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Fico declares war on the opposition
PM Robert Fico. (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
Although Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) is currently in China and no Slovak media is covering the trip, he has used social media to assert the necessity of taking action against the opposition for its alleged “anti-state activities”.
His statement comes on the same day that the European Commission confirmed the disbursement of a fourth payment of nearly €800 million to Slovakia from the recovery plan designed to help the country address challenges related to digital and green transformation, bolster its economy, and fund reforms following the coronavirus pandemic. Despite this payment arriving later due to the Commission’s concerns over the process of adopting amendments to criminal laws and Slovakia’s potential failure to protect EU funds following these changes, Fico hailed it as a “victory for his coalition” and a “defeat” for the opposition.
“The opposition is creating a permanent pressure on the EU institutions to withdraw European funds from Slovakia and to prevent it from accessing financial resources from the recovery plan. This constitutes anti-state activity by the opposition,” Fico claimed.
The opposition has rejected Fico’s assertion.
Fico noted that the opposition did not benefit from the European Commission’s report on the rule of law in Slovakia, published in the summer, which, according to the prime minister, the opposition and “opposition media” co-authored. The report criticises criminal law reforms that undermine the fight against corruption, the deteriorating environment for civil society organisations, and the government’s bypassing of stakeholders in reform discussions, among other things.
“The European Commission had to acknowledge the subjectivity of this report and take into account the objective information provided by the Slovak government from relevant sources,” Fico contended.
On October 31, the Slovak Justice Ministry announced it would begin discussions with the European Commission on how to amend the aforementioned report. Both the government and the Judicial Council, under new leadership, criticised the allegedly biased report in August.
On Thursday, Fico also launched an attack on former presidents Zuzana Čaputová and Andrej Kiska, whom he labelled as puppets. Kiska was legally convicted of tax fraud on the same day. Fico has repeatedly targeted both presidents during their terms. He described them as an “artificial product of anti-Slovak forces” implementing a “policy of a single mandatory opinion coming from the West”. According to Fico, who has embarked on a state visit to communist China and plans to visit two other communist countries (Cuba, Vietnam) and Moscow in 2025, his government must do everything possible to ensure that progressive media and foreign-funded NGOs do not succeed in the 2027 presidential election.
Last year, Fico announced plans to enact legislation against foreign-funded NGOs. Whether he will seek to establish a Sovereign Protection Authority similar to Hungary’s, aimed at harassing opponents, remains uncertain.
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OPINION
Slovaks tend to their loved ones’ graves as if tidying their rooms
A man clears the grave of his loved ones of autumn leaves during All Saints' Day at the National Cemetery in Martin on Wednesday, 1 November 2023. (source: TASR - Daniel Stehlík)
In mid-October, Slovak cemeteries transform into vibrant spaces of remembrance, where families meticulously tend to graves as if preparing their own homes for guests. Amidst the blend of real and plastic tributes, the fragility of memory becomes apparent, revealing the poignant struggle against oblivion in the face of mortality, writes theologian Michal Havran.
TOP 10 EVENTS IN BRATISLAVA
Another Champions League match approaches
Dinamo's Lukas Kacavenda escapes the tackle by Monaco's Denis Zakaria during the Champions League football match between Dinamo Zagreb and Monaco at Maksimir stadium in Zagreb, Croatia, on October 2, 2024. (source: TASR/AP)
Unsure about what to do in Bratislava in the coming days? Consider this selection of events, featuring Giacomo Puccini’s most celebrated opera and a film that pays tribute to the unseen individuals who prepare meals in restaurants.
IN OTHER NEWS
The European Commission has launched an investigation into the Chinese online retailer Temu over suspicions of distributing illegal products in the European market. Temu is rapidly gaining popularity among Slovaks.
From November, the list of controlled narcotic and psychotropic substances will expand to include HHC, HHC-P, and HHC-O, which have previously been available for purchase in specialised vending machines in Slovakia. (TASR)
Organisers of a petition against the construction of an industrial park in Šurany, western Slovakia, have approached the Constitutional Court to protect agricultural land. According to the Slovak-Chinese company GIB EnergyX Slovakia, which aims to build a battery cell manufacturing plant in Šurany, the industrial park’s investment proposal strictly adheres to all regulatory standards and undergoes thorough checks at both national and European levels. (TASR)
The Aponi Library in Oponice, located in the Topoľčany district, is preparing for evening theatre performances scheduled for November 22 and 23, from 18:00 to 21:00. The programme, enhanced by singing and the melodies of French chansons, will illuminate the lives and stories of the manor’s inhabitants. Currently, the Aponi Library houses 8,222 titles in 12 languages.
In Bratislava, the prices of older flats have surged, rising by as much as 5 percent in the last quarter to an average of €3,748 per square metre in the third quarter, according to the latest report from Bencont Investments. “This represents a year-on-year increase of nearly 10 percent, with prices approaching the peak levels seen in 2022,” the company noted. Rents continue to climb as well, having increased by 8 percent compared to last year. The average price of older flats has risen by up to 18.75 percent year-on-year, reaching €252,679 per flat, while the total rent price, including utilities, has jumped to €1,078. (SITA)
One of the planned shared services centres will be established in Sobrance, eastern Slovakia, with the city securing €1 million for its creation. A similar centre currently operates in Becherov, located in the Bardejov district of eastern Slovakia, where it manages the agenda for 84 municipalities. (TASR)
In the 2024/2025 school year, 134 students have opted for dual education with dm drogerie markt, including 33 first-year students—a 10-percent increase from last year. The company has been committed to dual education in the retail sector for over 13 years. (TASR)
Šariš Castle, Prešov district, eastern Slovakia. (source: TASR - Milan Kapusta)
WEATHER FOR THE LONG WEEKEND : Friday will be bright and warm, with temperatures reaching up to 19°C. Saturday is expected to be overcast, with occasional rain and temperatures around 17°C. Sunday will bring a noticeable drop in temperatures across Slovakia, despite clearer skies, with readings falling to between 6°C and 11°C. Monday will see similar conditions, with continued cool temperatures. (SHMÚ)
CELEBRATING NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA OVER THE LONG WEEKEND: November 1 - Denis, Denisa; November - no name; November 3 - Hubert; November 4 - Karol.
The next edition of Today in Slovakia will be out on Monday, November 4. Wishing you a calm long weekend!
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