Good evening. Here is theTuesday, October 24edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Technocrats' mission is over
Acting PM Ľudovít Ódor shakes hands with President Zuzana Čaputová on October 24, 2023. (source: TASR)
President Zuzana Čaputová thanked the outgoing interim technocratic government led by former banker Ľudovít Ódor for the work that all the ministers have done for Slovakia after this cabinet replaced the Eduard Heger caretaker government in May of this year.
The cabinet's task was to calm down the situation in Slovakia after three years of chaos caused by the OĽaNO-led governments and to improve the lives of people as much as possible. The president spoke highly of the ministers' professionalism and courage.
"I have never met such a special combination of expertise and humour," she said about acting PM Ódor.
Ódor thanked the president for cooperation in the five months in return. He ended his press conference on Tuesday by saying that people in Slovakia should treat others well, even if they may feel frustrated or disappointed. He wished for decency to prevail in society.
His government, which was co-created by the president, leaves behind recommendations on how to make Slovakia successful. But they may remain untouched in the end. Ódor said that he is now going to take some time off before diving into new challenges.
Quote: "I wish that the experience gained by these ministers in Slovak politics would not be a deterrent for their further work in public service. Our Slovakia needs such people." (President Zuzana Čaputová)
Related: The president will appoint Robert Fico's fourth government at 14:00 on Wednesday after she accepted a new candidate for the environment minister.
New era: The ultranationalist Slovak National Party denied selected journalists access to the party's press conference on October 24. The party's leader Andrej Danko claims that the dailies Sme and Denník N, as well as the news website Aktuality.sk, praise the opposition leader Michal Šimečka from the liberal party Progresívne Slovensko. Martina Šimkovičová, the future culture minister (SNS nom.), agrees with Danko.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Transport: Bratislava airport obtained a permit to launch long-haul flights.
Travel: ABulgarian tsar's summer residence near Banská Štiavnica offers a camera obscura experience.
Business: Two mobile operators are switching off their 3G network in Slovakia. What does it mean for you?
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FEATURE STORY FOR TUESDAY
International organisations have got bad numbers
Eurostat is not the only organisation reporting bad numbers on Slovakia, but also the World Bank, OECD and International Monetary Fund. (source: Pixabay)
According to official Eurostat statistics, in 2022 Slovak households had the absolute lowest net incomes in the EU - even lower than Bulgaria, which usually places last. But a Slovak expert used a more suitable methodology in his calculation. In his estimates, Slovaks did not place last in the EU when it comes to net income of households, but their level was the third lowest among the member states.
Learn more about why international organisations report wrong numbers about Slovakia.
EVENT FOR THURSDAY
Female conductor at the State Philharmonic in Košice
After a long time, a female conductor will stand in front of the orchestra of the Košice State Philharmonic. Košice will welcome the debutante of the Prague Spring festival, Alena Hron.
Czech pianist Ivan Klánský accepted the soloist role in Beethoven's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 3. In the second half of the evening, listeners will listen to Cherubini's Symphony in D major. Hron will conduct the concert.
The concert will take place on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 19:00 in the House of Arts (Dom Umenia) in Košice. Tickets are available here.
In other news
Slovakia accepted the Mantis air defence systems, which it received as a gift from Germany. Slovakia will use them to strengthen border protection with Ukraine. Germany originally developed this system to protect military bases in Afghanistan. Germany has also protected Slovak airspace from September.
In recent years, the biggest supporter of political parties who was not directly involved in politics has been co-owner of the chain of electronics department stores Nay Peter Zálešák. In the form of donations and loans, he provided more than €1 million to the parties Za Ľudí, Progresívne Slovensko and the local political party Team Bratislava, Transparency International Slovakia's analysis of political party funders shows.
In June, Slovak MEP Milan Uhrík (Republika) attended a reception in Brussels organised by Russia's chargé d'affaires to the EU, Kirill Logvinov. The Belgian newspaper De Tijd and the Ján Kuciak Investigative Journalism Centre discovered that Logvinov is an agent with connections to the Russian foreign intelligence SVR.
Greater inclusion of LGBT+ people could significantly benefit the Slovak economy, says a study by the organisation Open for Business. The introduction of registered partnerships may increase the GDP per capita by about €3,000, the study reads.
The Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic have their first brigade general since Tuesday. President Zuzana Čaputová appointed Colonel Beata Hanušniaková to this position. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: The night will be cloudy, rainy and windy. The highest daytime temperature will rise to 19°C. Expect cloudy skies, showers in northern and eastern Slovakia. (SHMÚ)
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