Good day and welcome to your Monday, 7 July edition of Today in Slovakia. I will be guiding you through the week while Matúš Beňo takes a well-earned break.
IT IS A DATE: President Peter Pellegrini is expected to finally sit down with Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová at the palace on Tuesday. The original meeting, slated for late June, was mysteriously pulled – no explanation offered. The agenda? Still under wraps. But with public frustration over Šimkovičová mounting, we can hazard a guess.
COURT WATCH: Also Tuesday, all eyes shift to Banská Bystrica, where the trial begins for Juraj Cintula – the retiree charged with attempting to assassinate PM Robert Fico in May 2024.
And on Monday... It was water, water everywhere. Let’s dive into what the storms left behind.
Eastern Slovakia reels from monster storm
A fast-moving supercell tore through eastern Slovakia Monday evening, leaving a trail of destruction and at least 25 municipalities scrambling under emergency declarations.
Wind gusts clocked in at over 120 km/h, ripping off rooftops, toppling trees, crushing cars and knocking out power for tens of thousands. The hardest-hit? Prešov, where the city crisis team declared a state of emergency just after 18:00, and Gelnica, where a block of flats lost its entire roof in one dramatic swoop.
“It flew across two houses and landed on the main road,” one resident in Chminianska Nová Ves told local reporters. Others shared scenes of dumpsters flying across playgrounds and trees pancaking parked vehicles.
EMERGENCY MODE: Firefighters, police, city crews and legions of volunteers were still out at midnight clearing debris, chainsaws buzzing across blocked cycle paths and uprooted graveyard trees. No injuries were reported, but material damage is extensive, said Prešov city spokesperson Michal Hudák, citing at least 15 wrecked cars and major damage across all city districts.
Public transport took a hit. Bus lines rerouted, trolleys briefly suspended. Prešov’s main cemetery? Closed until further notice.
Prešov municipal services: “Entry at your own risk.”
KOŠICE AND NORTHWARDS: In Košice, part of the city’s tram network was knocked offline after trees collapsed onto overhead wires.
The Interior Ministry says 25 towns and villages across Prešov and Košice Regions have declared emergencies, including Svidník, Sabinov, and Lúčka. In Svinia, they have already hit flood alert level III, after branches jammed the Malá Svinka stream.
ELECTRIC SHOCK: The storm downed power lines from Bardejov to Krompachy. Východoslovenská distribučná said it had restored electricity to half of the affected customers by nightfall, but warned repairs may stretch into Tuesday and beyond.
And that ancient herb dryer in Hanušovce nad Topľou, classified as a national cultural monument? Flattened. MP Alojz Hlina (SaS), who had plans to buy and move it to Bratislava, now wants police protection to secure the wreckage from theft.
THE WEATHER BEHIND THE WEATHER: This was not just a fluke. Meteorologists blame a cold front colliding with record July heat, forming what they call “supercells” – rare, long-lasting, rotation-prone storms that can spin out large hail, downbursts and, well, this.
Climatologist Jozef Pecho warned that parts of Slovakia could see 150+ mm of rain by Friday. Some northern areas might even top 200 mm. “This isn’t over yet,” he posted.
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ANNIVERSARY IN BLOOM
Built beneath a graveyard, guarded by a tower
Slovakia’s largest botanical garden, hidden beneath a cemetery and guarded by a vineyard watchtower, turns 75 – and it has never looked greener.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR
NATIONAL PRIDE, PRIVATE PARTY: At a taxpayer-funded celebration, PM Robert Fico turned a national holiday into a stage for hard-line speeches and loyalist fanfare, while ordinary citizens were left outside the fences.
TRUTH BEHIND THE ICONS: Cyril and Methodius did not forge the Slovak nation, says historian Miroslav Lysý – but their legacy still matters.
FORGIVE? Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár has ignited a political firestorm by calling for “forgiveness” for Russia, comparing it to post-WWII Germany.
SPACE ROCK, LOCAL DROP: A blazing bolide lit up skies over Slovakia and Hungary on Saturday night, with experts saying meteorite fragments may have landed in southern Slovakia.
SWEET REVIVAL: A crumbling manor where Franz Sacher once whipped up his legendary dessert is getting a new lease on life – complete with a café serving the original Sachertorte in the very kitchen he used.
Shock off, towels out
After a three-week chlorine blitz, Štúrovo’s Vadaš Thermal Resort is back in business – all outdoor pools have been cleared for action.
WHAT HAPPENED: The regional public health authority in Nové Zámky gave the all-clear after lab tests found no trace of the brain-eating Naegleria fowleri, aka the “deadly amoeba”, that sparked panic following the tragic death of an 11-year-old boy in mid-June.
Juraj Benko, the region’s chief hygienist, said follow-up testing will continue during operation. But for now, the pools are deemed safe.
OPEN FOR SPLASHING: The resort’s outdoor pools reopen to overnight guests on Monday (weather permitting) and to the broader public on Tuesday, 8 July, confirmed resort director Endre Hogenbuch.
WHAT IT COST: With only two pools partially open since June 15, the resort has taken a beating. Hogenbuch estimates lost revenues of up to €1 million, with peak summer weekends normally drawing 9,000 to 10,000 visitors.
BACKGROUND: The alarm bells rang after the death of a child who had reportedly attended a swimming course at the resort. Tests detected potentially harmful Acanthamoeba in eight samples taken in June – not as deadly, but still enough to trigger a full chlorine shock: 10x the usual levels, pumped aggressively through the system.
WHAT’S NEXT: Vigilance. The authorities say testing for amoebas will continue even with the resort open. But for now, Štúrovo’s summer season is back on – towels, sun cream, and all.
LABOUR WATCH – WHAT WORKERS WANT IN 2025: Flexibility, purpose, and digital skills top the list, according to ManpowerGroup’s new report on global work trends. Slovakia’s labour market is shifting fast – and employers will need to keep up.
IN OTHER NEWS
The case against ex-NAKA East chief Matej Varga is already on shaky ground – with prosecutor Juraj Figula casting doubt not only on the need for custody, but on the validity of the charges themselves. (SME)
General Prosecutor Maroš Žilinka has quashed the charges against Pavol Ďurka, a key investigator from the Čurilla team, citing legal violations under the controversial Section 363. He has ordered the police inspectorate to start over and issue a new decision. (SITA)
In 2024, the average Slovak devoured nearly 11 kilos of chocolatey treats, including 6.8 kg of pure chocolate. As prices climbed by 69 percent over two years, imports from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland kept supermarket shelves stocked ahead of World Chocolate Day on 7 July.
Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár has said he is open to changing the date of the Day of Slovaks Living Abroad, which currently coincides with the Cyril and Methodius holiday on 5 July. He wants a new date that better reflects the history of the diaspora community. (TASR)
Bratislava police stopped both a man on an e-scooter and a wheelchair user on the D1 motorway last week. Both received on-the-spot fines for the risky ride. Only motor vehicles are allowed on Slovak motorways.
Slovak political parties will receive nearly €14.3 million this year for their 2023 election results, with funding split among eight parties and one coalition. The total pot over the 2023–2027 term? A hefty €92.87 million, paid out annually by the Finance Ministry. (TASR)
Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba says Slovakia will not support the European Commission’s proposal to cut CO₂ emissions by 90 percent by 2040 – staking out a clear break with the EU’s green ambitions. (TASR)
Agriculture Minister Richard Takáč has voiced concern over the European Commission’s proposal to raise tariff quotas on Ukrainian agri-imports, warning the move could hurt Slovak farmers as EU–Ukraine trade ties deepen. (TASR)
The Agriculture Ministry has launched a €44 million support scheme for farmers forced to cull cattle due to the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Funded by the Rural Development Programme and the state budget, the call is open until 1 October. (TASR)
TUESDAY WEATHER BRIEFING: Cloudy to overcast skies, with occasional breaks in the clouds. Rain and showers moving in from the west, with local thunderstorms possible – some potentially intense. Daytime highs: 18°C–25°C, up to 29°C in the southeast. Storm, rain and wind alerts will be in effect from midday until late evening across the country. (SHMÚ)
WALK THROUGH TIME IN MALACKY: Spend your Tuesday evening on 8 July uncovering Malacky’s hidden stories during a free guided walking tour, starting at 18:00 by the old mill on Dolný koniec. Organised by the Malacky Museum, this relaxed summer stroll offers a fresh perspective on the town’s history – perfect for curious locals and culture-hungry visitors alike.
ON THE NAME DAY RADAR: It is Ivan’s turn in the spotlight on Tuesday. Got one in your contacts? Time for a cheerful všetko najlepšie!
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