Good evening. Here is the Monday, January 8 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Slovakia gears up for presidential elections
Hlas chair Peter Pellegrini as pictured before one of the first post-election TV debates on October 1, 2023. (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
Slovakia is preparing for its next presidential election on March 23, announced by Speaker Peter Pellegrini (Hlas). Current President Zuzana Čaputová will not seek re-election, leaving office on June 15.
Notable candidates include Ivan Korčok and Ján Kubiš, both former foreign ministers, with a potential second round on April 6 if no candidate secures over half the votes. Pellegrini also plans to run for the presidential chair.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Politics: PM Robert Fico's recent purchase of the apartment in Bratislava has raised unanswered financial questions, as well as concerns about its transparency.
Business: Expert Lukáš Štefánik highlights the advantages of international arbitration over general courts, emphasising flexibility and expertise in handling disputes.
Opinion: Michaela Terenzani discusses the upcoming presidential election, highlighting the importance of the presidency and other parliamentary decisions.
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FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY
High-altitude mediaeval settlement discovered in Slovakia's High Tatras
Research at Hradisko. (source: Adriana Hudecová/TASR)
Archaeologists conducted groundbreaking research in the High Tatras, focusing on an ancient settlement above Tatranská Lesná, revealing a mediaeval site that may be one of Slovakia's highest.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS WEEK
Evolution of Slovakia's security and defence policy
A new analytical publication released by the Institute for Public Affairs in cooperation with the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (SFPA) and the Adapt Institute. (source: Institute of Public Affairs)
The Institute for Public Affairs (IVO) has published a book that looks back at how Slovakia’s security and defence policy evolved since 1993.
It covers topics such as the armed forces, Slovakia joining NATO, military cooperation within the EU, hybrid threats, as well as how the policy changed after Russia invaded Ukraine. The book, “30 Years of Slovak Security and Defence Policy”, is available in English.
In other news
In their letter, international organisations call on Slovak MPs not to adopt the amendment to the Act on the Protection of Whistleblowers. Whistleblowing International Network is an international network of organisations devoted to whistleblowing, human rights and the fight against corruption, based in Glasgow, Scotland. (TASR)
The police started a criminal investigation over a picture of the revolutionary Ernest Che Guevara, which the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Ľuboš Blaha (Smer) hung in his office. (Aktuality)
Police Chief Ľubomír Solák has replaced six of the eight regional police directors. The people who headed the regional directorates during the previous Fico governments are thus returning to leadership. Six police directors were also replaced by ex-police chief Štefan Hamran, Solák’s predecessor, after he took office. (Sme)
The Foreign Ministry is warning people travelling to Germany about a strike by the Train Drivers' Union (GDL), which will last from Wednesday (January 10) to Friday (January 12). The ministry advises them to inquire about train connections with Deutsche Bahn in advance.
Slovakia's skier Petra Vlhová celebrates on the podium after winning an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom race, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (source: SITA)
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY
In the cold air, the edge of a high-pressure area centered over Scotland will expand to our region. During the day, it will be mostly clear to partly cloudy. It will be cold in some places, so it's advisable to dress warmly. The highest daytime temperature will range between -2 and +3 °C.
SHMÚ is also issuing first and second degree warnings, mainly in the south, east, and some western parts of Slovakia.
JANUARY 9 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Alexej
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