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Roma Association Suggests that Vote-buying Should be Criminalised

Bratislava, June 18 (TASR) - The Union of Roma in Slovakia (URS) civic association is demanding that Slovakia's Election Act be amended in a manner that beefs up the penalties ensuing from the practice known as vote-buying among the Roma, URS chairman Frantisek Tanko said in Bratislava on Friday. Tanko added that vote-buying involving thousands of votes took place in… read more

Radicova to Fico: There\'s Nothing to Talk About

Bratislava, June 18 (TASR) - Leaders of four centre-right parties - SDKU-DS, SaS, KDH and Most-Hid - will not meet Prime Minister Robert Fico, they said on Friday in response to Fico inviting them to discuss the unblocking of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). "There's nothing to talk about," said SDKU-DS election leader Iveta Radicova, the hot candidate… read more

Young People in Bratislava Call for Decriminalization of Marijuana

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - A few hundred young people gathered in front of Presidential Palace in Bratislava on Thursday to call on Slovak authorities to decriminalize the use of marijuana. Organisers, promoting the idea of Slovakia being more tolerant towards consumption of marijuana, decided not to march across the city centre, as they had originally planned, and… read more

Survey: Smer-KDH Coalition Picked as Best Choice by Nearly Half

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - The ideal new Government should comprise of the election winner Smer-SD and Christian Democrats (KDH), according to a phone survey carried out by Bright Trade agency for Radio Viva, using a sample of 1,000 respondents, shortly after the election - between June 12-16. The socialists and conservatives forming a Government was picked as the best… read more

Buzek: Future Slovak Government Should Do Right Thing and Help Greece

Brussels, June 17 (TASR-correspondent) - If the European Union (EU) undertakes measures to save Greece, this decision will have to be made by all eurozone countries, said European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek on Thursday in reaction to reluctance on the part of the likely future Slovak government made up of SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Christian Democratic… read more

President Receives Letter From Four Prospective Coalition Partners

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic's Office on Thursday morning received an official request for a meeting from representatives of prospective coalition partners SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Most-Hid, the president's spokesman Marek Trubac told TASR. According to Trubac, the letter, which was sent… read more

New Slovak Ambassador to Canada Hands Over Credentials in Ottawa

Ottawa/Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - Slovakia's new Ambassador to Canada Milan Kollar on Wednesday presented his credentials to Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean, the press department of the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry told TASR on Thursday. Kollar and Jean held a brief discussion in which they pledged interest and readiness regarding the all-round development… read more

SDKU Wants to Look Into Tender for Medical Rescue Services

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - If the four centre-right parties - SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Most-Hid - succeed in forming a governing coalition, SDKU will look into recently awarded licences for medical rescue services, SDKU MP Viliam Novotny told TASR on Thursday. According to Novotny, this probe will take place regardless… read more

Slovakia Asking for Baki Sadiki to Be Arrested, Extradited from Kosovo

Bratislava, June 16 (TASR) - Alleged Albanian drug mafia boss Baki Sadiki, wanted by Interpol, is supposedly in Kosovo and on May 17, the Slovak Justice Ministry filed an extradition request, TASR learned from Justice Ministry spokesman Michal Jurci. Jurci said that the ministry has had knowledge about Baki's stay in Kosovo since May 5. "It was information not to be… read more

Fico Still Officially Trying to Form Government

Bratislava, June 16 (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico will attempt to use the time remaining until June 23 to form a government, Premier Fico's spokesperson Silvia Glendova told TASR on Wednesday. "The Premier and Smer-SD Chairman holds a mandate from President Ivan Gasparovic to form a government by next Wednesday (June 23), and this still stands," said Glendova. Gasparovic… read more

Slota: SNS Would Back Government of Smer and KDH

Bratislava, June 16 (TASR) - The Slovak National Party (SNS) wouldn't have any problem backing a two-party governing coalition composed of Smer-SD and the Christian Democrats (KDH), SNS chair Jan Slota said after a meeting with President Ivan Gasparovic on Wednesday. The only thing that matters is that 'Hungarian' party Most-Hid isn't part of the next cabinet, stressed… read more

Bugar: If We Don\'t Agree, Voters Will Kick Us Up The Rear

Bratislava, June 16 (TASR) - After meeting Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic on Wednesday, head of the Most-Hid party Bela Bugar said that representatives of the prospective coalition of four parties (SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity/SaS, the Christian Democratic Movement/KDH and Most-Hid) should give information to the public only after debatable issues are discussed and agreements… read more

Leaders of Centre-right Parties Sign Declaration on Forming New Gov\'t (UPDATE)

Bratislava, June 15 (TASR) - SDKU-DS election leader Iveta Radicova, SaS chairman Richard Sulik, Christian Democrats (KDH) chairman Jan Figel and leader of Most-Hid Bela Bugar on Tuesday evening signed a declaration on political co-operation that should result in forming a new Government in the days ahead. Radicova, viewed as the only real candidate for the post of premier,… read more

Fico Invites Centre-Right Parties to Negotiations, They Decline

Bratislava, June 15 (TASR) - Smer-SD Chairman Robert Fico has officially invited the representatives of the centre-right parties (SDKU-DS, SaS, KDH and Most-Hid) for negotiations about forming the future government, TASR learned from Fico's spokesperson Silvia Glendova on Tuesday. According to Glendova, the Government is waiting for their reply at the moment. "Officially,… read more

Slota Confirms He\'s Ready to Offer Resignation at SNS Fall Congress

Bratislava, June 15 (TASR) - Leader of nationalist SNS Jan Slota confirmed on Tuesday that he's ready to have his top post in the party voted on. "Sure I'm ready, why not?" Slota told journalists. The vote is likely to take place at the party congress set for September. "We've discussed the results of the parliamentary election, and we've come to the conclusion that there… read more