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Domestic Politics

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Opposition Leader Challenges Constitutional Court Over Forced Parliamentary Apology

Igor Matovič, leader of the opposition Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) party, announced he will file a complaint with the Constitutional Court challenging a ruling that requires him to apologize to MEP Ľuboš Blaha in parliament. Matovič declared the court-ordered apology impossible to fulfill and simultaneously announced plans to sue the European Parliament member for statements made against him. The dispute stems from a legal case involving Blaha, a Member of the European Parliament representing Smer-SD, Slovakia's ruling social-democratic party. The Constitutional Court, Slovakia's highest authority on constitutional matters, issued a decision requiring Matovič to deliver a public apology to Blaha during a parliamentary session. The conflict highlights ongoing tensions between Slovakia's opposition and ruling coalition parties. Matovič's OĽaNO previously led a coalition government from 2020 to 2022 before losing power to the current Smer-SD-led administration. The legal battle reflects the polarized political atmosphere in Slovak politics, where personal disputes between political figures frequently escalate into court proceedings.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Opposition Proposes Legal Changes Following Financial Administration Control in Kvetoslavovo

Progressive Slovakia, an opposition party, is preparing legislation that would introduce a "right to error" for minor infractions beyond current cash register requirements. The proposed law comes in response to a Financial Administration control operation in Kvetoslavovo, a small municipality in western Slovakia. The Financial Administration is Slovakia's tax authority responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing fiscal compliance. The proposed "right to error" provision would provide legal protection for businesses and individuals who make small, unintentional mistakes in their tax or administrative obligations, extending beyond the current limited protections that apply only to electronic cash register violations.

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Domestic Politics

Progressive Slovakia Proposes Bill to Combat Gender-Based Violence

Progressive Slovakia, an opposition liberal party, has introduced legislation aimed at protecting victims of gender-based violence. The proposed bill includes provisions addressing cybernetic violence, reflecting growing concerns about online harassment and digital forms of abuse. The legislation represents the party's effort to strengthen legal protections for victims of gender-based violence in both physical and digital environments. Progressive Slovakia, which holds seats in Slovakia's parliament but is not part of the current ruling coalition, has positioned itself as an advocate for progressive social policies and human rights protections.

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Domestic Politics

Construction Master Ľubomír Goliaš Enters Race for Prešov Region Governor

Construction master Ľubomír Goliaš has become the fifth candidate to announce his bid for governor of Prešov Region in Slovakia's 2026 regional elections. Goliaš will run under the banner of Jednota Slovanov (Unity of Slavs), a minor political party. The candidate emphasized his practical approach to governance, stating he prefers to focus on work rather than making campaign promises to voters. Regional elections in Slovakia will determine governors for the country's eight self-governing regions, which oversee local administration, education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects.

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Domestic Politics

Interior Minister Hands Over Rental Apartments for Police Officers and Firefighters in Bratislava

Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok delivered rental apartments specifically designated for police officers and firefighters in Slovakia's capital. The minister acknowledged that living conditions in Bratislava are naturally the most difficult in the country, creating the ministry's biggest challenge in recruiting police officers and firefighters to serve in the capital city. The housing initiative appears designed to address recruitment difficulties by providing affordable accommodation for security personnel in Slovakia's most expensive urban area.

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Domestic Politics

Voice-SD Leader Backs Ondruš for Trade Union Confederation Presidential Bid

The leader of Voice-SD (Hlas-SD), a ruling social-democratic party in Slovakia's governing coalition, has endorsed Ondruš for the presidency of the Confederation of Trade Unions (KOZ), Slovakia's main umbrella organization representing workers' unions. According to the Voice-SD chief, Ondruš aims to demonstrate that he would serve as a non-political and non-partisan leader if elected to head the confederation. The endorsement highlights the intersection between Slovakia's political parties and labor organizations, as trade union leadership positions often carry significant influence in national economic and social policy discussions.

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Domestic Politics

Former Slovak PM Ódor Urges Opposition Leader to Stay, Fight Government

Ľudovít Ódor, former Slovak prime minister and member of Progressive Slovakia (PS), called on the opposition leadership to resist pressure and continue fighting against the current government rather than retreat. Ódor argued it would send a "very bad signal" if opposition leaders could be forced out simply by having "dirt thrown at them," emphasizing the need to stand firm rather than flee. The former interim prime minister also criticized the government's economic approach, saying that expecting pro-growth measures from the current administration is like "believing that a demolition crew will build a house." Progressive Slovakia is one of Slovakia's main liberal opposition parties, challenging the ruling coalition led by Robert Fico's Smer-SD party.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak PM Fico Claims Citizens Are Being Forced to Watch Political Debates

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has made controversial statements claiming that Slovaks are being forced to watch political debates and suggesting he wants to protect them from this alleged coercion. Fico, who leads the ruling Smer-SD party, has also made broader claims about seeing "terrorist training" everywhere, though he appears to exclude his own political allies from such accusations. The comments reflect Fico's ongoing rhetoric against opposition media and political discourse, as the prime minister continues to position himself as a protector of ordinary citizens against what he characterizes as harmful political influence.

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Domestic Politics

Over 8,400 Slovak voters abroad plan to participate in upcoming referendum

More than 8,460 Slovak citizens living abroad have registered to vote in an upcoming referendum, according to official data. These overseas voters must send their completed ballots in return envelopes to the Interior Ministry's registry office to have their votes counted. The referendum allows Slovak expatriates to participate in the democratic process from their countries of residence, with the Interior Ministry serving as the central collection point for all international ballots.

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Domestic Politics

Interior Ministry Offers Unused Buildings for Rental Housing

Slovakia's Interior Ministry is making unused government buildings available for conversion into rental housing units. The initiative represents an effort to address housing shortages by repurposing underutilized state property. The Interior Ministry, which oversees domestic security and administrative matters, controls various buildings across the country that could potentially be converted to residential use.

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Domestic Politics

Former We Are Family MP Remains Under Investigation Despite Family Firm's Interior Ministry Cleaning Contract

A former member of parliament from the We Are Family party remains under criminal investigation while his family's cleaning company, Slovclean, has secured a lucrative contract to provide cleaning services for Slovakia's Interior Ministry. The situation raises questions about potential conflicts of interest involving the Borguľa family business and government procurement processes. We Are Family is a populist party that has been part of Slovakia's ruling coalition, making the case particularly sensitive given the party's anti-corruption rhetoric and the ongoing criminal charges against the former lawmaker.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak President Abandons Hungarian Minority Concerns Over Beneš Decrees

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has shifted his stance on the controversial Beneš Decrees, abandoning previous commitments to address Hungarian minority concerns after winning office. Before his election, Pellegrini promised to establish a presidential commission to examine the post-World War II decrees, which expelled ethnic Germans and Hungarians from Czechoslovakia and remain a sensitive issue for Slovakia's Hungarian minority. However, after taking office, Pellegrini instead supported criminal law protection for the decrees and has not followed through on creating the promised commission. The Beneš Decrees, issued by Czechoslovak President Edvard Beneš in 1945-1946, legitimized the mass expulsion and property confiscation affecting hundreds of thousands of ethnic minorities. The decrees continue to strain relations between Slovakia and Hungary, with Hungary's ethnic Hungarian minority in Slovakia viewing them as discriminatory legislation that has never been properly addressed.

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Domestic Politics

Opposition parties propose parliamentary rules reforms to limit government's legislative powers

Two opposition parties have introduced separate proposals to reform Slovakia's parliamentary procedures, targeting what they see as abuse of legislative processes by the ruling coalition. Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), a liberal opposition party, has proposed stricter rules for expedited legislative procedures and the attachment of amendments to unrelated bills, a practice known as "riders." Meanwhile, Progressive Slovakia (PS), another opposition party, has introduced changes focused on the expulsion of MPs from parliamentary sessions, requiring that the parliamentary presidium be convened before any lawmaker can be removed from the chamber. The competing proposals reflect ongoing tensions between Slovakia's ruling coalition and opposition parties over parliamentary conduct and legislative procedures. Both parties are seeking to limit what they view as procedural overreach by the government in pushing through legislation without proper debate or scrutiny.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Energy Policy Faces Criticism Over Diversification Strategy

Slovakia's approach to diversifying its energy supply routes has drawn criticism, with opponents characterizing the policy as contradictory or inadequate. The controversy centers on the country's handling of gas and oil supply arrangements, with critics suggesting the government's multi-directional approach lacks coherence. The debate reflects broader tensions over Slovakia's energy security strategy as the country seeks to reduce dependence on traditional suppliers while maintaining stable energy supplies for its economy and households.

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Domestic Politics

Slovakia Party Proposes Government Spending Transparency Portal

The opposition Movement for Slovakia party unveiled another question in its ongoing public survey, asking citizens whether they would support the creation of an online portal providing transparent access to all government expenditures. The party, led by Igor Matovič and currently in opposition after losing power in 2023, has been conducting a series of public consultations on various policy proposals. The proposed transparency portal would allow citizens to easily search and review how public funds are being spent across all government departments and agencies, reflecting broader concerns about government accountability and fiscal transparency in Slovak politics.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak MEP Leaves Hlas Party to Run for Trade Union Leadership

European Parliament member Branislav Ondruš has left the Hlas-SD party to run for chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions (KOZ), Slovakia's main trade union federation. Ondruš confirmed his candidacy and said he departed the social-democratic party, which is part of the ruling coalition, to maintain political neutrality required for the union leadership position. His plans drew criticism from Miriam Lexmann, a European Parliament member from the opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), who warned against the politicization of trade unions during a Sunday television discussion program. The Confederation of Trade Unions represents workers across various sectors in Slovakia and plays a significant role in labor negotiations and social policy discussions.

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Domestic Politics

Labor Union Operation Criticized for 'Twisted Logic' in Government Relations

A labor union operation called "Ondruš" is facing criticism for what critics describe as having "twisted logic" in its approach to government relations. The operation has been accused of abandoning the fundamental role of trade unions by choosing to "give the government peace" rather than challenging government policies. Critics argue this stance directly contradicts the primary duty of labor unions, which is to advocate for workers' rights and hold governments accountable on labor issues. The controversy highlights tensions within Slovakia's labor movement over how unions should position themselves relative to the current government.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Opposition Leader Matovič Clashes with Far-Right Politician in TV Debate

A heated television debate erupted between Igor Matovič, leader of the opposition Ordinary People party, and Milan Uhrík, head of the far-right Republika party, during a program on TA3 news channel. Matovič accused Republika of being financially tied to sponsors of Smer-SD, the ruling social-democratic party that leads Slovakia's current government. The confrontation escalated when Matovič called Uhrík a "fascist," while Uhrík responded by calling Matovič a "skunk." The exchange became particularly tense when the topic of investigations was mentioned, causing Matovič to take offense. Matovič claimed he would present evidence about who actually funded Republika's election campaign when the time comes, suggesting undisclosed financial connections between the far-right party and Smer-SD's backers.

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Domestic Politics

Slovak Transport Minister Considers Bratislava Mayoral Bid but Rules Out Party Membership

Transport Minister Jozef Ráž said he is considering running for mayor of Bratislava but rejected joining any political party, stating he does not want to "wear uniforms" that force people to follow orders. As a non-party nominee of Smer-SD, Slovakia's ruling social-democratic party, Ráž said he wants the freedom to decide whether to complete his ministerial term or pursue the position of Bratislava mayor. The statement suggests potential uncertainty in the government's transport portfolio as Ráž weighs his political options ahead of what would be a significant mayoral race in Slovakia's capital city.

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Domestic Politics

Eight Independent MPs Currently Serve in Slovak Parliament

Eight members of Slovakia's National Council currently serve as independent lawmakers without party affiliation. Jana Bittó Cigániková has spent the shortest time as an independent member of parliament among this group. Independent MPs in Slovakia's 150-seat parliament are typically former party members who either left their political groups voluntarily or were expelled, allowing them to continue serving their four-year terms without formal party backing.

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