Good evening. Here is the Monday, August 5 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Korčok to stay in politics
Diplomat Ivan Korčok. (source: SME - Jozef Jakubčo)
Talking to the Denník N daily at the Atmosféra music festival, former foreign affairs minister and unsuccessful presidential candidate Ivan Korčok said he is going to stay in politics.
"I made an internal decision that I won't quit politics and instead remain in it," he said, adding that Slovakia can do better. He wants to be involved in the next general election in 2027, but did not provide any further details. However, when asked if he will be in a party in a year, he said that he "more or less agrees" with that.
Several pro-Western parties are interested in Ivan Korčok, such as Progressive Slovakia (PS), SaS, and Demokrati, which are not in parliament. Korčok admitted that he has held talks with the leaders of individual parties.
According to a July Focus poll for Ivan Korčok, these parties would benefit from him joining them. For example, if Korčok were to join PS, with 27.6 percent it would beat current poll leader Smer with 24.7 percent in this hypothetical scenario.
If Korčok joined SaS, it would get 14 percent of votes (currently 7.2 percent), while PS would drop to 16 percent (currently 21.3 percent); if he joined Demokrati, the party would get 13 percent (currently 4.7 percent and outside parliament), while PS would get 18.
A new party led by Korčok would get 14 percent, while PS would drop to 15.6 percent). In that case, both SaS and Demokrati would be outside parliament.
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FEATURE STORY
Bratislava racetrack celebrates
The horse racetrack in Bratislava's Petržalka borough. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
This year, the horse racetrack in Bratislava's Petržalka borough celebrates its 50th anniversary. Despite an investment debt, the local derbies attract thousands of people every year.
With a few interruptions, the state-owned enterprise has mostly been managed by one man. Since January 2024, Marián Šurda he has been in office again and in recent weeks he has faced criticism from the operators of food stands whose rent he is increasing, as well as from employees with whom he wants to sign new contracts.
EVENT FOR WEDNESDAY
Yoga practice at historic castle
The ruins of Devín Castle. (source: TASR)
On Wednesday evening, visitors to Devín Castle will have the opportunity to take part in a yoga practice during sunset. Don't forget to bring your own yoga mat. Admission is €8, tickets available either at the gate before the event starts or online here. The next session will take place on August 21.
IN OTHER NEWS
Last Friday, the police carried out a preventive exercise against illegal migration and smuggling on the border with Ukraine. More than 400 police officers took part in it. Ján Dudáš, director of the Border and Foreigner Police Office, said that roughly 700 people have crossed the eastern border illegally since the beginning of the year, but all have been caught. These were mostly Ukrainian men who tried to avoid conscription in Ukraine. "These people, if they do not pose a security risk, usually apply for temporary refuge and remain under the protection of the Slovak Republic. We don't send them back if they don't pose a threat," he said. (TASR)
From August 6, applications for temporary refuge will be processed at all foreign police departments since the large-capacity centre in Bratislava has been closed. "Office hours are set for Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 to 13:30. From Monday, reservations are mandatory through the reservation system on the Interior Ministry website. (TASR)
Although Slovak skeet shooters Danka Barteková (left) and Vanesa Hocková (right) both made it to the finals, they did not win a medal. Hocková was the closest to winning the bronze, but placed 4th, while Barteková placed 6th. (source: TASR)
On Saturday morning, a special repatriation flight landed at Bratislava airport, bringing two Slovaks home. One is 25-year-old Alexandra Horkavá who suffered a moped accident during a trip to Nicaragua last year, after which she fell into a coma. Before her return, she was treated in Philadelphia, USA. The other is an unknown man. (TV Noviny)
The Perseids meteor shower is currently increasing its activity, with the peak expected during the night of August 12-13. According to the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the best conditions to observe the meteor shower will be in the days ahead of the peak. The shower's radiant is in the constellation of Perseus in the north-eastern part of the night sky. (SAV)
On Friday evening, a 20-year-old man aimed a fake gun at Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok during a fair in Stropkov, eastern Slovakia. The man was apprehended by the minister's bodyguards. Criminal prosecution was initiated in the case due to dangerous threat. (noviny.sk)
With a time of 1:58.22, Slovak athlete Gabriela Gajanová set a new Slovak record during the women's 800-metre semifinals on Sunday. However, it was not enough for her to make it to the finals. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY: Light cloud cover, but at the beginning of the day overcast in eastern Slovakia with showers and rain in some places. Daily temperatures between 23 °C to 29 °C. (SHMÚ)
AUGUST 6 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Jozefína
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