forecasts, often travelling tens or even hundreds of kilometres. They regularly share the results of their work with the public and with experts.

EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND

Confluence of history and culture

Devín Castle. (source: TASR)

Devín Castle, situated at the confluence of the Morava and Danube rivers and a historic crossroads of various cultures, will host a new one-day festival called Sútok (Confluence) on Saturday, June 14. The event aims to highlight the site’s rich heritage while blending it with contemporary culture. Visitors can look forward to guided tours, three DJ sets, evening concerts, discussions, and more. Standard admission is €20, with reduced tickets for children, students, and seniors starting at €10. More information is available here.

IN OTHER NEWS

Slovakia will introduce mandatory school-leaving exams in mathematics from the 2030/2031 academic year, following the example of countries such as France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. The change will apply to students starting the first year of secondary school on September 1, 2027. The basic-level test will be compulsory for students at secondary technical schools and many vocational schools. For secondary grammar schools, the basic-level exam will take place in the third year, while students intending to study at technical universities will sit a higher-level exam in the fourth year. Pilot testing is set to begin in September 2026. (TASR)
Foreign police officers from Czechia, Poland, and Romania will help maintain security during the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, taking place in Slovakia from June 11 to 28. The officers will assist in calming tensions involving foreign football fans and help overcome language barriers. Police officers at the event will also use body cameras equipped with weapon detection and real-time translation features supporting up to 120 languages. (TASR)
A new survey shows that 51 percent of Slovak families and 37 percent of childless couples live from paycheck to paycheck. Although couples without children generally face fewer financial constraints, their higher spending makes it difficult for them to build savings or invest, similar to families. Saving money is a problem for 56 percent of families and 45 percent of couples. Only 40 percent in both groups have managed to save up to six times their monthly income. The survey was conducted in last September by 2muse on behalf of 365.bank, with a sample of 1,015 people. (TASR)

Strong wind damaged the roof the Teodor Jozef Mousson Primary School in Michalovce, eastern Slovakia, on Sunday, June 8. The town declared emergency. (source: TASR)

Internet users in Slovakia are exposed to nearly 700 advertisements daily, placing the country 35th in a global ranking of advertising exposure. This puts Slovakia among the most ad-saturated countries. For comparison, Nauru, an island in Oceania, tops the list with 1,600 daily ads, followed by Iceland with 1,500 and Qatar with 1,200. Slovaks are also three times more likely to encounter ads in mobile apps than on websites. (TASR, Eskimi)
The Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) has opened the fifth round of its Impulz grant programme, aimed at attracting researchers from abroad to carry out projects in Slovakia. Selected projects can receive up to €160,000 annually. The call remains open until 2 September, with the anticipated project start date in April 2026. According to SAV Chair Martin Venhart, the programme is aimed at established scientists who are expected to introduce innovative research ideas. The broader aim is to strengthen SAV institutes, attract new talent, and boost their ability to compete for prestigious European grants. (SAV)
Several ice hockey clubs in Slovakia’s top league, the Tipsport Extraliga, have signed players from Canada and the United States with experience in the NHL and other overseas leagues. American Zach Osburn returns to the league after two years, this time joining HK Nitra, having previously played for Dukla Michalovce, where he was the top-scoring defenceman with 16 goals. Canadian Elias Carmichael has also joined HK Nitra, his first team outside North America. Canadian Jonny Tychonick will play for HK Spišská Nová Ves, where the team hopes he will become a key player. HKM Zvolen has signed Canadians Jayce Hawryluk and Tanner Kaspick, both WHL champions and gold medallists at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. American Andrew Lucas will play for HC Banská Bystrica, marking his first European engagement. Canadians Turner Elson and Ryan O'Connor have joined HC Slovan Bratislava. (Sportnet)
Slovak figure skater Adam Hagara has received an invitation to compete in the NHK Trophy in Japan, part of the ISU Grand Prix series. The event, taking place from November 7 to 9, will mark Hagara’s debut in the prestigious series. He is well liked in Japan, where fans often attend his competitions across Europe. (Sportnet)