Good to have you with us! Here is the latest edition of Today in Slovakia - all the top news from Tuesday, wrapped up in one place!
PM Fico had a meltdown
PM Robert Fico in the debating chamber on December 3, 2024. (source: TASR – Jakub Kotian)
On Monday, Prime Minister Robert Fico, the leader of the Smer party, confidently declared that his coalition, despite holding only a slim majority in parliament, would secure the passage of the state budget bill the following day. And, for once, he wasn’t bluffing. Well done, Mr Fico!
Even a trio led by extremist MP Rudolf Huliak, who has been boycotting the coalition in a bid for greater influence, backed the state budget bill. With their support, all 79 coalition MPs voted in favour—a rare display of unity in the chamber after weeks of turbulence, much of it linked to Huliak’s faction. Huliak, who has demanded greater power, including a ministerial post, was told last week that his demands might be met—if his group rejoined the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS) caucus. However, that scenario seems increasingly unlikely as relations between Huliak and SNS leader Andrej Danko continue to deteriorate. Sensing the fragility of his coalition and Danko’s failure to manage Huliak, Prime Minister Fico held a private meeting with Huliak ahead of the critical vote. What was discussed remains a closely guarded secret, leaving observers speculating about the concessions Fico might have offered to secure Huliak’s permanent support. For now, Huliak, a hunter from central Slovakia, has temporarily stabilised the coalition’s slim majority.
It wasn’t the state budget that stole the spotlight in parliament on Tuesday—it was Prime Minister Fico, and not for the right reasons.
Middle finger: Opposition MPs accused the premier of flipping them the middle finger following the vote on the budget. Unfortunately, no cameras appear to have caught the alleged gesture. Some MPs went further, suggesting Fico might have been under the influence of alcohol.
What the cameras did capture was Fico’s explosive tirade during the post-vote press conference. “Please [mainstream media ], stop lying to the Slovak public. You lie from morning till night,” the prime minister fumed, as he attempted to defend the coalition’s recent legislative achievements in parliament.
The tensions within the coalition, however, are as evident as ever.
‘Do riti’: Fico doubled down on his accusations against the press during the press conference, shouting: “For f**k’s sake (using the Slovak vulgarity ‘do riti’, literally ‘to the ass’. - Ed.), stop lying. For f**k’s sake, stop lying to the public.” As is his habit, Fico claimed the media were damaging the country and urged Slovaks to stop trusting them.
By one count, he used the word “lie” or its synonyms 22 times when referring to the media during the briefing. As for ‘do riti’? We’ll leave you to tally that up.
Results of the budget vote in parliament on December 3, 2024. (source: TASR – Jakub Kotian)
Speaking of figures: Slovakia’s deficit is projected to shrink from 5.8 percent of GDP in 2024 to 4.7 percent in 2025, buoyed by a €2.7 billion consolidation package. Yet even with this reduction, the country will still boast one of the highest deficits in the European Union. Public expenditure is set to exceed revenue by €6.4 billion, with the government anticipating revenues of €59.9 billion and spending of €66.5 billion in the upcoming budget cycle. Looking further ahead, the government aims to bring the deficit down to 3 percent by the election year of 2027. Achieving this goal will require additional consolidation measures amounting to roughly €2.6 billion. However, the budget lacks specific strategies to realise this reduction.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR
Paying the bills: The energy regulator has unveiled how much households could face paying for gas, electricity, and heating without the government’s support scheme.
Charged again: Two former anti-corruption investigators, known for working on sensitive corruption cases, are facing new charges. Their lawyer has slammed the charges as revenge, suggesting the move is a response to their criticism of perceived injustices—and the recent release of a book detailing their story only adds fuel to the fire.
Bad reputation will remain: Peter Kažimír, governor of the central bank, may no longer have to appear in court for his corruption trial. The judge is expected to dismiss the case entirely—but is this really the end of the saga?
Have extra euros ready: Heading to the slopes? Ski mountaineers, beware: while some resorts have outright banned the sport, others have opted to regulate it by imposing fees.
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SURVEY
What are office developers planning?
The place where Istropolis used to stand. (source: Jozef Jakubčo)
In recent years, the real estate market has weathered a series of upheavals: the Covid-19 pandemic, surging interest rates, and an energy crisis. These disruptions have left a mark on the office sector. For some developers, the challenges have been enough to shelve plans for new projects. Others remain optimistic, betting on untapped potential. In our survey, they weigh in on three key questions, including what trends are likely to shape the market in the near future.
CITY FESTIVAL
Diversity at Urban Market
This weekend (December 6-8), the much-loved Urban Market takes place at the New Market Hall (Nova Tržnica) at the Trnavské Mýto junction in Bratislava, with a focus on diversity. Visitors can expect a vibrant mix of food, music, theatre, workshops, and cutting-edge design and fashion. The event is ticketed, with a modest entry fee payable at the door.
IN OTHER NEWS
Deputy Speaker of Parliament and SNS party leader Andrej Danko will set out on a trip to Moscow on January 10. Joining the SNS leader are Deputy Speaker of Parliament Tibor Gašpar (Smer), defence parliamentary committee chair Richard Glück (Smer), and SNS MP Adam Lučanský. The names of two other delegates remain unclear. Danko aims to meet top Russian officials in Moscow, including the State Duma chair, the industry minister, and the foreign minister. (Denník N)
The Central Military Hospital SNP in Ružomberok has once again been named the best hospital in Slovakia, according to the latest rankings by INEKO. Among smaller hospitals, the facility in Košice-Šaca retained its top position. (INEKO)
Sofia and Jakub were the top baby names in Slovakia in 2024. Among girls, Eliška, Nina, and Ema followed closely, while boys were often named Samuel, Adam, or Oliver. (Interior Ministry)
Ombudsman Róbert Dobrovodský has criticised a proposed amendment to the NGO law aimed at targeting political organisations by labelling them as lobbyists. The draft requires all non-profits, foundations, and civic associations to disclose all donors, not just foreign ones. Dobrovodský doubts the measure would hold up before the EU Court of Justice or the European Court of Human Rights. He also raised concerns that the amendment allows fines and the dissolution of associations for failing to meet lobbying registration requirements.
Wage growth in Slovakia slowed to its weakest pace in over three years in Q3 2024, but real wages still edged higher. Nominal monthly wages rose 5.8 percent year-on-year to €1,484, an average increase of €81 compared to the same period last year. Despite a third consecutive quarterly slowdown in wage growth, real wages, adjusted for inflation, climbed 3 percent year-on-year. (Statistics Office)
Wages of people in Slovakia rose at the slowest pace since the beginning of 2021, announced the Statistics Office on December 3, 2024. (source: Statistics Office)
WEATHER BRIEFING: On Wednesday, skies will be mostly cloudy to overcast, with foggy conditions in some areas. In the eastern half of the country, occasional light rain or snow is expected in isolated spots. Ice formation is also possible. Daytime temperatures will peak between 0°C and 5°C, with southwestern regions seeing highs of up to 7°C. (SHMÚ)
PARTY TIME: Happy namesday to all the Barboras and Barbaras out there! Celebrate in style this Wednesday, December 4—it’s your special day in Slovakia!
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