Good evening. Here is the Friday, August 30 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
NAKA will be disbanded and replaced by three new units
NAKA will be dissolved this weekend. (source: SITA)
National police chief Ľubomír Solák and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) have confirmed significant changes to the Slovak police force, effective from September 1. The National Crime Agency (NAKA), which focuses on serious crime, will be dissolved this weekend, and three new units will be established: the Office for Combating Organised Crime, the National Anti-Drug Unit, and the Counter-Terrorism Centre.
The government's plan to to dissolve NAKA was reported earlier this month, but officials had made no formal announcement.
Solák stated that the changes were intended to streamline investigations and relieve specialised units from handling routine criminal offences and infractions.
According to the police, the reform draws inspiration from international models, particularly in the Czech Republic. "The National Central Office for Combating Organised Crime in the Czech Republic had 285 cases in 2020, 282 cases in 2021, and 267 cases in 2022. By comparison, NAKA had 2,434 cases in 2023 alone. This figure is quite high and suggests that NAKA may have become something akin to a district police station," Solák said, although he did not explain why this required the agency's liquidation.
The reform, he said, will be coordinated with the European Union and will not affect the roles of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office or environmental police.
As part of the changes, around 100 police officers will be reassigned, with Solák noting that their previous assignments will be considered to ensure they remain in their regional areas.
Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok, under whose department the police falls, also announced the dissolution of the National Crime Agency as of September 1, citing what he characterised as its inefficiency and high case rejection rate. He said it would be replaced with a revamped office focused on fighting organized crime, which would create a "more effective" police force.
However, Štefan Hamran, a former police chief criticised the move as an attempt to remove inconvenient officers and weaken special units, especially those targeting high-profile figures involved in public finance corruption. The changes are part of broader police reforms, which have also drawn concern from the European Commission.
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FEATURE STORY
Can you handle the splash?
Aquapark Tatralandia. (source: Aquapark Tatralandia)
Explore Slovakia's top 10 waterparks and see how the leading operators are driving record revenues and growth, from Vodný Park Bešeňová's expansive offerings to the Vadaš Thermal Resort's strategic upgrades.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
Close out summer 2024 with the Uprising festival
The Uprising festival. (source: TASR)
Wrap up the summer festival season the right way! The Uprising music festival takes place at Zlaté Piesky lakes in Bratislava this weekend, featuring a broad array of genres, from reggae to ska and Latino to drum and bass. Bid farewell to August in style with some cool music.
IN OTHER NEWS
During the nationwide celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) in Banská Bystrica on August 29, an unknown perpetrator burgled the home of 96-year-old veteran Vladimír Strmeň. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini condemned the crime as heinous and called for the return of stolen items, while Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok vowed that such cowardly acts would not be tolerated. (TASR)
Starting with the upcoming school year, approximately 400 primary schools in Slovakia will adopt a new education system, as announced by Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas). The new curriculum, which is currently in its second year of a pilot phase of 39 schools, aims to enhance environmental, financial, digital, civic, emotional and social literacy. By the 2026/2027 academic year, the updated curriculum will become mandatory for all primary schools in Slovakia. (TASR)
From September next year, Slovakia will introduce mandatory education for refugees, integrating them into classes with Slovak students to facilitate their full participation in regular schooling. The Education Ministry will continue to offer free basic and advanced Slovak language courses and will soon announce support for such courses for foreigners aged 16 and over. Additionally, a new language-education framework will be developed to improve Slovak language instruction for adult foreigners and integrate them into the workforce.
Slovakia's parliament will host an Open Day on Sunday, September 1. The event will feature a flag-raising ceremony, guided tours of the parliament building, and exhibitions such as "On the Water Ridge" showcasing historical photographs. Visitors can also explore military, police and fire-fighting equipment, enjoy performances by the Defence Ministry's music ensemble, and view exhibits at Bratislava Castle, including a display of African art and mediaeval crafts. (SITA)
WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: The recent sunny and very warm conditions will continue during the weekend. However, afternoon clouds may bring occasional showers or storms, so it may be worth carrying an umbrella. Temperatures will remain very warm, ranging from 30°C to 35°C. The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) has issued Level 1 and Level 2 warnings due to high temperatures expected on both Saturday and Sunday. (SHMÚ)
NAME DAYS IN SLOVAKIA: Saturday, August 31 - Nora; Sunday, September 1 - Drahoslava; Monday, Septermber 2 - Linda, Rebeka.
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