Good evening. Here is theThursday, April 18edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Denník N: Putin admirer may head RTVS
According to Denník N, it is possible that Lukáš Machala will assume the role of public-service broadcaster RTVS director. Today, the Putin admirer runs the Culture Ministry, which is headed by the star of a pro-Russian and disinformation online television, Martina Šimkovičová.
The future director will not be elected by parliament, but by a board with representatives from the government on it. The director will also not be dismissed without a reason, as proposed earlier.
Also, the Programme Board won’t oversee and intervene in the broadcasting of Slovakia’s public-service media RTVS, as proposed in the initial bill on RTVS.
It’s indicated that the bill will be inspired by Austria and Czechia.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
- Politics: Vaccines missing as whooping cough cases on the rise in Slovakia.
- Business: The American chain of fast food restaurants, Wendy’s, could open its restaurant in Bratislava.
- Politics: A lawmaker breaks the law during his odd experiment.
- Culture: A new halušky stand opens in downtown Bratislava.
- Travel: The town popular for its palm tree launches a handy tour guide.
- Culture: Archaeologists have discovered evidence of a burned church.
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TRAVEL STORY: Michalovce and Sobrance
Engaging museums and dazzling nature
Descendants of emigrated Slovaks often set out to Dolný Zemplín to see the places their ancestors came from. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Museum of Emigration opened in the region. However, the region offers much more than just museums.
FREE BRATISLAVA EVENTS
A magical garden
In the centre of Bratislava, the Phoenix Garden will pop up on Saturday. It will be full of magical flowers of incredible dimensions.
IN OTHER NEWS
- Health Minister Zuzana Dolinková (Hlas) has appointed economist Matej Ovčiarka as the new head of the recovery plan implementation department at the ministry. He will supervise the spending of €1 billion. Ovčiarka is a controversial nomination, given the number of scandals linked to his name. (Sme)
- The conditions for early retirement will change. MPs approved on Thursday an amending proposal to the amendment to the Social Insurance Act. The reason for the changes is the large number of senior citizens retiring early, who wanted to take advantage of double indexation. The condition of 40 years of work will be replaced by the necessary period worked, which will be determined for the relevant year as the difference between the general retirement age for the relevant year and the number 23. "For example, in the case of the year 1961, where general retirement age is 63 years and 2 months, to fulfil the early retirement condition it will be necessary to work 40 years and 2 months," the amending proposal reads. (SITA)
- Collaborating defendant and former deputy director of the Slovak Information Service Boris Beňa has been detained on suspicion of engaging in espionage in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Beňa was one of the key witnesses in high-profile cases and testified, for example, against former spy boss Vladimír Pčolinský. Beňa has been convicted of accepting bribes. The court gave him a five-year suspended sentence with a five-year probation period. Beňa’s lawyer, Peter Kubina, said that his client has been working legally in Africa and Slovak authorities, including the mediation officer, were also informed about it. Beňa was supposed to return to Slovakia in the next few days. He is not currently being prosecuted in any criminal case. The Pčolinský trial is to start on May 30. (SITA)
- The Education Ministry prepared a new bill on lifelong learning. If MPs adopt it, the bill will become effective in 2025.
- PM Robert Fico will visit China in June, announced the Foreign Ministry.
- Slovakia will introduce the 13th pension as a new pension - not social - benefit, which will amount to the average monthly amount of the given type of pension for the entire previous calendar year. Slovakia's lawmakers approved an amendment to the Social Insurance Act on Thursday. The amendment is slated to come into effect on July 1, 2024. The ministry predicts an increase in state expenditures this year by almost €823 million, even almost €1 billion in 2026. According to the new rules, the 13th pension will be determined annually and separately for each type of pension. If the average amount is lower than €300, the 13th pension will reach €300. KDH MPs from the opposition voted for the bill because Labour Minister Erik Tomáš (Hlas) guaranteed to the KDH parliamentary caucus that he would not open or reduce the second pension pillar. The method chosen by this government will lead down the Greek path to bankruptcy, said the opposition party Progresívne Slovensko.
- The government will support the bid of incumbent European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič for a post in the next 2024-29 European Commission, PM Fico announced after a two-day EU summit in Brussels. (TASR)
- On Wednesday, the government greenlighted an amendment to the Civil Protection Act that would enable the declaration of the emergency situation over the presence of a brown bear, similarly as in cases of earthquake or terrorist attacks. The bill is dangerous and, aside from bears, it deals also with wolves, jackals and endangered lynxes, said the opposition party SaS. (TASR)
WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: Friday’s forecast calls for changeable clouds with showers expected throughout the day across most regions. Temperatures will range from 10°C to 15°C, with slightly cooler conditions in the north. (SHMÚ)
APRIL 19 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Jela.
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