Good evening. Here is theMonday, October 9 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in fewer than five minutes.
Interior ministry at centre of debates
Hlas head Peter Pellegrini holds the trump card after the September 30 election. (source: SITA)
More than a week from the general election, the elected parties are still jockeying for position in their search to agree on a coalition.
Progresívne Slovensko head Michal Šimečka confirmed that he is ready to give up the role of prime minister in a potential PS-led government in favour of Hlas leader Peter Pellegrini, if that's what it takes to put together a coalition excluding Smer.
In such an arrangement, the former would insist on having the post of the interior minister, he added.
The ministry, which oversees the police, among other things, has become the pivotal point in talks between Smer and Hlas as well. This simple fact says everything about what's really at stake in Slovakia’s post-election reality, writes Michaela Terenzani in her Last Week in Slovakia column.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
BUSINESS: The new executive director of AmCham in Slovakia understands its mission as being to create a good business environment.
UKRAINE: Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová explains what happened last week in regards to news that she stopped military aid to Ukraine.
ELECTION: As the dust clears following the September 30 election, some startling facts emerge.
TRAVEL: Východná Vysoká peak is located in the heart of the High Tatras. On your way, you will see 'Eternal Rain' lakes. And get ready to climb.
TRAINS: Due to railway reconstruction on the Slovak-Czech border, the direct train lines from Budapest to Prague will be temporarily interrupted.
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FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY
Polish writes on her love of Slovakia
Writer Weronika Gogola. (source: Katarzyna Pietruska)
What Polish writer Weronika Gogola hears most from her Polish acquaintances about Slovakia is that it's a backward country and that there are many Roma.
However, Gogola likes Slovakia and says that she takes such reservations personally. She does not want to leave the country. In an interview, she talks about what made her stay, why Poles prefer the Czech Republic over Slovakia, and the negatives she sees.
EVENT FOR THE WEEK
Enjoy outstanding festival movies
The Kino Mladosť cinema in Bratislava is one of the places to screen movies from the Be2Can festival. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
The tenth anniversary edition of the Be2Can film festival will offer a diverse and refined selection of the most outstanding films from the Berlin, Venice and Cannes festivals. Taking place in Bratislava from October 11 to 18, it will showcase brand new filmmaking voices as well as the work of iconic directors.
For more information, click here (in English).
IN OTHER NEWS
On Monday, the Council of the European Union appointed Slovak Katarína Kaszasová as a member of the European Court of Auditors. Set to replace Ladislav Balko, Kaszasová will serve from October 16, 2023 until October 15, 2029. Kaszasová is the country’s top auditor as the head of the Auditing Oversight Authority. Learn more about her by clicking here. (TASR)
Saturday's Hamas attack on Israel was strongly condemned by President Zuzana Čaputová, MFA Miroslav Wlachovský, Speaker of the Parliament Boris Kollár and PM Ľudovít Ódor. In Slovakia, the protection of places connected to the Jewish community has been increased. So far, no Slovak has been reported as injured or a victim of the attack. A special government aircraft will be dispatched to Israel on Wednesday to repatriate Slovak nationals in the country. The Foreign Affairs Ministry also advised the public think twice about travelling to Israel for the time being. (TASR)
Dušan Dědeček, who caused a tragic traffic accident last year that killed 5, received a 15-year non-conditional prison sentence on Monday. He was also banned from driving for seven years and ordered to pay damages to the victims. The decision is final. The unprecedented car accident happened last October. (TASR)
The amount of mixed waste in Bratislava decreases every year. On the contrary, the amount of sorted waste is growing, shows a new document discussed by the city council last week. The introduction of the deposit system for PET bottles and cans was helpful in this regard. The amount of landfilled waste has also been decreasing over the past three years. (TASR)
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY
Mostly cloudy. Occasional rain in western and northern Slovakia. Daily temperatures between 11 °C to 16 °C. Level 1 ground frost warning applies to northeastern Slovakia during night and early morning. (SHMÚ)
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