Good evening. Here is the Monday, April 14 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in a few minutes.
Pellegrini against several coalition proposals
President Peter Pellegrini. (source: Jozef Jakubčo)
Over the weekend, President Peter Pellegrini was unusually critical of the government, having made several remarks in regards to the life-long monthly payment for a general prosecutor, the so-called "Covid amnesties", and also called on PM Robert Fico to not forget the West when it comes to his "four cardinal directions" foreign policy approach.
About the "Covid amnesties": Last week, the parliament passed a controversial law that will allow individuals fined for breaching Covid-19 restrictions to claim compensation from the state. The legislation was criticised by medical professionals and opposition politicians, who say it rewards rule-breaking and risks undermining public trust in the state. Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj sees it as compensation for people who "suffered under the rule of evil", while PM Robert Fico (Smer) called it a "point of exceptional importance". However, the president is of a different opinion. While on the Sobotné Dialógy political show, he called the law a "mockery" of people whose relatives died, called it a dangerous precedent and said he will have a serious problem signing it. "I don't know how the lawmakers who proposed this bill will be able to look the relatives of Covid victims in the eye," he added. However, he did not say he will veto it.
About the lifelong payments: In March, coalition MPs passed a motion to introduce a lifelong monthly payment to anyone who has served as general prosecutor for at least four years of their seven-year term. This currently applies only to the incumbent general prosecutor Maroš Žilinka. If he gave up his post now, he would be entitled to a pension of over €5,000 per month. The opposition has warned that the coalition may have intended this to motivate Žilinka to make room for a candidate they would elect to serve for seven years – throughout this and the next parliamentary term. Pellegrini said that he will not sign the motion, asking why should a GP be entitled to payment even if they did not serve the full term.
About the NGO bill: Activists and civic organisations call it "the Russian law". PM Fico is rejecting that description and insisting that it is a European law based on European standards that aims to achieve nothing more than transparency from NGOs. Pellegrini said that he wants to wait for a definitive version as changes have already been proposed. The president argued that NGOs should be transparent, likening it to how he was required to be transparent as former Hlas chair; however, this comes after it took Hlas a year to disclose a list of donors. Transparency International Slovakia called his campaign the least transparent in recent years.
About the foreign policy orientation: Pellegrini criticised PM Fico for not taking more trips to the West where most of Slovakia's business partners and investors are. Although the latter agrees with the "four cardinal directions" foreign policy approach, he would like to encourage the latter to consider each equally. "So that it's not just three: north, south and east. So that he doesn't forget the West and visits countries to the west of us," he said, adding that France and Italy are the big players and that the Slovak economy depends on Germany. As for the PM's upcoming Moscow trip on May 9, Pellegrini was more cautious, saying that it is not Russian President Vladimir Putin that Fico is going to support, but instead to honour the victims and soldiers of WWII.
About the transaction tax: While at the Vizio Energo conference in Bratislava on Monday, Pellegrini said that the transaction tax should be scrapped. The tax, which came into effect on April 1, has already caused problems and become a point of contention even in the governing coalition, as SNS chair Andrej Danko wants to propose its scrapping. According to Pellegrini, the tax makes no economic sense.
Related: In a social media post, the president condemned Russia's attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, calling for an end to the killing of innocent people. The attack killed 34, including two children, and injured more than 100. "The international community must use all diplomatic effort and apply pressure to stop the killing and push Russia to seek peace at the negotiating table," he said. Speaker of Parliament Richard Raši, Education Minister (both Hlas), and opposition Progressive Slovakia also condemned the attack. When PM Robert Fico (Smer) was asked by Korzár daily about the attack, he initially said, "Next question". However, he later added, "I condemn all the killing, but I don't have enough information to say anything right now," avoiding the mention of Russia altogether. When asked about Pellegrini's criticism, he requested another question.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
LAST WEEK: PM Fico erupts as the 'Purgatory' case heads to court. His splenetic anger on this issue reveals where Smer's priorities lie.
TRAVEL: The cycling trip from Bratislava to Devín should be safer as the city plans to build a segregated cycling path. For now, it is working on permits.
STORM IS BREWING: Meteorologists from the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute warn of losing the service the country needs in order to function properly.
HISTORY: Fiľakovo Castle hides unique underground corridors constructed during WWII, already visited by thousands even from abroad.
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FEATURE STORY
Slovakia a hockey nation? Not so much?
Illustrative image. (source: TASR)
In just a few weeks, the ice-hockey World Championships will once again begin, bringing many Slovaks to their TVs and cheering for the national team. However, despite the fact that ice-hockey is one of the most successful sports for Slovakia - after all, the national team won the bronze medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics, for example - it would seem that it is stagnating, while other very successful sports are even on the decline. Which sport is growing in popularity in Slovakia?
EVENT FOR TOMORROW
Experimental music concert
The T3 cultural space on the Tyršovo Nábrežie embankment. (source: T3 - kultúrny prostriedok - Facebook)
Not long ago, the independent T3 cultural space on the Tyršovo Nábrežie embankment announced that it will close in June. However, before that happens, many concerts will be held at the site. Once is an experimental music concert involving Michaela Turcerová, who won this year's Radio Head Award and Daniel Kordík, who combines electronic compositions with field recordings. Admission is voluntary, €7 is recommended. The event starts at 19:30.
IN OTHER NEWS
From Tuesday, April 15, Juraj Králik will become the new director of the Slovak National Gallery (SNG), replacing third acting director Jaroslav Niňaj. According to Culture Ministry, he was chosen based on a selection procedure. The SNG has been without a director since August 2024, when Alexandra Kusá was dismissed by Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová. Since then, the situation in the institution has been tumultuous, resulting in several foreign institutions ceasing cooperation with the SNG and massive resignations. (TASR)
The HC Košice ice-hockey team made it to the finals of the Tipos Extraliga after winning 5-0 in Game 6 on Saturday, clinching the series 4-2. Meanwhile, on Sunday DOXXbet Vlci Žilina beat HK Nitra 3-2 in overtime, tying the series 3-3. Game 7 will take place on Tuesday in Nitra. (Sportnet)
The TV Noviny website reports that Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer) revealed new pictures of PM Robert Fico's clothes after the assassination attempt at his life in May last year. The pictures show a blazer with a bullet hole and blood-soaked shirt. (TV Noviny)
Slovak tennis player Rebecca Šramková (left) is congratulating American Bernarda Pera after the latter's win. Pera secured her team the last remaining spot at September's Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals in Shenzhen, China. (source: TASR)
Dust from the Sahara desert is already present over Slovakia, and people should expect several waves throughout this week. According to SHMÚ meteorologist Peter Hrabčák, this especially concerns southern districts from Bratislava to Rimavská Sobota. The first prominent wave is expected overnight from Monday to Tuesday, amd another one overnight from Wednesday to Thursday. The dust can be tracked on the SHMÚ website. (TV Noviny)
Veľká Fatra National Park in northern Slovakia is being zoned at the moment. Conservationists are in the territory and marking it with letters from A to D, with blue As on tree trunks signifying the highest protection level - no activities save for hiking on marked trails exclusively. (My Turiec)
Thanks to the Munícia pre Ukrainu (Ammunition for Ukraine) fundraiser, another batch of ammunition worth almost €400,000 has been sent to the country under attack by Russia. The news comes a day after the attack on the Ukrainian town of Sumy. Over the last 12 months, more than €5.1 million have been collected. (SME)
Technical and safety checks are being carried out on the long awaited tram line extension in Bratislava's Petržalka borough. Soon, noise levels will be measured as well. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY: Cloudy to overcast skies, with showers and rain expected in many places. Daily temperatures will rise to between 12 °C to 15 °C, up to 17 °C in southwest. Level 1 wind warning issued for several districts in western Slovakia. (SHMÚ)
APRIL 15 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Fedor
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