Good to have you on board! Here’s your latest Today in Slovakia – Monday’s top news, all in one place.
But first, a dose of weekend “drama”!
Former MP calls out actors – audience calls her out
MP Romana Tabaková in parliament in June 2022 (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
Actors at the Slovak National Theatre’s drama ensemble have been reading out a letter of protest after every performance for months, warning that Slovakia’s cultural sector is under threat. Their statement is a direct challenge to the nationalist-led Culture Ministry, headed by Minister Martina Šimkovičová and her chief of staff, Lukáš Machala, whose tenure has been marked by purges in cultural institutions. One of their most controversial decisions was the dismissal of Matej Drlička, then the theatre’s director.
Before reading the statement, the actors inform the audience that staying or leaving is entirely their choice. On March 8, during a dramatic performance of “Blood Wedding” by Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca, former MP and ex-junior tennis hopeful Romana Tabaková was in the crowd. She remained in her seat but interrupted the reading, claiming it breached the theatre’s ethical code.
She told the actors to take their political views to public squares rather than the stage, echoing a line frequently used by Minister Šimkovičová and her allies.
“I came here to relax. Take your politics to the squares,” the xenophobic and homophobic politician declared, before adding that the actors had been “wonderful” in the performance.
The premiere of "Blood Wedding" in November 2024 (source: Facebook - Peter Chvostek)
Boos: The audience’s reaction was immediate. Former MP Tabaková barely managed to finish her outburst before being drowned out by jeers and loud whistling. Chants of “shame, shame” erupted in the theatre, with several spectators calling on her to leave. One audience member pointed out that Tabaková – known for her fluid political loyalties, having moved from OĽaNO (now Slovensko) to Sme Rodina and later to the nationalist Slovak National Party – allegedly missed two-thirds of the performance. Actor Martin Šalacha, who was reading the protest letter on stage, fired back directly. “I’ve seen you here before, more focused on your phone than the play,” he said.
Ex-MP’s theatrical disapproval: Romana Tabaková, now working at the Sports and Tourism Ministry, stayed in her seat, occasionally shaking her head in disapproval and smirking. A video of the incident ended with her remarking: “They’re reading from a piece of paper – they can’t even say it in their own words.” On Monday, Tabaková took to social media to brand the Slovak National Theatre a “den of brazen liberals”.
Weekend meltdown goes viral: Tabaková, like many others, filmed the entire incident on her phone. Videos quickly surfaced on social media. One recording even made its way to Zomri, a popular satirical page. By the end of the past weekend, much of Slovakia – if not the whole country – was laughing at the former MP’s outburst.
Clash at SND: Slovak National Theatre’s interim director, Zuzana Ťapáková, sees actors reading a letter critical of the Culture Ministry as political activism that has no place in theatre. She argues they are breaching the SND’s ethical code. But drama ensemble chief Miriam Kičiňová disagrees, insisting no rules are being broken since the actors are not speaking on behalf of any political party.
Tabaková’s team: Tabaková has found support from familiar pro-Russian voices, including MEP Ľuboš Blaha and conspiracy theorist Lukáš Machala. Machala went even further, branding the actors and audience members “moral waste” on social media.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR
Fico’s fixation: On Monday, Prime Minister Robert Fico weighed in on the Romanian elections again. Over the weekend, however, his focus was on women.
Last week in Slovakia: The real decisions on strengthening Europe will be made elsewhere – without Fico or Slovakia at the table, writes special contributor Michaela Terenzani in her weekly newsletter.
Syrian star: A Syrian footballer is making waves in a Slovak club.
Beach: Residents of Liptovský Mikuláš are set to enjoy their first city beach on the shores of one of Slovakia’s largest reservoirs. But today, the reservoir is drawing attention for a very different reason.
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INTERVIEW
Meet the Ukrainian baker bringing a taste of home to Bratislava
Mykola Nevrev (source: Sme - Jozef Jakubčo)
Once a cybernetics student and later a photographer, Ukrainian Mykola Nevrev embarked on a journey that led him to Slovakia, where he discovered his calling in artisan breadmaking. Now, alongside his business partner Oksana Isaienko, he is not just running a bakery in Bratislava – he is helping to sustain Ukraine’s bread supply in the face of war.
RUDE BOY
Slovak “journalist” takes a swipe at von der Leyen
Several days before Slovakia marked International Women’s Day on March 8, Dominik Papala, a reporter for the disinformation outlet eReport, took to Telegram to post a crude remark about European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Auntie could do with a bit of a facelift. A drop of Botox wouldn’t go amiss. At 66, she looks far worse than my grandmother, who is significantly older than Auntie Ursula,” Papala wrote, reacting to von der Leyen’s call to bolster Europe’s defence capabilities.
Papala sits on Slovakia’s Platform for the Support of Press Freedom and the Protection of Journalists - despite displaying little regard for journalistic ethics. He represents the civil society sector, despite having no apparent experience in it, having replaced anti-corruption NGO chief Zuzana Petková.
His appointment prompted an exodus: in September 2024, the Ján Kuciak Investigative Centre and Reporters Without Borders suspended their participation in the platform’s meetings in protest. The platform was established in October 2023 to align the country with international commitments on media freedom, including EU and Council of Europe recommendations. Its members include state officials, independent institutions, NGOs, and media representatives.
IN OTHER NEWS
From March 11 to 14, written school-leaving exams will take place at 689 secondary schools across Slovakia. More than 41,000 students will be tested on Slovak language and literature, a foreign language, mathematics, and, for Hungarian and Ukrainian minority students, their mother tongue. Among them, around 2,700 students have a disability, highlighting the need for inclusive exam conditions. (TASR)
On Monday, March 10, Slovakia launched a week-long road safety operation, SEATBELT, as part of the Europe-wide initiative led by ROADPOL. During this period, traffic police will focus on enforcing seatbelt use and child restraint systems in vehicles.
Opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Šimečka met on Monday with independent MP Samuel Migaľ, who, along with fellow independent MP Radomír Šalitroš, was expelled from the coalition Hlas party. The talks focused on the parliamentary situation and the election of the speaker of parliament. Šimečka later stated that they agreed Investments Minister Richard Raši (Hlas) was not a suitable candidate for the role. However, Šimečka and Migaľ made no mention of any potential deal or collaboration following their meeting. (TASR)
The coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) has urged Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) to sack Statistics Office chief Martin Nemky over a poll suggesting SNS would have secured just 1.5 percent of the vote if a parliamentary election had been held in late February. Accusing the agency of gross manipulation, SNS is demanding Nemky immediately disclose the poll’s methodology. The poll in question has been released by the Social Research Centre, which is part of Infostat, an organisation that comes under the Statistics Office.(Sme)
Slovakia’s industrial sector - a key pillar of the economy - shrank for the first time in six months, with output falling by 5.2 percent year-on-year in January. Despite a rise in car production, overall industrial output failed to stabilise. The decline was driven by sharp drops in metal production, energy, and machinery manufacturing.
Industry, a key sector of the Slovak economy, recorded its first decline in six months. (source: The Statistics Office)
More than 63 percent of Slovaks favour a Western orientation, while just over 19 percent prefer closer ties with the East, according to a Focus poll for the Future Slovakia Forum. Meanwhile, only a third of respondents are satisfied with the foreign policy of Robert Fico’s government, and 51.5 percent see Russia as a threat.
A special parliamentary session, called by the opposition Progressive Slovakia to repeal the coalition’s financial transaction tax, will not take place. Deputy Speaker Peter Žiga (Hlas), who was set to preside over the session, said he could not convene it, as the agenda mirrors a proposal rejected by parliament last December. Under parliamentary rules, a six-month waiting period must pass before a rejected measure can be reintroduced. (TASR)
Slovakia’s American football club, St. Nicolaus Bratislava Monarchs, kicks off its milestone 30th season this year.
TUESDAY WEATHER BRIEFING: A mostly cloudy to overcast day, with occasional breaks in the cloud cover. Scattered showers are expected in some areas, becoming more widespread in the east by the afternoon. Snowfall is likely on the Tatra peaks, but elsewhere, temperatures will remain mild, reaching between 12°C and 17°C. A predominantly southerly wind will blow at speeds of up to 20 km/h. (SHMÚ)
Skiers on a snow-covered slope during the spring holidays at the Vrátna Malá Fatra ski resort near the village of Terchová, Žilina District, on Friday, March 7, 2025. (source: TASR - Daniel Stehlík)
HAPPY NAME DAY: March 11 is a special day for Angela and Angelika, so if you know one, don’t forget to send your warmest wishes. Všetko najlepšie!
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