Good evening. Here is theMonday, September 16 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
From pilgrim to superhero: Pellegrini’s flood response
President Peter Pellegrini is seen in a tracked fire-fighting vehicle in Bratislava on September 15, 2024. On the same day, he took part in a national pilgrimage in Šaštín. (source: Facebook/Peter Pellegrini)
While last year’s national pilgrimage to the Seven Sorrows of Mary in Šaštín, western Slovakia, was bathed in sunshine, this year’s event on September 15 was marred by persistent rain. The Bratislava Archdiocese, the organiser of the event, was compelled to move the celebrations from the outdoor venue to the local Basilica of the Seven Sorrows of Mary in response to weather warnings.
Believers from across the country were urged not to travel to Šaštín.
“This year, due to adverse weather conditions, we encourage you to celebrate the Sunday Mass for the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary in your parishes and churches, and to spiritually unite with the celebration at the national basilica in Šaštín,” the archdiocese said in a press release last Thursday.
The decision was well-justified. The basilica has limited capacity, and the town had declared an emergency situation on Sunday due to heavy rain and rising levels of the Myjava River.
Nevertheless, President Peter Pellegrini chose to disregard the archdiocese’s appeal. He opted not to lead by example by watching the Mass on television or going to a Catholic church in Bratislava. Instead, he travelled to Šaštín, where he wished the entire country a “beautiful feast day” and expressed his thoughts for “all those who, regrettably, are unable to attend the Mass due to the extreme weather affecting the country.” He also shared a photo of himself praying in the basilica.
On the same day, President Pellegrini was seen posing on a tracked fire-fighting vehicle in the flood-affected Devínska Nová Ves in Bratislava, where he wished residents the best in managing the situation “somehow”, while others were busy sandbagging. His photo on the vehicle amused Slovak internet users, with one post jokingly suggesting that Pellegrini was now delivering cheaper groceries—a promise made by his party, Hlas, before last September’s parliamentary elections, despite food prices rising since.
This summer, Pellegrini, whose party remains part of the governing coalition and which he recently led, faced criticism for his silence on the government’s attacks on cultural institutions and the suspension of the prison sentence for the convicted corrupt official and former top prosecutor Dušan Kováčik.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
Weather: The Danube River in Bratislava is reaching its peak in the upper section, experts from the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) said on Monday night. Find out how the situation in the capital developed throughout the day.
Opinion: Special contributor and head of the home affairs desk at Sme daily, Michaela Terenzani, summarises the most significant political events of the past week. This time, she highlights how opposition leader Michal Šimečka and his party made an astute move that exposed the coalition’s plan to remove Šimečka from his role as deputy speaker of parliament as fundamentally absurd.
Opinion: People in Slovakia are officially the poorest, as a comparison of real wages in the EU has shown, writes economist Ivan Mikloš.
Archaeology: Archaeologists in Trenčín hope to uncover a secret room behind the crypt at Trenčín Castle.
Advertorial:Pressburg Mint, as one of the few private mints in the world, serves clients globally, with a strong presence in the USA, Western Europe, and East Asia.
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FEATURE STORY
40 days of rain?
A rainy day in Bratislava. (source: TASR)
One of the most well-known pieces of weather lore in Slovakia is about Medard, which goes like this: Medard’s drop will be dropping for 40 days (Medardova kvapka 40 dní kvapká). Is it still valid, though?
FESTIVAL
Fjúžn
This Friday kicks off the vibrant Fjúžn festival, a week-long celebration of multi-genre and multicultural magic! Hosted by the Milan Šimečka Foundation—currently under fire from the governing coalition simply for being named after the grandfather of opposition leader Michal Šimečka—this festival promises to unite people from all walks of life. Get ready to embrace a dazzling mix of cultures and creativity in Bratislava!
IN OTHER NEWS
Slovak Railways (ZSSK) is implementing measures for international travel documents purchased through ZSSK for journeys to, from, or through Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary due to the exceptional situation caused by adverse weather and flooded railway lines in these regions.
UniCredit Bank has commenced the migration of its entire payment card portfolio to Mastercard, a process expected to continue until the first half of 2025. The PINs and original limits on the accounts linked to the cards will be retained. Clients of UniCredit Bank will be able to use their new cards immediately upon exchange. A virtual version of the debit card will be available in the mobile application in advance, eliminating the need to wait for the delivery of the physical card by mail.
MP Martina Holečková is leaving the Christian Democrats (KDH). She stated that she can no longer work in a party whose actions she no longer understands and also cannot truthfully and honourably defend interests with which she does not agree. After last year’s elections, Holečková emerged as one of the most prominent figures in the KDH and a staunch critic of the ruling coalition, which is not entirely typical for the KDH.
The dissolution of the National Crime Agency (NAKA) and the reallocation of hundreds of police officers may have been illegal. The Police Union of Slovakia asserts that the reassignment of officers to other units was not discussed in advance. The anti-corruption NGO, Zastavme korupciu, highlighted this issue, referencing statements from union representatives. According to them, the Supreme Court has previously deemed such actions unlawful. The police force has stated that it followed legal procedures during the reorganisation of NAKA.
The Investments Ministry has met all milestones for the fifth payment request from the recovery plan. Key milestones achieved include: the plan for priority life situations, the establishment of a central procurement platform for acquiring and utilising IT resources, and the transition from coal use in the Upper Nitra region. (TASR)
Prime Minister Robert Fico, who turned 60 last weekend, appears during a press briefing following the government meeting on the adverse weather situation in Bratislava on September 16, 2024. He is flanked by Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (l) and Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba (r). This appearance marks Fico’s first reaction to the floods in Slovakia, as he had not been seen or heard from for several days. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY: The weather will be partly cloudy to overcast, with some areas experiencing dense cloud cover. Isolated showers or light rain are possible, especially in the morning. Daytime temperatures are expected to range from 17°C to 24°C. (SHMÚ)
SEPTEMBER 17 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Olympia.
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