Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, April 3 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Polls suggest extremely tight election
The Presidential Palace in Bratislava. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
The last polls ahead of the second round of the presidential election are in and suggest that the result will be very tight.
Yesterday, a Focus poll for TV Markíza carried out at the end of March indicated that Speaker of Parliament Peter Pellegrini would win the second round this Saturday.
Today, a poll by the Median SK agency suggested the same result, with Pellegrini gaining 51.1 percent of the votes. This poll was also carried out at the end of March.
But, according to a survey by the NMS Market Research agency for the Sme daily, ex-foreign affairs minister Ivan Korčok would win with 51.7 percent of votes. Data was collected between March 28 and April 2. Meanwhile, an Ipsos poll for the Denník N daily, showed Korčok taking 50.1 percent of votes.
A 48-hour moratorium on campaigning comes into effect at midnight on Wednesday.
ELECTION UPDATES:
The Smer and SNS parties reiterated their support for their coalition partner and Hlas chair Peter Pellegrini. The Sme Rodina party also supports him.
Failed presidential candidate Ján Kubiš voiced support for Pellegrini, but called on his voters to decide for themselves.
During their meeting, former Czech PM Andrej Babiš backed Pellegrini. During a discussion both men attacked mainstream media while praising disinformation media.
The Klub 500 organisation of the biggest employers in Slovakia supports Peter Pellegrini. Its founder is close to Smer.
Failed presidential candidate Patrik Dubovský, the Za Ľudí party, the Slovensko movement (formerly OĽaNO) are backing Ivan Korčok, as is Progresívne Slovensko, which also called on people to vote.
Igor Cako, a Bratislava businessman and former sponsor of failed candidate Štefan Harabin, admitted to creating a website that spread false claims about Korčok. He put thousands of pounds into the site and its promotion, according to NGO Transparency International Slovensko.
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FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY
Helping with fact-checking
Ivan Srba. (source: ESET Science Award/Linda Kisková Bohušová)
In recent years, disinformation has become a huge problem worldwide, but countering it is difficult. Ivan Srba and his colleagues from the Kempelen Institute of Intelligent Technologies (KInIT) are among those leading efforts to increase the quality of online content and prevent hoaxes and untruths being spread. They have created the largest database of checked facts in the world and an app for media professionals to verify information, regardless of what part of the world it originated in.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
Lego sets at your fingertips
Harry Potter Lego set. (source: TASR)
Between April 5-7, a new and interactive exhibition comprised of 500 Lego sets will be on display in the DK Zrkadlový Háj culture house in Bratislava's Petržalka borough. It will include 80 controllable models, the complete Lego Supercar collection, a huge city made up of 200 models and a 50-metre long railway. Admission starts at €5, the exhibition will be open between 09:00 to 19:00. For more information, click here.
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Cloudy to overcast skies and occasional showers expected. Daily temperatures will rise to between 12 °C and 20 °C. (SHMÚ)
APRIL 4 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Izidor
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