Good evening. Here is theTuesday, February 6edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Danko invents another story about Čaputová
Slovak National Party leader Andrej Danko. (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
On Tuesday, the Slovak National Party has asked President Zuzana Čaputová to publish the list of passengers onboard the state plane in connection with her last week’s visit to Canada and the USA, and to show the bills for accommodation, the party announced on Facebook.
SNS added that if the president has nothing to hide, she will publish the list and bills as soon as possible.
"SNS has a serious suspicion that there were family members aboard the plane who had nothing to do there. At the same time, it is clear from the information available to us that these were sponsors and close people who directly or indirectly participated in the financing of Čaputová's presidential campaign," said the party.
In response to the party's post, the Presidential Palace said that SNS party leader Andrej Danko is just trying to divert attention from his January road accident.
"We understand that Andrej Danko, with his senseless attacks on the president, is trying to avert the public's attention from his traffic accident, the circumstances of which he still hasn't credibly explained. Contrary to him, neither the president, nor the Presidential Palace have anything to hide or fabricate," said the president's spokesperson Martin Strižinec.
Only employees of the Presidential Palace who had working duties overseas and the president's bodyguards took part in the official visit to Canada and subsequent working trip to the USA and had the trip covered by the Palace. Strižinec added that president's partner Juraj Rizman, whose accommodation was covered by the Canadian side, participated in the official visit to Canada at the invitation of the Canadian side.
Related: The president announced last week she had to call off some meetings in the US because she tested positive for Covid-19. On Monday, Danko claimed the president hadn't tested positive for the coronavirus. "Strižinec invented that. No one received them there. They ended up like losers," he said in a video.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Politics: Members of the government increased their salaries on Tuesday. But the way they did it is dubious, says the opposition.
Business: Slovakia breaks its record in electricity generated from nuclear power.
Education: An alarmingly high number ofHungarian students in Slovakia want to continue their studies abroad just because they don't know Slovak properly, shows a poll.
Travel: The international krňačky (wooden sledge) race is coming to Mt. Chopok later this month.
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FEATURE STORY FOR TUESDAY
Trainer who wants children to love sports
Following in his father’s footsteps, Vertii also teaches his nine-year-old son, Mark, to love sports. (source: Archive of O. V.)
At first, he drove a cab in Bratislava. Then, Odessan Oleksandr Vertii found some courage and became a fitness trainer for children again.
EVENT FOR THURSDAY
French music in Košice
German-Swiss cellist Emanuel Graf. (source: Archive of E. G.)
Supported by the French Institute in Bratislava, the concert entitled "THE EVENING OF FRENCH MUSIC" will take place on Thursday, February 8, at 19:00 in Košice's House of Arts.
In other news
The government dismissed Renáta Blahová from the post of the Healthcare Supervision Office based on the health minister's proposal on Tuesday. According to Minister Zuzana Dolinková, Blahová failed to address fundamental issues in the healthcare sector, repeatedly overstepped the powers given to the office by law and didn't meet the qualification requirements for the post as set by law. The cabinet appointed former health minister Michal Palkovič to the post. (TASR)
Similarly, the government decided on the new management of the Statistics Office. It dismissed Peter Peťko as its chair and appointed MP Martin Nemky (Smer) to the post. The government had no reason to sack Peťko. But based on the new amendment to the Competence Act, it had the right to dismiss Peťko. President Čaputová has turned to the Constitutional Court in regard to the amendment. (TASR)
Former agriculture minister Gabriela Matečná (SNS) has become the third state secretary at the Environment Ministry. She led the Agriculture Ministry at the time of the biggest corruption cases involving agricultural subsidies.
The Bratislava Regional Court reaffirmed the decision to turn down the proposal to issue an injunction aimed at restoring suspended police officer Róbert Magula to service, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday. The ministry added the verdict is final. Attorney Peter Kubina respects the decision of the court, although he doesn't agree with it. "We'll file an appeal," he said. Upon assuming his office, Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) suspended six police officers centred around Ján Čurilla, who had been investigating high-profile corruption cases, on the grounds of charges pressed against them. According to the Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers, the police officers had the status of protected whistleblowers and the minister has failed to consult the matter with this authority. (TASR)
Shooter Danka Barteková is named the Athlete of the Year on February 5, 2024. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: There'll be some scattered showers on Wednesday. Heavy clouds will return in the afternoon. Wednesday will be warm. Temperatures during the day will range from 6°C to 16°C. Strong wind warnings will be in place in a number of districts of western and central Slovakia. Walking to work will be easy or tough. (SHMÚ)
FEBRUARY 7 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Vanda.
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