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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Fico Postpones Taraba Issue as New Problem Emerges with Gašpar

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has postponed dealing with issues surrounding Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba while a new problem has emerged involving another government official, Gašpar. The developments come amid ongoing political tensions within Slovakia's ruling coalition. The situation involves multiple government figures including parliamentary speaker Peter Pellegrini and involves what appears to be crisis management efforts by Fico's administration. These latest political complications add to the challenges facing Slovakia's coalition government, which has been dealing with various internal disputes and public controversies since taking office.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia to Increase Monitoring of Homeschooled Children as Minister Targets Parental Abuse of Education System

Slovakia plans to implement stricter oversight of approximately 9,000 homeschooled children amid concerns that some parents are exploiting the education system for financial gain. Education Minister Erik Tomáš announced new control measures and potential cuts to educational allowances, arguing that certain parents have turned child-rearing into a business model rather than focusing on proper education. The Ministry of Education is revising regulations governing home education to address these abuses. Slovakia's homeschooling system allows parents to educate their children at home while receiving state support, but critics argue the current framework lacks sufficient oversight to ensure children receive adequate education. The new measures represent the government's effort to maintain educational standards while preventing misuse of public funds allocated for alternative education arrangements.

SME
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Domestic Politics

No Agreement Reached Yet on Constitutional Court Judge Nomination

Slovakia's parliament has not yet reached an agreement on nominating a judge to the Constitutional Court, according to Parliamentary Speaker Peter Pellegrini. The position is currently held by Ivetta Macejková, whose term is set to expire, though she has expressed interest in continuing in the role. The Constitutional Court, Slovakia's highest authority on constitutional matters, requires parliamentary approval for judicial appointments. The lack of consensus suggests ongoing political negotiations between the ruling coalition and opposition parties over the nomination process.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Populist Parties Claim Mainstream Politicians Are Adopting Their Policies

Populist political movements in Slovakia are accusing mainstream parties of appropriating their policy platforms. According to populist leaders, established political parties are increasingly adopting positions and rhetoric that were previously associated with populist movements, particularly those with nationalist or anti-establishment themes. The populists argue that mainstream politicians are borrowing their ideas while maintaining their opposition to populist parties themselves. This development reflects broader tensions in European politics where traditional parties face pressure to respond to populist messaging on issues like immigration and national sovereignty.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Deputy PM Taraba Threatens to Resign if Coalition Trust Not Restored by September

Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba announced he would resign from his government positions if political trust between himself and his nominating party SNS is not restored by the end of September 2026. Prime Minister Robert Fico confirmed that if confidence is not renewed between the ruling coalition party Slovak National Party (SNS) and their nominee Taraba, there will be personnel changes at both the ministerial and deputy prime ministerial levels. The ultimatum highlights ongoing tensions within Slovakia's ruling coalition, which includes Fico's Smer-SD party as the dominant partner alongside the nationalist SNS and the populist Hlas party. Taraba currently serves as Minister of Environment and Deputy Prime Minister, having been nominated by SNS despite apparent friction between him and his party leadership.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Parliament Advances Bill to Modify Overseas Voting Rules

Slovakia's National Council, the country's parliament, moved forward this week with legislation that would change how citizens vote from abroad. The bill amending the conditions for exercising voting rights advanced to second reading, bringing potential reforms to overseas voting procedures closer to implementation. The development comes as Slovak political parties continue to debate electoral reforms, with some officials noting that any referendum on early elections would face timing constraints under current laws.

TASR/Teraz
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Police Launch Major Anti-Corruption Operation Over EU Funds Fraud Worth Nearly €863,000

Slovak police conducted a major anti-corruption operation codenamed Aurelia, targeting a company suspected of defrauding European Union development funds worth nearly €863,000. The investigation centers on allegations that the company falsely claimed to have implemented production process innovations that were never actually introduced into their manufacturing operations. The case represents another instance of EU funds abuse in Slovakia, where companies have been known to apply for development grants by claiming to introduce new technologies or processes, only to pocket the money without making the promised improvements.

SMEAktuality
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Domestic Politics

Fico Gives Instructions to Danko

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has provided guidance to National Council Speaker Peter Danko regarding scheduling matters. The directive comes as part of ongoing coordination between the government and parliament leadership on procedural issues.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Key witness breaks silence in third Kuciak murder trial, implicates Kočner and other officials

Zoltán Andruskó, a cooperating witness in the investigation of journalist Ján Kuciak's murder, testified for the first time in the third trial related to the case. Andruskó, who had previously remained silent during court proceedings, repeated his claims that businessman Marian Kočner ordered the killing of the investigative journalist and also targeted prosecutors. His testimony also mentioned other high-profile figures including Gašpar, Bödör, and Kováčik. The murder of Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová in February 2018 sparked massive protests in Slovakia and led to the resignation of the government. Kuciak had been investigating alleged corruption involving Italian mafia connections to Slovak politicians and businessmen, including Kočner, who was later convicted of ordering the murders.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Crown Witness Testifies Former Police Chief and Prosecutor Covered Up Murders

Zoltán Andruskó, the crown witness in the murder case of journalist Ján Kuciak, testified in court that former police chief Tibor Gašpar threatened him through an intermediary not to testify about the murder of ex-mayor L. Basternák of Hurbanovo, warning he would "end up like him." Andruskó also alleged that former Special Prosecutor Dušan Kováčik was supposed to ensure impunity for a planned assassination of prosecutor Maroš Žilinka. The testimony comes as part of ongoing court proceedings in Slovakia's most prominent murder case, which exposed deep corruption links between organized crime and law enforcement. Kuciak, an investigative journalist, and his fiancée were murdered in 2018 while he was investigating ties between Italian mafia and Slovak politicians, a case that led to massive protests and the resignation of then-Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Former Bratislava Mayor Claims Political Targeting After Corruption Charges Dropped

Rudolf Kusý, who served as mayor of Bratislava's Nové Mesto district for 12 years until 2022, has spoken out about police investigations that targeted him during his final term in office. Police charged Kusý in 2020 over alleged irregularities in four major construction projects, leading to a three-day detention. However, Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka later ruled that police had acted unlawfully and dismissed the charges. Kusý maintains his innocence, denying taking bribes and claiming he was politically targeted. Nové Mesto is one of Bratislava's five administrative districts, and Kusý's case highlights ongoing tensions between local officials and law enforcement in Slovakia's capital. The dismissal of charges by the prosecutor general suggests potential procedural violations in the initial investigation, though details of a second police case mentioned have not been resolved.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's ruling coalition expects smooth passage of government bills in parliament

Slovakia's ruling coalition anticipates no major obstacles in passing government legislation through parliament, despite acknowledging that some proposed laws may generate heated debates. Prime Minister Robert Fico admitted that certain legislative proposals could spark "stormy" discussions among lawmakers. The coalition's confidence suggests it believes it has sufficient parliamentary support to advance its agenda, even if individual bills face strong opposition criticism during the legislative process.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Filip Kuffa Emerges as Potential Minister After Split from Coalition Partner

Filip Kuffa, a controversial political figure known for his confrontational style and past clashes with protesters, is being discussed as a potential new minister following a political realignment. Kuffa's supporters have distanced themselves from Rudolf Taraba, who previously led their shared political party. The development suggests internal tensions within Slovakia's governing coalition, as different factions appear to be repositioning themselves ahead of potential cabinet changes. Kuffa has previously drawn criticism for his aggressive behavior toward critics and his inability to handle challenging questions from the media.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Progressive Slovakia Maintains Poll Lead Despite Banking Scandal as Smer Closes Gap

Progressive Slovakia (PS) has retained its position as the most popular political party with 19.7 percent voter support, according to a new Ipsos poll released Friday, despite recent revelations about fraudulent bank transfers within its affiliated Project Forum association. The ruling Smer-SD party finished a close second in the survey. The Focus polling agency conducted its May preference survey between May 7-11, a period following the publication of reports about suspicious banking transactions within the Project Forum organization. Many observers, including PS politicians themselves, had been closely watching whether the banking scandal would damage the opposition party's standing with voters. The poll results suggest that despite the controversy, PS has managed to maintain its lead in voter preferences, while Smer has narrowed the gap between the two parties.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Interior Ministry Prepares Draft Law on Chief Controllers to Enhance Professional Standards

Slovakia's Interior Ministry has prepared a draft law concerning chief controllers that aims to increase professional expertise in the field. The proposed legislation seeks to unify and modernize existing regulations governing these oversight positions. Chief controllers in Slovakia serve as internal auditors within public institutions, responsible for monitoring compliance with financial and administrative procedures. The draft represents an effort to strengthen institutional oversight mechanisms by establishing clearer professional requirements and updated operational standards for these key supervisory roles.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Coalition Split Over Taraba's Future as SNS Leader Demands Immediate Removal

A rift has emerged within Slovakia's ruling coalition over the fate of Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba, with Slovak National Party (SNS) chairman Andrej Danko demanding his immediate dismissal while Prime Minister Robert Fico wants to wait more than a year before making any decision. Fico, leader of the ruling social-democratic Smer-SD party, again defended Taraba but acknowledged facing a dilemma over the controversial deputy prime minister's position. The disagreement highlights tensions within the three-party coalition government that has been in power since October 2023, with the SNS and Smer-SD at odds over personnel decisions that could affect government stability.

Aktuality
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Domestic Politics

Planned Murder of Slovakia's General Prosecutor Was Designed to Look Like Mafia Execution, Court Told

A planned assassination of Slovakia's General Prosecutor Maroš Žilinka was intended to appear as a mafia-style execution, according to testimony from Zoltán Andruskó in court. Andruskó, a key witness in high-profile murder cases, provided details about the plot against Žilinka, who heads the General Prosecutor's Office, Slovakia's highest prosecutorial authority responsible for overseeing major criminal cases and coordinating the country's prosecution system. The revelation adds another layer to concerns about threats against senior judicial and prosecutorial officials in Slovakia, where several prominent figures in the justice system have faced security risks in recent years.

Bratislavak
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Domestic Politics

Witness Claims Žilinka Was Target of Planned Mafia-Style Assassination

A witness has testified that Slovakia's Chief Prosecutor Maroš Žilinka was the target of a planned assassination that was intended to appear as a mafia-style execution. The testimony comes from Andruskó, who provided details about the alleged murder plot against the country's top prosecutor. Slovakia's Chief Prosecutor oversees the prosecution service and plays a crucial role in major criminal cases, including organized crime and corruption investigations. The allegations suggest serious threats against one of the country's highest-ranking law enforcement officials.

Bratislavak
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Domestic Politics

Police Operation in Military Area Uncovers Multiple Violations

Slovak police conducted an operation in a military area that revealed several violations of regulations. The operation was designed to address both security concerns and environmental protection issues within the restricted military zone. Police did not immediately specify the exact nature of the violations discovered or provide details about potential penalties for those involved.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Unites Behind Single Candidate to Challenge Ruling Party in Slovak Regional Election

Opposition parties in Slovakia have consolidated their support behind a single candidate in an effort to defeat the ruling party's nominee in a regional election. The strategy centers on leveraging what observers are calling the "Raši effect," with candidate Porvažník expressing confidence about overcoming the current frontrunner Trnka's lead. The opposition's chances may have improved following Hirman's withdrawal from the race, with the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) potentially holding the key to electoral success. This development reflects broader political dynamics as opposition parties seek to coordinate their efforts against Slovakia's ruling coalition in regional contests.

Korzár
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