Good evening. Here is theTuesday, October 22 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Three MPs ditch Danko’s caucus in parliament
Independent MPs from the National Coalition: Pavel Ľupták (l), Rudolf Huliak (c), and Ivan Ševčík (r). (source: TASR - Pavel Neubauer)
Far-right MP Rudolf Huliak, leader of the small, Russia-friendly National Coalition party, has left the Slovak National Party (SNS) caucus, along with two other MPs (Ivan Ševčík, Pavel Ľupták) from his party. Huliak, who gained a parliamentary seat on the far-right SNS’s slate last year, made the announcement at a press conference, stating, “Our voices went unheard.”
Huliak, the mayor of Očová and a hunter who had hoped to become environment minister last year, has recently drawn controversy. He verbally attacked queer MP Lucia Plaváková, offering an apology not to her but to “decent women”. He also demanded that the SNS rename its parliamentary caucus to include the National Coalition, a request SNS leader Andrej Danko rejected outright, calling Huliak a traitor. Following this, at least one person linked to Huliak lost their position at an agency within the Environment Ministry, currently headed by SNS’s ultraconservative nominee, Tomáš Taraba.
As a result of Huliak’s departure, the SNS will lose its parliamentary caucus, as it no longer has the required eight MPs, dropping to seven. This loss strips the party of caucus-related privileges, a significant blow to the SNS, one of the three coalition parties.
Danko has not responded to Huliak’s decision.
Despite the split, Huliak has vowed to continue supporting the ruling coalition but will oppose SNS’s ambition to take the speaker’s seat, currently held by its coalition partner, Hlas. Huliak also criticised Taraba’s management of the Environment Ministry, calling it “amateurish”. Huliak complained that Taraba is ignoring issues related to bears, beavers, and cormorants.
Related: MP Peter Kotlár, who entered parliament on the SNS slate and is tasked with investigating the alleged mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic by the previous OĽaNO-led governments, has threatened to resign if the government proceeds with the WHO’s pandemic agreement and continues the use of mRNA vaccines. Kotlár is also calling for expanded powers in his investigation. On Monday, it was announced that the police would launch their own inquiry into the pandemic’s handling. However, Kotlár has already cast doubt on the credibility of their future findings, citing his exclusion from the investigative team. Despite his dissatisfaction, Kotlár maintains his support for the ruling coalition.
Related:Denník N reported on Tuesday that the ruling coalition is seeking to remove one of its own, Hlas MP Radomír Šalitroš, who has been outspoken about the coalition’s missteps. Šalitroš has reportedly been offered the role of deputy minister at the Economy Ministry, a position left vacant after Kamil Šaško was appointed health minister on October 10.
Poll: The latest AKO poll, published on October 21, confirms a decline in the popularity of the ruling Smer party following the adoption of the fiscal consolidation package on October 3.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
Health: Hospital doctors are pressing PM Robert Fico to engage in negotiations regarding their demands, cautioning that if no agreement is reached, several thousand doctors will resign.
Communism: Andrej Babiš, the former prime minister of the Czech Republic and a notable figure in business, has reason to celebrate after the Slovak Interior Ministry confirmed that he was not an agent of the secret police during the era of communist Czechoslovakia. Historians, however, have expressed dissent regarding this conclusion.
Heritage: The Monuments Office may soon struggle to protect monuments across the country.
Disinformation: A recent discussion on the impact of disinformation and Russian influence on Central European citizens is now available for viewing.
Music: A young man enchants audiences as he plays the piano at the highest lodge in the Tatra Mountains.
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FEATURE STORY
No English, no problem: Little Stan took to the ice with the boys
Stan Mikita arriving at regular meeting with Chicago Blackhawks fans, July 26, 2013. (source: AP/TASR)
Stan Mikita, a Slovak-born hockey legend, transformed the game with his innovation of the curved blade after accidentally bending his stick during practice. Over his illustrious career, he became the first Slovak to win the Stanley Cup and the first European to surpass 1,000 points in the NHL, leaving an indelible mark on ice hockey before his passing in 2018.
TOUR
The art of Petržalka
A large-scale replica of Vincent van Gogh’s renowned painting "Sunflowers" was installed in Petržalka in 2003, initiated by the Dutch embassy. (source: TASR)
Nestled among the concrete high-rises of Petržalka and within some of its public buildings lie more than 120 pieces of artwork created in the 1980s. These include monumental murals, preserved mosaics, artistic installations in and around schools, as well as playground equipment and children’s play areas. The Saturday walk will introduce you to some of these works, familiarising you with the processes of their creation and unveiling the intriguing stories behind them.
Meeting point: Námestie Hraničiarov (Square)
Date: 14:00 on October 26, 2024
Admission: €4 (buy online)
IN OTHER NEWS
Slovakia is experiencing its highest-ever number of foreign workers, exceeding 111,000, said Michal Doliak, an analyst at the central bank. The largest influx has come from Ukraine, India, Kazakhstan, and Moldova.
Starting December 15, the new 2025 train timetable will introduce hourly services between Bratislava and Košice, with 16 express trains operating along the route, an increase from the current 11. While there will be no InterCity (IC) trains on this line, eight additional stops will be added. Of the 16 services, two—one in the morning and one in the evening—will make only 10 stops, with the journey expected to take under five hours; however, these will require mandatory reservations.
During a meeting in Komárno, southern Slovakia, on Tuesday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reached a consensus on the urgent need for a coordinated response to irregular migration. They highlighted that countries along the Western Balkans migration route bear an unequal burden in addressing the challenges associated with this issue.
In an interview with Denník N, Juraj Nevolník from Penta Real Estate stated that the company plans to focus on developing rental housing for students. He noted that many foreign students in Slovakia live in flats because the dormitories are in poor condition. “They look almost the same as they did when I left nearly 20 years ago,” Nevolník remarked, describing the dormitories as “undignified shacks”.
Forty-two percent of students in Slovakia wish to study abroad after completing their bachelor’s degree, according to a survey conducted by the Therapolis association and the Focus agency. The majority of students are heading to the Czech Republic, Hungary, and the United Kingdom.
Sharani Zuberu (r) of ŠK Slovan Bratislava and Alejandro Frances of Girona battle for the ball during the third round of the Champions League group stage match between FC Girona and ŠK Slovan Bratislava in Girona on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. ŠK Slovan lost to Girona 0-2. (source: TASR - Martin Baumann)
WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: Expect a cloudy to overcast day with occasional fog and light precipitation in some areas. Daytime temperatures will range from 10°C to 18°C. (SHMÚ)
OCTOBER 23 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Alojzia.
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