OtherOther Economy

Despite Projections State Insurer SP Ended 2009 Deep in the Red

Bratislava, June 14 (TASR) - State-run insurer Socialna Poistovna (SP) ended 2009 with a budget deficit of €320.82 million, while a surplus of €78.62 million was originally predicted. This is according to a proposal of the report on public administration's financial management in 2009 as released by the Finance Ministry on Monday. Less-than-projected collection of… read more

FinMin: Slovak Economy This Year to Grow Faster than Expected

Bratislava, June 14 (TASR) - Slovakia's economy will grow faster this and next year than expected in a prognosis actually published by the Finance Ministry in February but updated on Thursday. The ministry estimates this year's growth to reach 3.2 percent - and not 2.8 percent as had been estimated earlier. The current estimate for 2011 is 3.8 percent. "It's more… read more

Lajcak To Open Slovak Embassy in Montenegro on Tuesday

Podgorica/Bratislava, June 14 (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak will open the Slovak Embassy in Podgorica in Montenegro on Tuesday morning, TASR was told by Ministry's spokesman Peter Stano on Monday. The representative office in Podgorica is supposed to provide new impetus mainly in terms of mutual economic co-operation and promote Slovakia's position… read more

Slovakia\'s Planned Loan to Greece Up in Air After Election

Bratislava, June 14 (TASR) - Whether Slovakia will provide financial assistance to debt-ridden Greece is not clear following the country's general election. Four centre-right parties that have attained a parliamentary majority and stand a good chance of forming a Government are either blatantly against the loan or question whether the conditions of the loan are favourable to… read more

FinMin: Public Debt Up to Nearly 36 Percent of GDP Last Year

Bratislava, June 14 (TASR) - Slovakia's public debt reached €22.58 billion last year, which represents 35.7 percent of GDP, up 8.1 percentage points on the year, according to a report published by the Finance Ministry. It's the global economic recession that stands behind the higher figures, says the ministry. The public debt is by 21.5 percent higher, while the economy… read more

NBS: Amount of Greek Bonds Bought by Slovak Banks Rose in 1Q10

Bratislava, June 14 (TASR) - The amount of Greek bonds bought by certain Slovak banks rose considerably in the first quarter of 2010, with their value reaching about 1.1 percent of the assets of the banking sector at the end of March, reads an analysis released by the Slovak central bank (NBS). NBS points out that Greece's state bonds were exposed to their biggest drop… read more

Gasparovic Tasks Fico With Forming New Government (UPDATE 2)

Bratislava, June 14 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic on Monday tasked election winner Smer-SD chairman Robert Fico with forming a government. In doing so, the head of state maintained the tradition that the party that wins the general election should have first chance to form a new cabinet. Smer won the June 12 election with 34.79 percent. The rightist parties have… read more

Sulik: SaS Ready to Declare Intent for Rightist Coalition by Signature

Bratislava, June 14 (TASR) - Representatives of the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party definitely think that the interest of the centre-right parties in forming the new coalition should be declared in written form, said SaS chairman Richard Sulik at a press conference on Monday. "During the coalition negotiations, we'll be trying to push through as much of our programme… read more

New Parliament to Convene within 30 Days after Election Outcome Release

Bratislava, June 13 (TASR) - After the June 12 general election Slovak lawmakers will, under the country's constitution, convene at the request of President Ivan Gasparovic within 30 days of the announcement of official electoral results for a swearing-in ceremony. Lawmakers are then expected to vote in a new chairman of parliament - who will formally take over from the… read more

TASR Presents Complete List of Newly-Elected MPs

Bratislava, June 13 (TASR) - Six parties - Smer-SD, SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Most-Hid and the Slovak National Party (SNS) - managed to get into Parliament in the general election on Saturday. TASR presents the complete list of elected MPs: Smer-SD (62 MPs): Robert Fico, Robert Kalinak, Pavol Paska, Marek Madaric, Jan… read more

Meseznikov: No Doubt that Radicova Will Become New Premier

Bratislava, June 13 (TASR) - SDKU-DS election leader Iveta Radicova will without any doubt become the new Slovak prime minister following Saturday's election, political analyst Grigorij Meseznikov told TASR on Sunday. The fact that Radicova has been SDKU's election leader, while former prime minister (1998-2006) Mikulas Dzurinda has retained his post of party chairman… read more

Nemeth: Hungary Open to Dialogue with New Slovak Government

Budapest, June 13 (TASR) - Hungary's Government is ready to talk with the centre-right government that is set to emerge from Saturday's general election in Slovakia, and regrets that the ethnic-Hungarian SMK party failed to make it into Parliament, Hungary's Foreign Affairs Ministry state secretary Zsolt Nemeth stated on Sunday. "Congratulations to the winners, we're… read more

Entrepreneurial Unions: New Gov\'t May Boost Business Environment

Bratislava, June 13 (TASR) - The future governing coalition will be composed of parties that had their election manifestos most favourable to bolstering the entrepreneurial environment in Slovakia, executive director of Slovakia's Business Alliance (PAS) Robert Kicina told TASR on Sunday. "These parties (SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity/SaS, Christian Democrats/KDH and… read more

Police: Election Calm, Only Minor Incidents Occurred

Bratislava, June 13 (TASR) - From the perspective of the police, the general election on Saturday was calm, with only minor incidents emerging here and there, Police Corps Vice-president Stanislav Jankovic said at a Central Electoral Commission (UVK) press conference on Sunday afternoon. The police had bolstered police patrols especially in areas inhabited by Roma in… read more

SOPK Wants Its Ideas Included in Future Cabinet Manifesto

Bratislava, June 13 (TASR) - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SOPK) on Sunday urged whatever government will emerge from the June 12 general election to continue to develop Slovakia's infrastructure (road-building projects), as it is key to the socio-economic development. SOPK chairman Peter Mihok further stated that the success of the future government depends… read more