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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Hlas Party Proposes State Asset Sell-Off as Political Coalition Shows Internal Tensions

Slovakia's ruling Hlas party is proposing the state sell significant assets in 2026, a move critics compare to the controversial privatizations carried out by the Smer party in 2013 that allegedly stripped value from public resources. The proposal comes as the governing coalition faces internal divisions, with the Slovak National Party (SNS) publicly opposing Interior Minister Matus Sutaj-Estok of Hlas, known by his nickname Taraba. Meanwhile, Slovakia's Judicial Council is experiencing internal conflicts, with members reportedly arguing among themselves over institutional matters. The developments highlight growing tensions within Slovakia's ruling coalition, which consists of Smer-SD (the social-democratic party led by Prime Minister Robert Fico), Hlas (a center-left party that split from Smer), and SNS (a nationalist party). The reference to 2013 relates to a period when Smer implemented privatization policies that opposition parties and critics argued benefited private interests at the expense of public wealth.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Questions Raised Over Hospital Construction Contract Selection in Prešov

Questions have emerged over whether Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák may have selected construction companies for the structural work on a new hospital in Prešov without conducting a proper tender process. The construction of the Prešov hospital is expected to cost at least 358 million euros. An expert has described the selection process as purposeful, suggesting potential irregularities in the procurement procedure. The hospital project represents one of Slovakia's major healthcare infrastructure investments, with concerns now arising about transparency in the contractor selection process.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Opposition Party Criticizes Coalition for 'Relativizing National Memory' of Totalitarian Regimes

The opposition Progressive Slovakia party has criticized the ruling coalition for undermining the country's historical memory and downplaying the damage caused by totalitarian regimes. The criticism comes in response to a proposed amendment to municipal legislation prepared by the Interior Ministry. Progressive Slovakia, a liberal opposition party, argues that the coalition's legislative proposal threatens to weaken Slovakia's institutional commitment to remembering the crimes of past authoritarian systems. The controversy highlights ongoing political tensions over how Slovakia should commemorate its history under communist rule and Nazi occupation during World War II.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Opposition Slams Government Bill on Street Naming Rules for Communist-Era Figures

Slovakia's opposition Progressive Slovakia party has strongly rejected a proposed amendment to municipal laws from the Interior Ministry that would change rules for naming streets after figures from the 1939-1945 regime and the communist totalitarian period. The bill, authored by Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok, seeks to modify how local authorities evaluate whether streets can be named after personalities from these historical periods. Progressive Slovakia accused the ruling coalition of relativizing totalitarianism through the proposed legislation. The current law likely restricts or prohibits naming streets after individuals associated with these regimes, though the specific changes proposed in the amendment were not detailed in available reports.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Municipality Loses EU Recovery Funds After Auditors Question Procurement Process

A Slovak municipality has lost funding from the European Union's recovery plan after auditors challenged its procurement procedures for a construction project. The development occurred when a private developer financed the building construction independently, ultimately retaining ownership of the completed structure. The audit findings resulted in the municipality being stripped of its allocated recovery funds, highlighting potential irregularities in how public procurement rules were followed during the project's implementation.

Korzár
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Domestic Politics

Court to Rule on Controversial Memorial in Dunajská Streda After Hungarian Elections

A Slovak court will deliver its verdict Thursday on a controversial memorial case in Dunajská Streda, a town in southern Slovakia with a large ethnic Hungarian population. The timing comes shortly after Hungarian parliamentary elections. During closing arguments, both sides focused on whether the construction of the memorial itself could constitute extremism. The case has drawn attention as it involves questions of historical memory and ethnic sensitivities in an area where Hungarian-Slovak relations remain politically significant.

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Domestic Politics

Former Slovak Prime Minister Radičová Discusses Political Leadership and Conscience at Book Presentation

Former Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová emphasized the role of conscience in political leadership during a discussion accompanying the presentation of a book about her career. Radičová, who served as prime minister from 2010 to 2012, argued that conscience serves as the primary indicator of a life well-lived and stressed that citizens bear responsibility for whom they entrust with political power. She advocated for decision-making guided by both reason and heart, particularly during moments of uncertainty, stating that this approach gives life meaning. The event featured a live discussion between Radičová and another participant identified as Bárdy, focusing on themes of when politicians fail and why power should represent service rather than dominance.

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Domestic Politics

Trial of Republic Party Deputy Chairman Continues with Witness Testimonies

The criminal trial of Milan Suja, deputy chairman of the Republic party, proceeded with witness testimonies in court. Suja faces charges for breach of duty in managing another party's property, with prosecutors alleging this constitutes a continuing criminal offense. The Republic party is a far-right political movement in Slovakia that has been part of opposition politics, known for its nationalist and anti-immigration positions.

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Domestic Politics

Interior Minister Maintains Optimism Despite Policy Setbacks

Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák has maintained his positive demeanor despite recent policy failures that have damaged his reputation as an effective administrator. The minister, who has previously been credited with significant achievements in his role, now faces criticism as several of his initiatives have encountered substantial difficulties. Despite these setbacks, Kaliňák continues to project confidence in his approach to governance. The developments represent a notable shift in perception of the minister, who had built a reputation as someone capable of delivering on policy promises.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Interior Minister Vows to Block Police Officers Despite Court Defeat

Slovak Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok announced he will continue blocking certain police officers from returning to work despite losing a court case. The minister's stance targets officers associated with a previous administration, whom he refuses to allow back into service during his tenure. A lawyer representing the dismissed officers criticized Šutaj Eštok's position, comparing the minister to a gambling machine in his unpredictable decision-making. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions within Slovakia's police force as the current government seeks to reshape law enforcement personnel inherited from previous administrations.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovakia's Opposition Blames Government for Rule of Law Problems

The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), a Slovak opposition party, has blamed Prime Minister Robert Fico's government for the country's rule of law problems, arguing that citizens should not be held responsible for these issues. KDH politician Miriam Lexmann accused the government of weakening the fight against corruption and dismantling oversight mechanisms. The criticism comes as Slovakia faces ongoing concerns about democratic institutions under Fico's administration, which returned to power in 2023. KDH, a center-right Christian democratic party that sits in opposition to Fico's ruling coalition, has been vocal in its criticism of what it views as authoritarian tendencies in the current government's approach to judicial and anti-corruption reforms.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Anti-corruption police raid multiple locations across Slovakia in national park investigation

Slovakia's anti-corruption police unit conducted raids at multiple locations across the country as part of an investigation into suspected corruption involving the management of one of the country's national parks. The operation, code-named Venátor, includes the former director of the Tatra National Park (TANAP) as a target of the investigation. The Tatra National Park is Slovakia's oldest and most prominent national park, covering portions of the High Tatras mountain range along the border with Poland. The Special Prosecutor's Office, which handles major corruption cases, is overseeing the investigation into alleged corrupt practices in the park's administration.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak National Party Calls on Coalition Partners to Support Pension Increase for Seniors Over 90

The Slovak National Party (SNS) has urged its coalition partners to back a proposal that would increase pensions for citizens over 90 years old to approximately 824 euros per month. SNS is a nationalist party that forms part of Slovakia's current ruling coalition alongside the social-democratic Smer-SD party and the populist Hlas party. The proposal represents an effort to provide additional financial support for the country's oldest pensioners, though it remains unclear whether the other coalition parties will support the measure or how it would be funded within Slovakia's state budget.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Labor Minister Proposes Pension System Choice Before Retirement

Slovak Labor Minister Erik Tomáš has proposed allowing people to choose between staying in the second pillar pension system or returning to the state Social Insurance system shortly before retirement. Under the proposal, those who leave the second pillar would receive a full state pension without reductions, but their accumulated private savings would be forfeited to the state. Opposition parties have criticized the plan as creating moral hazard, though they have not ruled out supporting a constitutional amendment that would guarantee minimum pension contributions at 4 percent of wages. Slovakia operates a multi-pillar pension system where the second pillar consists of private pension funds that workers contribute to alongside the state system, designed to supplement retirement income through individual savings accounts.

Dennik N
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Domestic Politics

Christian Democratic MP František Mikloško Discusses Conservatism and Christianity in Slovak Politics

František Mikloško, a member of parliament representing the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), appeared as a guest on a live recording of the political podcast Bárdy & Káčer in the western Slovak city of Trenčín. The discussion focused on the role of conservatism and Christianity in Slovak politics. KDH is a center-right Christian democratic party that currently serves in the opposition, having been part of Slovakia's political landscape since the country's democratic transition in the 1990s. Mikloško, a veteran politician who has been active since the Velvet Revolution, discussed how Christian values intersect with contemporary political debates in Slovakia.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Opposition Party SaS Enlists Former Officials for Campaign Events Despite Internal Criticisms

Slovakia's opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party is bringing prominent former officials to campaign events as it seeks to rebuild support ahead of upcoming elections. The party has featured figures like former finance minister Ivan Mikloš and political analyst Michal Vašečka at public meetings, while former central bank governor Jozef Mihál is expected to help develop the party's program. However, both Mikloš and Mihál have ruled out running as candidates for SaS in the next elections. The campaign strategy comes amid internal party tensions, with SaS deputy leader Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová reportedly describing the party as a "menopausal project" during some of these public events. SaS, a liberal party that was part of previous center-right governments, has struggled to maintain relevance since losing parliamentary representation in the 2023 elections won by the current ruling coalition led by Robert Fico's Smer-SD party.

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Domestic Politics

Former Police Chief Warns of Political Assassination Risk in Slovakia

Former Slovak police chief Tibor Gašpar has warned that the country could experience another politically motivated assassination attempt due to the current tense political atmosphere. Gašpar called for de-escalation of tensions in Slovak politics. Slovakia has been grappling with heightened political polarization in recent years, particularly following the 2022 parliamentary elections that brought Robert Fico's Smer-SD party back to power. The warning comes amid ongoing disputes between the ruling coalition and opposition parties over various policy issues and investigations.

SME
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Domestic Politics

Slovak Court Clears Path for Major Anti-Corruption Trial to Resume in June

Slovakia's Specialized Criminal Court in Banská Bystrica has cleared the final obstacle for the main trial proceedings in the Očistec case, one of the most closely watched corruption cases in Slovak judicial history. The court decided in a closed session to merge the Očistec indictment with another criminal case involving former police officer Roman S., one of the defendants. The consolidated mega-trial is now scheduled to continue in June. The Očistec case, whose name means "Purgatory" in English, represents a significant anti-corruption investigation that has drawn intense public attention as Slovakia continues its efforts to address high-level corruption and strengthen its judicial system.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Coalition Split Over National Park Zoning Plan That Could Cost 453 Million Euros

A conflict has erupted within Slovakia's ruling coalition over a proposed zoning plan for four national parks, with Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba at odds with his own party. The Slovak National Party (SNS), which nominated Taraba to his position, has publicly called for the withdrawal of the zoning proposal, directly opposing their own minister's initiative. The dispute threatens Slovakia's access to 453 million euros from the European Union's recovery plan, as the zoning requirements are tied to EU funding conditions. The disagreement represents another fracture in the governing coalition, highlighting tensions between different political priorities within the ruling parties and raising questions about Slovakia's ability to meet EU requirements for accessing critical recovery funds.

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Domestic Politics

Christian Democrats Call for Health Minister's Dismissal Over Prešov Hospital Construction Issues

The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), an opposition party, has called for the dismissal of Health Minister Viliam Kaliňák over construction issues at a hospital in Prešov, eastern Slovakia. The party presented evidence of problematic structural columns in the facility and accused officials of cartel-like behavior in the project. KDH's criticism targets the handling of the hospital construction, which appears to involve quality concerns with the building's infrastructure. The Christian Democrats, a center-right opposition party, are using the hospital issues to challenge the competence of Kaliňák, who serves in the current government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party.

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