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Miklos Soon to Discuss Emergency Aid to Municipalities

Bratislava, July 7 (TASR) - Municipality financing is in a bleak state as the centre-right government takes over the country, said future Finance Minister Ivan Miklos after talks with the Association of Towns and Villages of Slovakia (ZMOS) asking for emergency aid of €141 million. The figure represents €88 million as tax-revenue shortfall plus €53 million to cushion… read more

Head of SaS Sulik Most Likely To Be Party\'s Parliamentary Caucus Chair

Bratislava, July 7 (TASR) - The head of the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) parliamentary caucus will most likely be the leader of the party Richard Sulik, who should at the same time take up the post of the Parliamentary Chairman in the new government, TASR learned on Wednesday. "The reason for it is that we are all practically new MPs and I have the closest ties to the… read more

Analysts Downplay Chances of Referendum Succeeding

Bratislava, July 7 (TASR) - Slovakia's political analysts are sceptical about the success of a referendum on a variety of issues after it was declared Wednesday by President Ivan Gasparovic for September 18. Slovakia, in its short history, has a poor record of holding referendums, with only one of five - on the country's entry into the European Union - enjoying success.… read more

Man Who Flew to Ireland With Explosives Compensated

Bratislava, July 7 (TASR) - The Interior Ministry has agreed on financial compensation for Stefan Gonda, a man from Poprad (Presov region) who unwittingly flew to Dublin in January with explosives that had been put in his luggage by police during a training exercise, outgoing Interior Minister Robert Kalinak confirmed for TASR on Wednesday. Kalinak refused to specify… read more

Government Agrees to Submit Its Resignation on Thursday

Bratislava, July 7 (TASR) - The outgoing Government at its last session on Wednesday agreed that it will hand in its resignation to President Ivan Gasparovic on Thursday. According to the Constitution, the old cabinet resigns after the constituent session of the new parliament takes place. This session is scheduled for Thursday. MPs will be ceremonially sworn in, electing… read more

Gasparovic Announces SaS-initiated Referendum for September 18 (UPDATE)

Bratislava, July 7 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic on Wednesday announced that a referendum made up of six questions will take place on September 18. The six questions included in the referendum, which was initiated by new parliamentary party Freedom and Solidarity, (SaS) involve: abolishing television and radio licence fees, curbing MPs' immunity, downsizing the number… read more

Gasparovic Announces SaS-initiated Referendum for September 18

Bratislava, July 7 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic on Wednesday announced that a referendum made up of six questions will take place on September 18. The referendum was initiated by new parliamentary party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS). read more

Simon: I\'m Taking up Agenda of Thee Former Ministries and 11 Ministers

Bratislava, July 6 (TASR) - Most-Hid vice-chairman and future Agriculture Minister Zsolt Simon (Most-Hid nominee) will be taking up posts which 11 ministers in total have occupied during the past four years, he noted for TASR on Tuesday. Apart from the agriculture sector, Simon (agriculture minister 2002-06) will also be responsible for the agenda of the environment ministry… read more

Figel: Coalition Council Should Meet This Week

Bratislava, July 6 (TASR) - The Coalition Council will already hold a session this week, but the exact date hasn't been set yet, chairman of the Christian Democrats (KDH) Jan Figel said on Tuesday. "We'll certainly meet. This is not fixed, but I expect that, also with the regard to signing the Coalition Agreement (on the same day) and the expected scenario of taking up… read more

SDKÚ-DS, SaS, KDH and Most-Hid Sign Coalition Agreement (UPDATE)

Bratislava, July 6 (TASR) - Leaders of centre-right parties - SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democrats (KDH) and Most-Hid - signed the Coalition Agreement in Bratislava on Tuesday. Chairmen of the four parties - Mikulas Dzurinda (SDKU-DS), Richard Sulik (SaS), Jan Figel (KDH) and Bela Bugar (Most-Hid) - signed the document, and the four were also joined… read more

Fico\'s Cabinet to Resign on Thursday

Bratislava, July 6 (TASR) - The outgoing government will resign on Thursday, July 8, Premier Robert Fico's spokesperson Silvia Glendova confirmed for TASR on Tuesday. Glendova said that Fico will officially hand the demission to President Ivan Gasparovic after the constitutive session of the newly-elected Parliament takes place on Thursday. read more

Slovaks Living Abroad Call for Elections and TV Broadcasting via The Net

Bratislava, July 4 (TASR) - The new government should prioritise internet elections, TV broadcasting for Slovaks abroad and maintaining the grant system of the Association of Slovaks Living Abroad (SZSZ), its chairman Vladimir Skalsky said in an interview for TASR. Enabling voting via the internet by 2013 is envisaged, said Skalsky. Internet voting was a plank in the… read more

RADICOVA: We\'ve Agreed on Signing Coalition Agreement

Bratislava, July 3 (TASR) - Leading of four parties of the emerging coalition - SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Most-Hid - have definitely agreed on signing their Coalition Agreement, premier-designate Iveta Radicova informed on Saturday. "We've got all the topics settled," she said after the talks, which were resumed… read more

Gasparovic Invites Newly Elected Hungarian President to Slovakia

Bratislava, July 2 (TASR) - Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic has written to newly-elected Hungarian President Pal Schmitt and German President Christian Wulff, congratulating them on being elected to the most senior public posts in their countries and wishing them a great deal of success and insight. Gasparovic invited Schmitt on an official visit to Slovakia, while in… read more

New U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia Theodore Sedgwick to Arrive Soon

Bratislava, July 2 (TASR) - U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Keith Eddins officially announced in Bratislava on Friday that the new U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia Theodore Sedgwick will take up his post in the next few weeks. Eddins did so at a reception held by the American Embassy to mark the Independence Day celebrations. He also introduced his successor, new U.S. Chargé d'Affaires… read more