Good evening. Welcome to the Friday, February 28 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Peter Pellegrini tops trust survey as most trusted Slovak politician
Peter Pellegrini (source: SME - Marko Erd)
The latest public opinion poll survey investigating trust in political leaders, conducted by the Focus agency on a sample of 1,010 respondents from February 7 to 12 for the political portal 360-tka, has revealed the most trusted Slovak politician, the Sme daily reports.
Emerging in first place in the survey is the President of the Slovak Republic, Peter Pellegrini, who enjoys the trust of 52 percent of people; 48 percent of respondents said they do not trust him.
In second and third places are the leader of Smer, Robert Fico, and the chairman of Hlas, Matúš Šutaj Eštok. Both are trusted by 34 percent of respondents. Fico, however, is not trusted by 65 percent of respondents, while Šutaj Eštok is distrusted by 62 percent of those surveyed.
Fourth is opposition leader and chair of Progressive Slovakia (PS), Michal Šimečka, with 33 percent trust, followed by the chairman of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Milan Majerský, with 30 percent. Šimečka is distrusted by 64 percent of respondents, and Majerský by 60 percent of respondents.
The survey also shows Branislav Gröhling with 29 percent trust (65 percent distrust), Milan Uhrík with 27 percent (64 percent), Jaroslav Naď with 23 percent (70 percent), and Andrej Danko with 20 percent (78 percent). Igor Matovič has 19 percent trust (79 percent distrust), and László Gubík has 9 percent trust (45 percent distrust).
Compared to the last survey in November, Jaroslav Naď and Igor Matovič saw the biggest improvement, with a 7 percentage point increase in trust. Milan Majerský increased by 6 percentage points, while Michal Šimečka and Branislav Gröhling saw a 4 percentage point rise.
The only person who lost trust compared to the November survey was Matúš Šutaj Eštok, who saw a 2 percentage point decline.
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Business: Marek Chudík, chairman of the Business Service Center Forum, discusses the challenges and opportunities facing Slovakia's business and shared service sector, from AI and automation to balancing remote work and fiscal measures.
Weekend: Experience the lively traditions of Fašiangy festivals with parades, pig-killing feasts, mask-making workshops, and more across Slovakia this weekend!
Good news: A multi-talented Slovak female cyclist, a new safe LGBTI+ spot in Bratislava, and a digital map of pilgrimage sites in Central Europe – these are our feel-good stories to brighten your day.
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FEATURE STORY
Dreaming is not just in the skies – it can take you there
(source: Courtesy, Vierka Šidová)
As a child, she was too afraid to say she wanted to be a pilot, but today, she flies for Wizz Air. Her journey from glider training to commercial aviation was not easy – countless exams, thousands of flight hours, and breaking gender stereotypes in a male-dominated field. From a nerve-wracking first flight in the US to handling in-flight emergencies, her story is one of passion, perseverance, and proving doubters wrong. Read on to discover how our interviewee turned a childhood dream into reality.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
Welcome spring with the Bratislava Carnival!
Welcome spring with a bright and colourful carnival. (source: FB Visit Bratislava)
Celebrate the first days of spring at the Bratislava Carnival! The city is bringing back the historic tradition of carnival festivities, so don’t miss the spectacular parade through the streets of the capital, featuring a best costume contest, interactive workshops, performances, and a vibrant dance party. For more details and further events check out the Top 10 events for foreigners on our website.
IN OTHER NEWS
In Košice, a memorial dedicated to journalist Ján Kuciak and his partner Martina Kušnírová, who were murdered in 2018, has been removed. It was located in front of the city's State Scientific Library but the library's director, Darina Kožuchová, stated that its removal was necessary to protect the building and prevent fires. Activist Ľuboš Lorenz criticised the move, suggesting it may have been influenced by higher authorities, particularly after a recent protest. The library plans to temporarily relocate the memorial inside and is seeking a solution that will not jeopardise the building's facade. (Korzár)
Nearly 13,800 Ukrainians live in Košice, making them the largest minority in the city since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. On the occasion of the third anniversary of the invasion, a march in support of Ukraine took place, which faced police intervention when organisers attempted to cover communist symbols on a monument. Activist Štefan Šefčík expressed concerns about the growing anti-Ukrainian sentiments in society and pointed to changes in the solidarity of Košice residents towards Ukrainians. Ukrainian activist Inna Borodina emphasised that despite the difficulties, she still perceives support from Slovaks. (Korzár)
Slovakia still has no official register of gifts made to public officials and politicians, despite the law requiring one, which creates space for non-transparent financing of politicians. Politicians such as Robert Fico and Matúš Šutaj Eštok would have to disclose who paid for their luxury stays and trips, which could reveal corrupt practices. In connection with the planned construction of a battery plant in Šurany, the Chinese investor GIB covered the cost of a trip for MPs to China, raising concerns about the acceptance of improper benefits. However, the Justice Ministry has yet to establish a gift register, making the application of the law against bribery ineffective. (Index)
Slovakia state railway company ŽSSK has published its summer timetables, with the new schedule coming into effect on Sunday, March 2. The change also affects the train connection between Kyiv and Bratislava, which will now be faster. Train R961 ZAKARPATIA will arrive in Košice at 12:18, 60 minutes earlier. Direct carriages will continue on train Ex618 TATRAN from Košice at 13:07, arriving in Bratislava at 18:33. (ZSSK)
On Sunday, March 2, the charity run "IRUN FOR UKRAINE" will take place in Bratislava to mark the third anniversary of Ukraine's fight for independence. The event is organised by the initiative "Peace for Ukraine," and the proceeds will be used for ammunition for Ukraine. Runners will meet at the Janko Kráľ Memorial at 10:00, with registration starting from 9:00. Organisers are urging participants not to bring valuables, and say they want the run to be a symbol of hope and unity (Aktuality.sk)
The police will be overseeing several events in Bratislava over the weekend, and traffic restrictions may be in place on Saturday. Bratislava’s regional police announced this on social media. "In connection with the events planned for Saturday, March 1, a larger number of visitors may gather in the vicinity of the National Football Stadium, TIPOS Arena – Ondrej Nepela Ice Stadium, and the National Tennis Centre in the afternoon. As a result, partial traffic restrictions may occur in these areas," the police stated. The Bratislava regional police also urged event attendees to respect and follow police instructions and contribute to maintaining public order. (Sme)
Security forces were deployed at the Government Office earlier today in what Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok said was an exercise. (Sme) (source: FB Úrad vlády SR)
WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: The weather will be changeable, with heavy cloud cover in the north and mostly light cloud in the south. If you are planning to travel by car in the morning on Saturday take care, as fog may occur in some areas. Showers are possible, and snowfall could occur at higher altitudes. The highest daytime temperatures over the weekend will range from 5°C to 12°C. (SHMÚ)
TIME TO CELEBRATE: Albín, Anežka, and – last but not least! – Bohumil and Bohumila are the lucky ones celebrating their name days this weekend: Saturday, March 1 - Albín; Sunday, March 2 - Anežka; Monday, March 3 – Bohumil and Bohumila.
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