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Paska Rejects Sulik\'s Accusations Concerning Referendum

Bratislava, February 3 (TASR) - Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska (Smer-SD) strongly rejects statements made by chairman of the non-parliamentary Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party Richard Sulik, who on Thursday accused Paska of putting his own party interests above those of the people by calling Sulik's initiative to call a referendum on topical issues a "political adventure"… read more

Premier Fico to Lead Slovak Delegation at Extraordinary EU Summit

Bratislava, February 3 (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico will lead the Slovak delegation at the extraordinary session of the EU Council that has been summoned by its President Herman Van Rompuy for February 11, the Government decided on Wednesday. Prime ministers and heads of EU states are set to hold informal talks on the steps that need to be taken to pursue economic renewal… read more

Most-Hid: Tax Donations to Non-Profit Making Sector Should Rise to 3%

Bratislava, February 3 (TASR) - People should be able to donate 3 percent of their taxes to non-profit making organisations rather than 2 percent as is currently the case, according to an initiative presented by the non-parliamentary Most-Hid party on Wednesday. Such a measure would boost people's interest in the functioning of the third sector. "We want our society to… read more

Trnka to Disclose Ruling on Halting Proceedings in SDKU Donors Case

Bratislava, February 3 (TASR) - Prosecutor-General Dobroslav Trnka on Wednesday said that his Office will reveal details concerning the decision to halt criminal proceedings in the case of alleged fictitious SDKU-DS party donors in 2006. According to a ruling of the Supreme Court, this information should have only been revealed to the Fair-play Alliance. "I'll disclose… read more

Miklos and Radicova Likely to Contend for SDKU Election Leader Spot

Bratislava, February 3 (TASR) - SDKU-DS party vice-chairman Ivan Miklos following a session of the party's presidium late on Tuesday said that he will vie for the post of party election leader ahead of the general election due on June 12, TASR learnt later in the day. "We've shown readiness and willingness, as long as we're nominated by the presidium or regional associations,… read more

J&T Rejects Connection to Any Political Party

Bratislava, February 2(TASR) - Financial group J&T flatly rejected the allegations of SDKU-DS party chairman Mikulas Dzurinda about links between the group and Prime Minister Robert Fico-led Smer-SD or any other political party earlier on Tuesday. "J&T Group has always been apolitical, never associating with any political party and has never been involved in politics.… read more

Dzurinda: Fico Skins Hauliers Alive So Smer\'s Sponsors Can Line Pockets

Bratislava, February 2 (TASR) - The Slovak Government "messed up" the electronic road-toll system so much that not only it doesn't work but the system robs the lorry drivers' families, said SDKU-DS Chairman Mikulas Dzurinda at a press conference on Tuesday. "When Transport Minister (Lubomir) Vazny (Smer-SD) submitted the road-toll proposal, he said that it would cost… read more

Salaries at Private Hospitals to Go Up

Bratislava, February 2 (TASR) - Employees working at private hospitals will see their salaries increased as of April, Association of Slovak Hospitals (ANS) President Marian Petko said Tuesday after sector tripartite (unions, management and government) negotiations at the Health Ministry in Bratislava. This change is due to the state-run health insurer Vseobecna Zdravotna… read more

Dzurinda Says Smer Allegations Case of Pot Calling the Kettle Black

Bratislava, February 2 (TASR) - Opposition SDKU-DS chief Mikulas Dzurinda, facing accusations over the privatisation of the Crowne Plaza hotel while in government from 2002-06, hit back at Prime Minister Robert Fico later Tuesday, saying the financial group the Government actively works with is founder of the London-based Diamond Hotels, owner of Crowne Plaza (formerly Hotel… read more

Bill on Banks\' Package of Services Passed to Second Reading

Bratislava, February 2 (TASR) - Slovak banks will probably have to introduce a new product in their portfolios - a package of basic services for "ordinary clients" that would be identical at all banks, according to a law proposal on consumer credit that was passed to second reading by Parliament on Tuesday. According to the Finance Ministry, which has proposed the initiative,… read more

President: Bilateral Relations with Australia Strengthening

Bratislava, February 2 (TASR) - Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic received the credentials of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Australia to Slovakia Michael John Potts on Tuesday. "I'm glad that our bilateral relations are improving lately, especially in the sphere of mutual trade," said the Australian diplomat. More than 500 Slovak students live and study… read more

Trnka Announces Investigation into SDKU-Funding, Confirms New Facts

Bratislava, February 2 (TASR) - Prosecutor-General Dobroslav Trnka said on Tuesday his office will, within a month, formally begin investigations into the funding of the SDKU-DS opposition party. The announcement comes only days after facts linking the party to money-laundering practices have emerged. SDKU-DS arch rival co-ruling Smer-SD has now also publicised… read more

Sulik and SaS Object Referendum 2009 Initiative Being Dissed by Packa

Bratislava, February 2 (TASR) - The extra-parliamentary Freedom of Solidarity(SaS) party blamed Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska (Smer-SD) for putting his own party interests above those of citizens after he called its initiative to call a referendum on topical issues a 'political adventure' and an 'attempt to attract attention'. SaS announced on Thursday that late… read more

Fico: Sometimes I Fear Being Shot

Bratislava, February 2 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Tuesday that he is sometimes afraid of the possibility of being shot in connection with the information that he has obtained concerning the scandalous financing of opposition party SDKU-DS. "Such amounts were in the game," said Fico in response to a reporter's question as to why he can't publish all the… read more

Meciar: Lipsic\'s Proposal on Proving Origin of Property Is Pandora\'s Box

Bratislava, February 2 (TASR) - The legal proposal on proving the origin of property as submitted by Christian Democrat (KDH) vice-chair Daniel Lipsic is a Pandora's box that would twist all relationships backwards, coalition LS-HZDS head Vladimir Meciar said on Tuesday. "It's not only unrealisable, but also legally impossible," said Meciar, pointing to the fact that… read more