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Police Fines Fail to Discourage Hauliers Blocking Road to Zvolen

Zvolen, February 1 (TASR) - Fines and the confiscation of driving-licences have failed to discourage dozens of hauliers from blocking a road entering Zvolen (Banska Bystrica region) as of Monday morning. "We're only using our right to go on strike, anchored in the Slovak Constitution. We aren't blocking the whole road, just one part," haulier Ondrej Cervenak told TASR… read more

Slovak NGO Due to Reconstruct Slovak Grammar School in Serbia

Poltar, February 1 (TASR) - Slovak non-governmental association 'For Development' from Poltar (Banska Bystrica region) is due to carry out reconstruction work on an ethnic-Slovak grammar school in Backa Polanka in Serbia, TASR was told by chairman of the association Zuzana Smatlikova on Monday. "We're counting on the first phase of the construction work to start at the… read more

Hauliers Strike: Morning Traffic in Bratislava Running Smoothly

Bratislava/Ruzomberok/Banska Bystrica, February 1 (TASR) - Traffic on the I/66 entry road into Banska Bystrica, which has been partially blocked by some 50 lorries in strike action since early morning, is being directed by police officers. Hauliers who have joined the strike announced by the Union Slovak Road Transporters (UNAS) have stationed their vehicles on both sides… read more

Slovnaft: Lower Excise Tax on Diesel Could Be Felt on Wednesday

Bratislava, February 1 (TASR) - Excise tax on diesel was lowered by 11.3 euro cents per litre as of Monday - a change that should be translated into end prices falling by 13 cents at filling stations within a few days. According to the expectations of Slovnaft refinery spokesman Anton Molnar, cheaper diesel could be on sale at filling stations as of Wednesday. "Everybody… read more

UNAS: Hauliers Will Be Going Back to Roznavska Street on Monday

Bratislava, January 31 (TASR) - Protesting hauliers will go back to one of Bratislava's traffic arteries - Roznavska Street - on Monday, Jaroslav Polacek from the Union of Slovak Hauliers (UNAS) informed at a briefing on Sunday. "Roznavska Street is where the protest of the hauliers has started (with a blockade). We're returning there determined to continue, because the… read more

SOPK Polls Member Companies on Expectations for 2010

Bratislava, January 31 (TASR) - Slovak businessmen tend to expect stagnation, with slight recovery tendencies, in their business this year compared to 2009, according to a survey carried out by the Slovak Business and Industrial Chamber (SOPK) among its members at the end of 2009 and published recently. When it comes to the legislative environment in Slovakia, the majority… read more

Madaric: SDKU Unacceptable for Me Until Financing Scandal Is Explained

Bratislava, January 31 (TASR) - Until the allegations of SDKU-DS being financed thanks to money laundering are refuted, the current SDKU-DS leadership is unacceptable for Culture Minister Marek Madaric (Smer-SD) in terms of post-election co-operation, he said on TV Markiza's politics show 'Na Telo' on Sunday. "My statement - that I wouldn't like to set any personal reservations… read more

Belousovova: Hungary Should Be Sued over Language Fund

Bratislava, January 31 (TASR) - Coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) vice-chair Anna Belousovova is convinced that Hungary should be sued, pursuant to an international lawsuit. Belousovova said this on the Slovak Television (STV) weekly political chat show 'O 5 minut 12' (5 Minutes to 12) in reference to the establishment of a special language fund by the Hungarian Government… read more

Poll: Smer Clear at Top, Most-Hid and SaS in Parliament as Well

Bratislava, January 30 (TASR) – According to a FOCUS agency survey carried out on January 13-19, the strongest political party in Slovakia is still the main coalition party Smer-SD, which would have gained 41.4-percent support if an election had been held in mid-January. Second place would have gone to the opposition SDKU-DS with 15.2 percent, followed by the Christian… read more

KDH Election Slate with Figel as Number One, followed by ex-leader Hrusovsky

Bratislava, January 30 (TASR) - In line with all expectations, Jan Figel will be the leader on the Christian Democrat's (KDH) slate before this year's general election, the party's national assembly decided on Saturday. On the list of party candidates, the former Slovak EU commissioner will be followed by KDH ex-chairman and current caucus leader Pavol Hrusovsky. Commenting… read more

Kalinak Survives No-confidence Vote in Parliament and Remains on His Post

Bratislava, January 29 (TASR) - Interior Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) has survived the vote of no-confidence submitted against him by the Opposition in an extraordinary parliamentary session. Therefore, he remains in his post. In the vote, following a seven-hour debate in the House, only 44 out of 97 lawmakers voted for the minister's dismissal, which doesn't represent… read more

Opposition: Police Officers Go Beyond Law in Support for Kalinak

Bratislava, January 29 (TASR) - An independent lawmaker Vladimir Palko verbally attacked Interior Minister Robert Kalinak amid a legislature debate on the opposition-led no-confidence motion in him on Friday, saying hundreds of police officers went beyond the law by gathering outside the parliamentary building in support of Kalinak. Some 600 police from all around Slovakia… read more

UNAS Still Hasn\'t Revealed Plans for Hauliers\' Strike

Bratislava, January 29 (TASR) - The Union of Slovak Road Hauliers (UNAS), which is set to go on an indefinite strike in protest at the Government's recently launched road-toll system early next week, urged the public on Friday to support its cause. UNAS, which is made up of small and medium hauliers and views the Government's toll system as crippling the haulage industry,… read more

Figel Urges SDKU to Explain Funding

Bratislava, January 29 (TASR) - The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) on Friday urged fellow opposition parliamentary party SDKU-DS to give a better account of its funding in the 2002-06 period after Premier Robert Fico accused it of money-laundering practices with links to murky local and foreign firms late last week. Following talks with Prosecutor-General Dobroslav… read more

Dzurinda Repeats That SDKU Has Never Used or Laundered Dirty Money

Bratislava, January 29 (TASR) - SDKU-DS has never used or laundered dirty money, the party's leader Mikulas Dzurinda told reporters on Friday, in response to allegations of shady financing practices made by Premier Robert Fico last week. "Our party wasn't able to avoid all shortcomings and mistakes in this area in the past, especially after it had just been born. However,… read more