News digest: Nationalist leader Andrej Danko was the top-earning politician last year

Good evening. Here is the Friday, November 8 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Transparency International reveals which politicians earned the most
Andrej Danko (l) and Robert Fico (r) (Source: SITA)

Andrej Danko, the head of the Slovak National Party (SNS) party, became the top-earning politician last year, Transparency International Slovakia (TIS) has reported on social media, citing official asset and income declarations. The current deputy speaker of parliament had a total income of €411,000 in 2023. This was by far the highest compared to other members of both the coalition and the opposition.

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"Danko returned to public office as a member of parliament only after the autumn elections, which is why he topped the rankings with other earnings amounting to €399,000. His income is almost double that of the second-highest earning politician, Ľudovít Ódor, who was head of the caretaker government for several months last year and previously led the National Bank of Slovakia," TIS stated, adding that Ódor's total income was €245,000.

According to asset declarations, TIS included former president Zuzana Čaputová among the highest-earning politicians in 2023. Čaputová reported an income of €189,363 for performing public office duties in the calendar year 2023 in her declaration. She did not report any other income.

Other top-earning politicians included the Minister of Sports and Tourism Dušan Keketi (SNS), MPs Vladimír Baláž (Smer), Jozef Habánik (Smer), Karol Janas (Hlas) and Július Jakab (Slovensko).

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Also among the highest-earning politicians was the current prime minister, Robert Fico (Smer), who earned €54,000 as an MP and later as prime minister; his total income for the past year amounted to €102,000.

"His asset declaration includes a luxury apartment near Bratislava's Slavín, which he reportedly bought for half a million euros from his party colleague Dušan Muňko. There have been suspicions regarding the financing of this purchase, but these cannot be dispelled based on the vague information in the politician's asset declaration. It has long been discussed that the asset declarations of Slovak politicians cannot serve as a tool for monitoring wealth increases," TIS stressed.

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Opinion: Slovakia’s shift towards a strategic partnership with China under Robert Fico could influence sovereignty, infrastructure and the country's future direction. The country risks becoming a pawn in a global power play, argues Michal Havran.
Economy: Slovaks' incomes may not rank last among EU member countries, despite a recent report. For instance, V4 countries like Hungary and Poland had lower wages than Slovakia, a Eurostat ranking suggests.
Business: Norwegian rope manufacturer Timm is investing €10 million to expand its Trenčín facility, increasing production capacity by 50 percent and adding 40 jobs.
Travel: Slovakia's Kráľova Hoľa mountain is set for a major route reconstruction, making it the highest accessible peak for road cyclists and boosting tourism in the Horehronie region.
Good news: Don’t feel disheartened – here’s a fresh selection of feel-good news just for you. This time read about a significant breakthrough in combating bacterial infections, the arrival of the Christmas tree in Bratislava's Main Square, and the Slovak paratroopers who broke a skydiving record.

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads – a monthly print copy of The Slovak Spectator will be sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you!

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FEATURE STORY

Chaos and talent won 2024 Slovak Press Photo competition
The Grand Prix winning photo of the chaos following the attempted assassination of PM Robert Fico in May. (Source: Radovan Stoklasa)

The chaotic scene following the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico in May won the Slovak Press Photo competition, with veteran photojournalist Radovan Stoklasa taking the top prize. This photo and other competition entrants have been on show in Bratislava’s Hviezdoslavovo Square, highlighting powerful global and local stories through striking imagery.

EVENT FOR THE WEEKNED

Step onto the ice in anticipation of Christmas
Grab your skates and hit the ice with friends, family, or a partner! (Source: Pexels)

Can't wait for Christmas to come? Then maybe it's time to go ice-skating with your loved ones, friends or family. Outdoor ice rinks are in full swing once again, with more and more of them opening up in various towns across the country in time for the winter season.

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IN OTHER NEWS

Former foreign minister and presidential candidate Ivan Korčok is set to join the political party Progresívne Slovensko (PS), according to sources close to the party. Korčok, who won over 1.2 million votes in the second round of the presidential race in April, had been courted by multiple opposition parties, including Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and Demokrati. The professional diplomat had delayed his decision to enter party politics but is now expected to announce his affiliation with PS soon. Additionally, former Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) MP Martina Bajo Holečková, who left the KDH due to internal conflicts, is also in discussions with PS about joining its ranks. (Aktuality.sk)
As "Black Friday" approaches, a survey by Revolut reveals that many Slovaks plan to take advantage of the shopping event, which originated in the United States, for both daily essentials and Christmas gifts. The survey, which involved 1,000 respondents, found that 60 percent of Slovaks see Black Friday as the ideal time to shop, with 35% seeking discounts on everyday items and 33 percent eyeing holiday gifts. Among those aged 25 to 34, 20% plan to buy personal items, reflecting the trend of rewarding themselves with small gifts. While 55 percent prefer shopping in physical stores for immediate access to products, 41 percent will shop online for convenience and a wider selection. Revolut advises shoppers to be cautious of online scams and check sellers' authenticity. (Sme)
The government has approved a new construction law aimed at professionalising building administration, simplifying procedures for the construction of family homes and small apartment buildings, addressing the issue of "illegal constructions," and reducing administrative burdens. Transport Minister Jozef Ráž said that the new law introduces a new definition of small buildings and construction modifications. Small structures such as summer kitchens, sheds, garages or carports with a footprint of up to 50 m², swimming pools up to 25 m², and photovoltaic systems with an output of up to 100 kW will no longer need to be reported, provided they are not located in public spaces or within two metres of a neighbouring property. The scope of simple constructions will also be expanded. (Sme)
Slovak developer Corwin is expanding its business in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with its third project, the Nordika residential complex. Set to be the city's second tallest building, Nordika will stand 82 metres tall with 24 floors, offering 290 apartments. The building is part of a larger redevelopment near the main rail and bus stations, replacing an old department store. Construction is set to begin in early 2026. Corwin has also completed a residential tower project in Ljubljana’s Šiška district and is nearing completion of the Vilharia office complex, which is billed as the greenest office building in Slovenia. Corwin has been active since 2010, with projects in Bratislava and Prague. (Denník N)

A participant in the Slovak BodyArt Championships during the Interbeauty beauty fair at the Incheba Expo Arena in Bratislava. (Source: TASR)

WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: It's expected to be sunny, but cold in the mornings, with possible frosts. However, daytime temperatures will rise to 10 to 15°C during the day. (SHMÚ)

NAME DAYS IN SLOVAKIA: Saturday, November 9 - Teodor; Sunday, November 10 - Tibor; Monday, November 11 - Martin, Maroš.

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