Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, October 30edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
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Fico’s China adventure begins
Prime Minister Robert Fico in parliament on October 26, 2024. (source: TASR - Pavol Zachar)
The opposition views Prime Minister Robert Fico’s official visit to China, which Fico embarked on Wednesday evening, as a threat to Slovakia’s future. Fico, however, insists it is an essential trip, highlighting plans to sign 13 agreements and meet with top Chinese officials.
“China is becoming a decisive global player,” he remarked on October 30.
No Slovak media outlet is covering the trip to China.
Ukraine: Fico believes that ending the war in Ukraine will require China’s active involvement. Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer) shares this view, noting that the Ukrainian government asked Slovakia in early October to encourage China to take part in an upcoming peace conference.
Security: Fico dismisses claims that the visit endangers national security. He argues that the real threat came from previous governments, which provided military equipment to Ukraine, including grounded Soviet-era fighter jets and air defence systems. Slovakia is still awaiting F-16 fighter jets from the US and lacks a new air defence system.
Economy: Fico maintains that the trip will not harm Slovakia’s economy, suggesting instead that the EU’s Green Deal poses a greater risk, with economic strain across Europe due to such policies. He cited potential tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and expected Chinese retaliation. Opposition MP Veronika Remišová claims that Fico is preparing for a potential halt in EU funding, turning to Chinese loans and high-cost investments instead. Last year, Fico said that in China he would want to focus on the export of Slovak agricultural products and joint Slovak-Chinese ventures.
Democracy: Fico also rebuffed concerns about democracy, arguing that Slovakia’s numerous political parties are a greater risk. “My visit to China in no way threatens democracy in Slovakia,” the PM said.
The PM also plans to visit Brazil and Vietnam in the near future.
Quote: “We want to go where we see business opportunities; there’s no point in visiting places across Europe where practically all options have been exhausted. We need to look for new opportunities,” said Fico.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
Propaganda: Slovak Prime Minister Fico gives an interview to a notorious Russian propagandist, blames the West for war.
Politics: The coalition resolved a crisis in parliament on Wednesday—lacking the necessary votes—with the help of a cancer warrior.
Poll: Most trusted politicians? The prime minister has dropped in the polls.
Podcast: Listen to the Spectator College podcast featuring Slovak influencer Petush Nasklee.
Opinion: While plenty of Slovak people love and embrace Halloween, I am very aware that there is a strong undercurrent here that opposes it, writes Oscar Brophy.
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INTERVIEW
Slovakia, not Czechia: One man’s quest to teach Japan about his second home
Shogo Mashine poses with a copy of his book "Slovensko, nie Česko". (source: Oscar Brophy)
Shogo Mashine moved to Slovakia from Tokyo, Japan, nine years ago to research winemaking in the Small Carpathian region. After returning to Japan, he began writing a book aimed at educating the Japanese about Slovakia, titled Slovensko, nie Česko (Slovakia, Not Czechia! in English). Shogo sat down with the Slovak Spectator to discuss what brought him to Slovakia and his thoughts on the similarities between Slovaks and Japanese people.
PARTY
Unleash your inner monster on the dancefloor
An illustrative image. (source: Pexels/Thiago Miranda)
If you haven’t made plans for Halloween yet, this page offers tips for Halloween parties in Bratislava’s clubs.
IN OTHER NEWS
The government has approved a bill introducing a stricter right of correction that will apply to both printed media and news websites. Under the proposed legislation, politicians will be able to request a correction of an article without needing to prove that it is inaccurate or misleading. Journalists could face fines ranging from €1,000 to €15,000 if they fail to publish the correction. The bill still requires parliamentary approval. (Euractiv)
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made a covert arrival at Košice Airport on Tuesday evening. The aircraft touched down at 19:29 local time after departing from Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. Approximately ten minutes before 20:00, Zelensky disembarked. His visit to Slovakia was brief, as he was en route to the city of Uzhhorod in the Zakarpattia region of Ukraine, which borders Slovakia. (Korzár)
Prime Minister Fico has announced that Slovakia will receive its fourth payment from the recovery plan on October 31. The approval process faced delays, as the request was initially prepared by the former government but submitted by Fico’s cabinet in mid-December last year. Fico alleged that the opposition attempted to obstruct the approximately €800 million payment in Brussels, a claim that the opposition has vehemently denied. The delay was linked to a government amendment concerning criminal law. (Denník N)
The parliament has approved an amendment to the law governing the financing of primary schools, secondary schools, and educational institutions. Starting next year, kindergartens will be funded by the state budget instead of municipal budgets. Additionally, parents will be required to sign informed consent forms for their children’s participation in school events that go beyond the educational curriculum. The amendment also mandates the enrolment of children in compulsory pre-primary education for those who have permanent residence in the municipality. (TASR)
Kristína Kövešová, a reporter for TV Markíza, was attacked in Trnava while filming a report. The assailants were individuals she had been covering in her story. She sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital. For several weeks, Kövešová has been focusing on incidents of violence, threats, and assaults, particularly against women and the elderly, occurring in Trnava. (Markíza)
The police have charged 15 individuals and nine legal entities with crimes related to harming the financial interests of the European Union and manipulation in public procurement and auctions. According to police findings, the accused allegedly siphoned off a non-repayable financial grant exceeding €1.7 million through various projects aimed at purchasing machinery and equipment funded by EU resources. (TASR)
The future of the IT sector in eastern Slovakia faces significant challenges. A shortage of specialists in key areas such as data analytics and cybersecurity threatens its further growth. This concern has been highlighted by the Košice IT Valley cluster, which conducted a survey among local IT companies to assess the landscape. (TASR)
Bouna Black N Diaye (Fyllingen Lions) and Isaiah De Vonte Cousins (Inter) during the Group B match of the Northern European Basketball League (ENBL) between Inter Bratislava and Fyllingen Lions in Bratislava on October 30, 2024. (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Prepare for a partly cloudy to overcast Thursday, with spells of cloud, mist, and the chance of occasional light rain. It will be warm during the day, with a maximum temperature of 19°C. (SHMÚ)
OCTOBER 31 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Aurélia.
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