Good evening. Here is the Monday, November 13 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in fewer than five minutes.
Lorry tailback at the eastern border
Lorries are queuing in order to enter Ukraine. (source: FB Polícia SR - Košický Kraj)
Truck movement on the eastern border of Slovakia has been restricted due to a surge in the number of lorries, the Košice regional police said on Sunday night. Queues have formed not only at the Vyšné Nemecké-Uzhhorod border crossing but also in nearby areas. They are waiting to enter Ukraine.
The situation remained complicated throughout Monday, wrote Korzár.
Priority is given to lorries transporting perishable food, goods with a short expiration period, animals, and humanitarian aid. However, drivers must present the necessary documentation for the transported goods.
The traffic bottleneck stems from a protest by Polish lorry drivers, who have blocked the Ukrainian border crossings since November 6. They are demanding the reinstatement of permits for Ukrainian lorry drivers, revoked by the EU after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Union of Slovakia's Road Hauliers has said that it supports Polish lorry drivers' initiative, and is willing to join the Poles.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Opinion: Slovak PM Robert Fico's rejection of a military aid package for Ukraine, including missile defence system ammunition, contradicts the country's traditionally pro-Ukraine stance. This raises concerns and accusations of having "blood on its hands" from critics.
Interview: Sophia in 't Veld, MEP and leader of the Democracy, Rule of Law, and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group, expresses concerns over the Slovak government's direction, noting troubling changes in the police force and the potential impact on rule of law.
Sport: Slovak alpine ski racer Petra Vlhová showed outstanding form in the World Cup slalom races, winning convincingly on Saturday, but ultimately giving away her victory to Mikaela Shiffrin on Sunday due to her own mistake.
LGBT+: Slovak photographer Dorota Holubová's LGBT+ exhibition, "Neskrývaná Láska," in the national museum was reportedly cancelled by homophobic Culture Minister Šimkovičová.
Business: Slovakia is exploring advanced battery solutions to address the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources and enhance energy storage capabilities, with projects focusing on cutting-edge battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Transport: A collision with a roe deer shattered the front windshield of a bus in Bratislava, injuring a passenger, who was subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment.
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FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY
How Andy Warhol's mother made it to America
Julia Warhola's visa to America. (source: Petra Toth Atelier)
Renowned jeweller and designer Petra Toth traced the journey of Andy Warhol's parents, Júlia and Andrej, from their village of Miková in eastern Slovakia to Pittsburgh. Petra highlighted significant moments in the Warhol family's life, shedding light on Warhola's creative talents, challenges, and her impact on her son's art.
Despite enduring hardships, Warhola's iconic calligraphy, her alter ego "Moondog", and her unique presence in Warhol's life and work left a lasting legacy, making her an integral part of the Warhol story.
EVENT FOR TUESDAY
'German Stammtisch' – a gathering for people who share a love of German. (source: Pexels)
On Tuesday, November 14, Goethe-Institut Bratislava is organising an event for those who love German and desire to speak it, but lack the opportunity.
The Goethe-Institut Bratislava launches a regular 'German Stammtisch', which is a gathering for people who share a love of German and want to practice in a pleasant informal environment, over coffee, with friends. Stammtisch is open to everyone with basic language skills. Registration is not required and participation is free.
They await you tomorrow at 17:00!
In other news
The fourth government led by Robert Fico (Smer) has approved its government programme,titled "Better, Calmer, and Safer Living in Slovakia," and plans to present it to parliament for discussion on November 14. Key priorities include defence allocation, public finance stabilisation, agricultural food security, tax fairness, energy price subsidies, European toll transition, infrastructure development, long-term health strategy, and resilience against hybrid threats, guided by a balanced foreign policy.
The Hlas party will never support a change to presidential elections,according to Labour Minister Erik Tomáš, responding to statements by Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko. Danko suggested that the president should be elected by the parliament again, though Hlas rejects such a constitutional amendment.
Slovakia's 2023 elections were historically costly, totaling €26.8 million, with parties spending over €9 per vote; Transparency International Slovensko noted major campaigns, including Smer's €2.95 million and the OĽaNO coalition's leading €4.34 million, with 40 percent from private funds. (TIS)
Speed restrictions at Bratislava's main station due to poor track conditions may cause trains to be delayed by 5 to 10 minutes, with the restriction lasting until track repairs are completed by the state-owned railway infrastructure company ŽSR.
Robert Fico has ordered an examination of the accreditation of journalists from SME, Denník N, Aktuality.sk, and TV Markíza at the Government Office, labelling these media outlets as unwelcome due to their perceived hostility. (SITA)
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY
The weather forecast for Tuesday predicts for overcast to cloudy skies with occasional fog, reduced visibility, and scattered breaks in cloud cover. Some areas may see rain, drizzle, or snow at higher elevations, with isolated afternoon precipitation. The highest daytime temperature will be 8°C to 13 °C, reaching up to 15°C in the southwest. The met office has issued level 1 and 2 warnings due to strong winds in the Liptovský Mikuláš and Dolný Kubín areas.(SHMÚ)
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