Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, March 20 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Korčok's best result, Harabin's support grows
The Presidential Palace in Bratislava. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
Just a few days ahead of the first round of presidential elections on Saturday, candidate Ivan Korčok's chances of winning are the highest they have been since he announced his candidacy in the summer of 2023.
Results of the latest survey from the NMS Market Research agency run counter to other recent polls that suggested ex-foreign minister Korčok had hit a ceiling in support and had stopped catch front runner Peter Pellegrini.
On the contrary, according to the latest data, Korčok would win the first round, gaining 36 percent of votes compared to 34.2 percent for Hlas leader and Speaker of Parliament Pellegrini.
The NMS Market Research model also shows ex-judge Štefan Harabin's support is growing.
However, the number of voters willing to vote for other candidates in the first round has decreased, including Slovensko movement (formerly OĽaNO) leader Igor Matovič and another ex foreign affairs minister Ján Kubiš.
When it comes to the second round, Pellegrini would win with 50.9 percent of votes. According to the agency, Korčok was helped by voters of the KDH party (Christian Democrats). A lot will depend on the other candidates' support ahead of the second round. For example, a few weeks ago Harabin said that if he loses in the first round, he would recommend his voters to vote for neither Pellegrini, nor Korčok.
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BUSINESS: Business service centres are actively testing AI-based tools, with chatbots serving as online secretaries and helping with HR.
OPINION: Will Fico become president?
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FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY
The French are fascinated by monument reconstructions in Slovakia
The reconstructed Slovak National Gallery. (source: SME - Jozef Jakubčo)
Recently, the French architecture magazine d'a published an issue dedicated to Slovak architecture.
The goal was to show how architects of the "young country", as the French view Slovakia, deal with the tempestuous history of the region and respond to new challenges. Learn more here.
EVENT FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS
Celebration of handmade items
The Stará Tržnica (old market hall) venue in Bratislava's centre. (source: TASR)
Stará Tržnica on the Námestie SNP square is once again the location for SaShe handmade market. Over three days, local designers, craftsmen, and producers will showcase their work, including toys, jewellery, clothes, delicacies and more.
Admission is €2, the venue is open between 13:00 to 20:00 from Wednesday to Friday.
IN OTHER NEWS
The Interior Ministry has warned Slovak citizens ahead of the Saturday Presidential election of potential hoaxes and deepfake videos, and has urged people to seek information from official and trustworthy sources. (SITA)
Czech astrophotographer Petr Horálek captured the Pons-Brooks comet, which is currently visible over Slovakia, right above Lomnický Štít peak and the famous observatory - one of the highest situated in Central Europe - it is home to.
The Bratislava Public Transport Company (DPB) intends to buy 10 new uni-directional, air-conditioned and low-floor Škoda trams with a capacity of at least 240 passengers. These will replace older trams. When delivered, 100 modern trams in total will operate in the capital. (SITA)
The government approved humanitarian aid worth €200,000 to Cuba to help stabilise the humanitarian situation in the country amid growing food shortages. (TASR)
PM Robert Fico (Smer) announced preparations for a joint session with the Ukrainian government in eastern Slovakia are underway. Scheduled to be held on April 11, the Slovak government would like to discuss specific projects, including a railway connection between Kyiv and Košice, reconstruction of the Vyšné Nemecké border crossing, de-mining of Ukraine, and others. (TASR)
European Athletics representatives came to Banská Bystrica to check the stadium and tracks ahead of the July European Athletics U18 Championships. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Partly cloudy to overcast skies, with rain and showers occasionally in the Žilina Region. Daily temperatures between 11°C and 16°C. A level 1 ground frost warning has been issued for southern and south-eastern parts of Slovakia. (SHMÚ)
MARCH 21 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Blahoslav
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