Good evening. Here is theMonday, October 16 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in fewer than five minutes.
Coalition agreement signed
From left: Peter Pellegrini (Hlas), Robert Fico (Smer) and Andrej Danko (SNS) during signing of the coalition agreement. (source: TASR)
On Monday, the leaders of Smer, Hlas and SNS (Slovak National Party) signed a coalition agreement in the old parliament building on Župné Námestie Square.
Following the ceremony, Smer leader Robert Fico informed the public about the distribution of individual ministries, however, no names were revealed. Fico said that he wanted to announce them to President Zuzana Čaputová first.
The Smer nominee will hold the post of prime minister. The party will also appoint justice, transport, finance, foreign affairs, defence and agriculture ministers.
Hlas will head the interior, economy, health, investment and regional development, labour and education ministries. Finally, SNS will appoint environment and culture ministers. When the new sport and tourism ministry is established on January 1, 2024, it will be chaired by a SNS nominee.
See a list of people who might sit in Fico's fourth cabinet.
The Smer head would like the new parliament to take a vote on the government's manifest and express its confidence by November 17. The coalition representatives would like to meet the deadline in case the government is appointed next week.
In addition, Fico suggested changes to criminal law and human rights protection mechanisms.
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FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY
Things to know about the emerging Fico government
From left: Peter Pellegrini (Hlas), Robert Fico (Smer), Andrej Danko (SNS). (source: TASR)
It is still true that Boris Kollár’s time in top politics is over, at least for now, and that Republika will not be represented in the parliament, optimists were keen to remind us.
But it is also true that Fico’s cabinet may include a fiercely pro-Russian and anti-diversity small-town mayor Rudolf Huliak as environment minister. He was quick to say that if he were to lead the government – a fantasy prospect – his first trip would be to Moscow, to "ask forgiveness" for Slovakia sending weapons to Ukraine.
Read the summary in Michaela Terenzani's Last Week in Slovakia.
EVENT FOR THE WEEK
Legendary festival is back
Last year's Bratislava Jazz Days. (source: TASR)
The Bratislava Jazz Days festival returns this weekend, bringing genre stars to the Slovak capital, including singer and pianist Reuben James, saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, trumpeter Theo Croker, and bands like The Comet Is Coming.
The event will take place in the Studio A4 venue between October 20-22. For more information including programme, tickets and more, click here (in English).
IN OTHER NEWS
According to three sources from diplomacy and the future government, Smer is considering Marek Eštok as the head of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Eštok, a career diplomat who represented Slovakia in France during the former Smer governments, is to succeed Foreign Minister Miroslav Wlachovský. (Sme)
Seismologists recorded several aftershocks in connection with the earthquake that shook eastern Slovakia on October 9 evening. Two were stronger, nine fainter (Slovak Academy of Sciences).
On Saturday, the special government plane brought another 90 people from Israel to the Bratislava airport. In addition to 46 Slovaks, there were also 44 citizens from the Czech Republic, Austria, Canada, Germany, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Portugal, Poland, Ukraine, Great Britain, US, Spain, Croatia, Montenegro and Israel. (TASR)
New MP Rudolf Huliak, who was elected on the slate of the SNS party, was interrogated by the National Crime Agency on Monday morning regarding his comments about the LGBT+ community. Huliak said that 'when two men engage in sexual activity, CO2 and other compounds are produced' and these, in his opinion, contribute to global warming. In addition, he also suggested hanging a conservationist who was behind the study on the number of bears. (TASR)
The Interior Ministry plans to launch a warning system called 'Reverse 112' as of next year. This system will allow for sending both warning and information messages to mobile phones in case of emergency events. The system will supplement the already used system of sirens, broadcast over radio and TV. (TASR)
The Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) reports that Dutch heat pump manufacturer BDR Thermea plans to open a plant and gradually create approximately 750 new jobs in Vranov nad Topľou, eastern Slovakia. The production is expected to start in the fourth quarter of next year. (SITA)
Spiš Castle with a crane during a reconstruction. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY
Occasional fog in the morning. Mostly cloudy throughout the day, with daily temperatures between 7 °C to 14 °C. Light breeze. (SHMÚ)
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