Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, May 7 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in just a few minutes.
Don't forget, tomorrow is a national holiday, meaning most stores will be closed. We'll be back with another edition on Friday.
PM looking for a way to Moscow
PM Robert Fico (Smer). (source: TASR)
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer), along with other world leaders including Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, has been forced to alter travel plans to Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations after Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania refused to allow their aircraft to transit through their airspace.
"The use of Estonian airspace for a flight to Moscow for the 9 May parade is out of the question, and Estonia has no intention of supporting this event in any way," stated Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda cited security concerns as the basis for the decision.
Taking to social media, Prime Minister Fico condemned the move as a deliberate attempt to obstruct his visit. "It's extremely disruptive to our whole programme. We are no longer able to meet the scheduled times in Moscow on the evening of 8 May," he said, adding that they are doing their best to find an alternative route that would ensure they would be able to attend.
Fico noted that Slovakia holds a year-round permit to use Estonian airspace for government flights and expressed frustration at the sudden denial.
"Of course, this is a deliberate attempt to thwart my visit to Moscow on the occasion of the official celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War," he said.
Despite the complications, Fico's programme in Moscow is expected to proceed, including a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Friday morning, followed by bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Tô Lâm.
Related: Opposition parties once again called on the PM to cancel his planned visit to Moscow, calling it "the worst moment of Slovakia’s foreign policy" and a betrayal of allied trust.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
ICE-HOCKEY: Slovakia is to face Sweden on the first day of this year's ice-hockey world championship. Here's the full programme and where to watch.
POLITICS: An opposition politician who faced criminal charges over fiery comments aimed at senior politicians has seen the case against him abruptly dropped, deepening concerns about political interference and freedom of expression in the country.
EVENTS FOR NOTHING: Shop local, enjoy live music and escape to the hills.
HISTORY: Small religious structures along the roads and paths are both a common sight and a defining feature of Slovakia's landscape.
TRAVEL: Whether you're a hiker, cyclist, or thrill-seeker, the historic region of Turiec offers plenty to discover—sometimes in the most unexpected places.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Ľuboš Blaha, a polarising Smer MEP previously banned from Facebook for spreading hate speech and Covid-19 disinformation, has returned to the platform after being permitted to open a new account.
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FEATURE STORY
Is moving to the Austrian border area worthwile?
Harvest in Berg, Austria. (source: TASR)
Living in an Austrian border village was once all the rage. Kittsee, Berg, Hainburg and Gattendorf expanded in part thanks to an influx of Slovaks seeking comfortable housing at relatively affordable prices — all within a stone's throw of Bratislava. However, that has changed in recent years.
EVENT FOR THIS SATURDAY
Dobrý Trh is back
The Dobrý Trh open air market. (source: Marek Jančúch)
The popular Dobrý Trh (Good Market) returns this Saturday for its May edition, bringing together local traders, residents, non-profit organisations, artists and more under the theme "the art of coexistence". The event will take place from 10:00 to 17:00 across Panenská, Konventná, Lýcejná and Podjavorinská Streets, and will go ahead regardless of weather conditions. Entry is voluntary, and the full programme is available online.
IN OTHER NEWS
A 60-year-old judge was attacked in her home in the village of Turčianske Kľačany, Martin District, on Wednesday morning. Two masked men broke into the property, with one reportedly armed. Police have launched an investigation and conducted immediate car checks in the area. It remains unclear whether the assault is linked to the judge’s professional duties. Interior Minister Boris Susko (Smer), General Prosecutor Maroš Žilinka, President Peter Pellegrini, and members of the Judicial Council have strongly condemned the attack. (TASR)
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has signed an amendment to the law governing NGOs, asserting that it does not conflict with either the Slovak Constitution or European law. He argued that the public has a right to greater transparency regarding the funding of NGOs. Not long ago, criticism was directed towards Pellegrini's own presidential campaign last year, which was widely regarded as lacking transparency. Opposition party Progressive Slovakia swiftly announced plans to challenge the amendment at the Constitutional Court. Ombudsman Róbert Dobrovodský is also going to do so. While the latter acknowledged that the parliament had removed several contentious provisions from the legislation, he expressed ongoing concerns about remaining elements he still considers problematic. (TASR)
A new NMS poll shows opposition party Progressive Slovakia (PS) leading with 22.8 percent, closely followed by ruling coalition party Smer with 20.6 percent. The gap has narrowed from 3.3 percentage points in April to 2.2 in May. The survey was carried out at a time of high inflation and a controversial transaction tax, which could further strain coalition relations. Coalition partner Hlas came third with 8.9 percent, trailed by extremist Republika at 8.8 percent. Opposition parties KDH (6.4 percent) and SaS (6.1 percent) would also enter the parliament. Coalition party SNS remains below the threshold at 2.3 percent. (SME)
Slovak Speaker of Parliament Richard Raši (right) together with his Czech counterpart Markéta Pekarová Adamová during the former's first official foreign trip. Raši will also meet with Czech President Petr Pavel. She criticised Slovak PM Robert Fico's trip to Moscow, saying that it may be his sovereign action, but it also tells a lot about him. Raši said he will observe the day paying respects to monuments in Slovakia. (source: Jaroslav Novák)
The Slovak Arts Council (FPÚ) has rejected another LGBTI+ project, stating it "does not support the moral deformation of youth" — despite backing from independent experts. The rejected initiative, led by civic association OZ Saplinq, has prompted the group to consider legal action over what its chair Róbert Furiel calls a "blatantly discriminatory decision". Multiple LGBTI+ projects have recently been denied funding by the Culture Ministry. OZ Saplinq is currently running a campaign called Dúhová Stužka (Rainbow Ribbon), with proceeds supporting their efforts. The ribbon can be bought in select stores such as the Martinus bookstore and cultural spaces, as well as online.
The Slovak government has extended border checks with Hungary and Austria, originally reinstated due to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. The controls will remain in place until 7 July. (TASR)
The increasing digitalisation of work is leading to heightened stress levels among Slovak employees, according to the Confederation of Trade Unions (KOZ). A survey revealed that 63% of workers experience stress from using digital tools, while 20% of managers report anxiety — the highest rate among occupational groups. (TASR)
The police have dismissed a criminal complaint concerning Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok's (Hlas) trip to a Formula 1 race in December 2023. Anti-corruption watchdog Zastavme Korupciu alleges the minister did not pay for tickets and has yet to explain how he covered overall costs, reportedly amounting to several thousand euros. The group plans to appeal the decision at the Prosecutor's Office. (Index)
Slovak MPs based in Bratislava are now eligible for monthly earnings of around €6,900, while those commuting from outside the capital may receive up to €7,300, including allowances. Under current legislation, MPs receive three times the national average wage, which for 2025 stands at €4,115. Additional allowances amount to €2,744 for Bratislava-based MPs and €3,201 for others. A recent opposition proposal to freeze salaries amid fiscal tightening was rejected. (TASR)
On Wednesday, Bratislava's Stará Tržnica venue hosted the European Day event, with various presentations, workshops, games, quizes and competitions awaiting visitors. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy to overcast skies, occasionally showers. Daily temperatures will rise to between 9 °C in the north and 17 °C in the south. (SHMÚ)
MAY 8 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Ingrida
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