News digest: Slovak public broadcaster to end in current form before summer

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Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, April 24 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

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Government approves law on RTVS

On Wednesday, the government approved a draft law on public broadcaster RTVS.

RTVS will be renamed STVR (Slovak Television and Radio). In an explanatory report, the Culture Ministry, which prepared the law, claimed that the original name "degrades the state-forming nation to a region"; its original name was Radio and Television of Slovakia. In addition, STVR will be required by law to broadcast the Slovak national anthem once between 23:30 and 00:30 on both radio and television.

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The new director will be elected by a nine-member council as before and will include four nominees from the ministry. The remaining five will be elected by Parliament.

Current General Director Ľuboš Machaj's post will cease to exist on the very day the law on STVR will come into effect even though his mandate was to end in 2027. It is not known who will succeed him.

The council will have the power to elect the general director on the basis of a public hearing of candidates. The council will also have the power to remove the director based on the law. The general director will appoint two deputies, one for Slovak Radio and one for Slovak Television.

Current employment contracts will continue. However, since many presenters and editors have external contracts, they may not be renewed. Several coalition MPs have voiced reservations about presenter Marta Jančkárová, for example.

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The opposition has no way to stop the amendment. PM Robert Fico (Smer) said Parliament should approve the draft before the summer, adding that the bill will not be debated via a fast-track procedure.

Several NGOs, including Let's Stop Corruption, Via Iuris, Transparency International Slovensko, INEKO and others plan to submit an open letter to the European Parliament and European Commission in support of RTVS, pointing to parts of the new legislation being in potential breach of European law.

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FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY

The American Emperor wanted you

The streets of American cities are lined with golden coins. The Emperor of America welcomes everyone and wants them to help him collect that gold.

With embellished stories like this, it was hard for the impoverished and uneducated population of late 19th century Slovakia to resist the lure of recruiters. They had no idea where America was, maybe somewhere over the next mountain ridge.​

There were no streets full of gold waiting for those that dared to travel, not to mention an emperor of America; instead they were met by government officials.

EVENT FOR FRIDAY

Critical Mass anniversary celebrations

It's been 14 years since the Critical Mass cycling events started in Bratislava, warranting a celebration. The goal of these events is to promote better conditions for cyclists in the city. A special Critical Mass will take place this Friday on the streets of Bratislava. The event will start at 18:00 at the Námestie SNP square, followed at around 20:00 by a punk drum'n'base after-party. The event is also suitable for children. For more details, click here.

IN OTHER NEWS


The Progresívne Slovensko (PS) party would win European Parliament elections in Slovakia, a new poll has shown. The survey, carried out in the first half of April by the AKO agency for private TV Joj, showed PS party with 27.2 percent of votes, followed by Smer with 15.2 and Hlas with 14.2. In addition, the far-right Republika, KDH, SaS and Hungarian minority Aliancia parties also crossed the 5 percent threshold. Of the 15 mandates for Slovakia, PS would get 5, both Smer and Hlas 3, and the remaining parties 1. (TASR)
A citizen of another EU state can vote in the June European Parliament election in Slovakia, provided that they are over the age of 18 and hold permanent residence in the country. However, they have to submit an application and declaration to be entered into the electoral register by April 29 at the latest. Find out more here.
In its latest report, Amnesty International said discrimination and oppression of minorities continued in Slovakia in 2023. The NGO criticised the segregation of Roma children in schools, cases of police brutality against Roma, among others. (Amnesty International)
The Bratislava Regional Police recorded an increased number of bicycle thefts, mainly in the common areas of apartment buildings. (TASR)
On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court accepted a motion filed by opposition MPs who believe that the law on this year's state budget is at odds with the Slovak Constitution and the constitutional law on budgetary responsibility. The court did not suspend the effect of the law as the MPs asked. It also accepted a motion filed by President Zuzana Čaputová objecting to an amendment to the law on the environmental impact assessment. She believes that it limits the public's participation in decision-making processes in this regard. (TASR)

WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Cloud cover will change during the day, and there will be occasional showers. Daily temperatures between 8 °C and 15 °C expected. A level 1 snow warning has been issued for northernmost Slovakia, while a level 1 ground frost warning applies to districts in western, central and northern Slovakia during the night. See map here. (SHMÚ)

APRIL 25 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Marek

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