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Analysts: Fico Justifiably Afraid of Leading Smer-SD Into Isolation

Bratislava, April 20 (TASR) - According to political analysts Michal Horsky and Grigorij Meseznikov, Prime Minister and leader of the strongest political party Smer-SD Robert Fico is justifiably worried that he may be leading his party into political isolation (and may not find coalition partners following the June 12 vote), TASR has learned on Tuesday. Horsky said that… read more

MEDIAN SK Poll: SaS, SMK and Most-Hid Would Have Failed to Make 5%

Bratislava, April 20 (TASR) - Had a general election taken place in March, a total of five political parties would have won representation in Parliament, while parties like Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), ethnic-Hungarian SMK and Most-Hid would have failed to reach the 5-percent threshold to enter Parliament, TASR learnt from Jindrich Bardon of MEDIAN SK agency on Tuesday.… read more

Figel: Premier Fico Inappropriately Enters Pre-Election Arena

Bratislava April 20 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has entered the pre-election political arena in an inappropriate way, while the struggle in the run-up to the June 12 general election hasn't even started yet, according to the Christian Democrat KDH chairman Jan Figel. Figel said this in response to Fico's press conference at Government Office earlier… read more

Tomanova: 10.9 Percent of Slovaks Live in Poverty

Bratislava, April 20 (TASR) - Almost 11 percent of Slovaks live below the poverty line in Slovakia, with the Roma community and families with multiple children being the most threatened social groups, Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Viera Tomanova (Smer-SD) said Tuesday. Speaking at the resocialisation centre RESOTA on the occasion of the Fight Against… read more

Tesco to Open 15 New Stores and Hire 700 New Staff in 2010

Bratislava, April 20 (TASR) - Despite the ongoing economic crisis, Tesco Stores SR is set to place new investments and open 15 new stores throughout Slovakia in 2010, creating close to 700 new jobs in the process, TASR learnt on Tuesday. According to the company, the strategic moves are to be taken under the leadership of new general director of Tesco Stores SR John Christie.… read more

Fico: Austerity Would Be Directed toward Government Consumption

Bratislava, April 20 (TASR) - The economic crisis is resulting in lower tax revenues, but this doesn't concern only the state, but also cities, towns and villages, Prime Minister Robert Fico told a press conference on Tuesday. He pledged that should the budget be short of funds, the Government is ready to introduce restraint measures on its consumption. "When an… read more

Fico: Election Winner Should Decide on Who in Next Government

Bratislava, April 20 (TASR) - The strongest coalition party, Smer-SD, wants to keep in line with the practice established after the 2006 general election - that should it be the winner of the June 12 general election it will form the Government and decide on who will be its coalition partner (if they need one). This is according to Smer-SD chairman and Prime Minister Robert… read more

Roma Parliament Chides Gypsy Rapper Rytmus for Anti-Roma Remarks

Bratislava, April 19 (TASR) - The European Parliament of Roma (EPR) on Monday lambasted Slovak gypsy hip-hopper Rytmus for his remarks last week indicating that inhabitants of Roma settlements in Slovakia are degenerate, and that he doesn't like them, and Slovak National Party (SNS) head Jan Slota is right when criticising them. "Mr. Rytmus, you have built your career… read more

SNS Wants to Talk with EU Parties about Re-introducing Death Penalty

Bratislava, April 19 (TASR) - The Slovak National Party (SNS) realises that Slovakia can't re-introduce capital punishment at the national level, as it's forbidden to do so by the European Convention on Human Rights, which has precedence over national laws, SNS head Jan Slota told TASR at a conference devoted to this issue on Monday. SNS wants therefore to talk with political… read more

Slovak Airspace Open for Planes Again (UPDATE)

Bratislava, April 19 (TASR) - Slovakia's airspace has been completely reopened as of Monday, TASR has learnt in the afternoon. Following the east of Slovakia being reopened on Monday morning, flights at all altitudes are being allowed over the whole country. "As of 2.40 p.m., the airspace in western Slovakia has been reopened," informed Bratislava Airport spokesperson… read more

Lajcak: We See Croatia as 28th EU Member Already

Zagreb, April 19 (TASR) – Croatia is already now viewed as European Union's 28th member, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak, who met with his Croatian counterpart Gordan Jandrokovic in Zagreb on Monday. Discussing issues related to EU enlargement, Lajcak advised his Croatian partner that Croatia shouldn't focus only on what to do before it enters… read more

SaS Follows Suit with Most-Hid and Signs No to Pipeline Memorandum

Bratislava, April 19 (TASR) - The extraparliamentary Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) said on Monday it co-signed a Memorandum on Protection of Waters against the building of a oil pipeline through Zitny Ostrov - river island known for its supply of potable water and fertile agricultural land - which was initiated by another extraparliamentary party Most-Hid and environmental groups.… read more

KDH Wants to Introduce Maximum Expenses on Health for Pensioners

Bratislava, April 19 (TASR) - The Christian-Democratic Movement (KDH) wants to introduce maximum limits for additional payments on medications and health services for specific groups of society, KDH chairman Jan Figel said at a press conference on Monday. According to KDH, pensioners and severely handicapped people shouldn't pay surcharges exceeding 2-percent of their… read more

Several Thousand Slovaks Stuck Abroad Due to Cancelled Flights

Bratislava, April 19 (TASR) - Problems surrounding air traffic over the past few days directly affected several thousands of Slovak citizens who were abroad when the airspace over most of Europe was shut down due to volcanic ash cloud moving across the continent, TASR was told by Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano on Monday. According to Stano, around 60 Slovak… read more

Unemployment Fell in March, but Still Far Cry from Pre-crisis Figures

Bratislava, April 19 (TASR) - Following several months of increases, unemployment in Slovakia dropped by 0.09 percentage points month-on-month to reach 12.88 percent in March 2010, the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre (UPSVaR) announced on Monday. In an annual comparison, however, the jobless rate went up by 2.55 percentage points. "It's just like we… read more