News digest: Anti-Fico protest returns to Bratislava after a break
Some believers say no to a "satanic" techno party, communist May 1 slogans, and what to do in the capital.
Good evening. Here is the Thursday, May 2 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
4,000 people attend anti-government gathering
PM Robert Fico portrayed as the Grinch. (Source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)Around 4,000 people gathered at the Bratislava Freedom Square on Thursday to protest against the Robert Fico government.
The protest was organised by Progresívne Slovensko, an opposition party.
"If [PM Robert] Fico takes control of the public broadcaster, Slovakia will take a fundamental step towards Orbanistan. They are already killing culture, nature conservation, economy, justice, and they want to eliminate the second pension pillar as well,” said PS leader Michal Šimečka.
He called on people to vote in the EP elections in June.
“This is our chance to defeat Fico in the elections,” he added, promising to make as many obstructions in the parliament as necessary to delay the adoption of controversial bills on NGOs and the public broadcaster. His party is also ready to turn to the Constitutional Court.
The last anti-Fico protest took place in Bratislava in March. It was estimated that 15,000 people then took part in it.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
- Region: A night club in northern Slovakia cancelled a techno party after local believers complained that it was allegedly a satanic event.
- Business: Why is Slovakia one of Central Europe’s most expensive countries to refuel?
- Opinion: It is clear that Slovakia has failed its most marginalised Roma communities. And, by extension, Europe has so far failed them, write Rick Zedník and Mikuláš Lakatoš from the Volt Slovensko political party.
- Travel: A mansion with a Hungarian stove used to be a ruin. Now, it has won a prestigious award.
- Slovak Matters: Under communism, most people were expected to prepare for and participate in the various activities that took place on May 1 - the main one being a banner-carrying procession through the streets of each town. Here is a selection of some of the slogans appearing on those banners.
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INTERVIEW FOR THURSDAY
Slovakia applied for EU membership in hotel lobby
Peter Javorčík (second from right) with Swedish Energy Minister Ebba Busch (second from left) and Transport Minister Andreas Carlson (first from left). (Source: Archive of P. J. )In 1995, Jacques Chirac, then French president and chair of the European Council, did not really want to meet then Slovak PM Vladimír Mečiar personally. Mečiar no longer had a good reputation at that time. Slovakia submitted its EU membership application in a hotel lobby instead. It was given to the French foreign minister. It did not have to be handed to Chirac himself, says diplomat Peter Javorčík.
However, it was a sign that our path to the union would not be easy, he adds.
WHAT TO DO IN BRATISLAVA
Top 10 events
Rača vineyards. (Source: Courtesy of Bratislava Tourist )Enjoy a football match on Saturday, watch a film starring Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling, or try local wine in Bratislava-Rača. Here is what is on in the city.
IN OTHER NEWS
- YouTube deleted controversial nutritionist Igor Bukovský’s channel, “Dr. Igor Bukovský: Život a svet”, at the end of April. The channel had been followed by 30,000 people. The platform cancelled his previous channel, “Dr. Igor Bukovský - AKV”, which was followed by more than 150,000 people, in 2021. During the pandemic, Bukovský criticised pandemic measures and spread disinformation about Covid-19 vaccines. Bukovský has even written a book about his problems with YouTube. (Sme)
- Three companies will receive investment aid from the Slovak government: ZF Slovakia in Trnava (electric motors), Meta System Slovakia in Trnava (on-board chargers for e-cars), and Wia Slovakia near Žilina (drive shafts for e-cars).
- In a vote on Thursday, coalition MPs dismissed Andrej Majerník and Ján Mazák from the posts of Judicial Council members. The coalition is believed to be trying to obtain more influence in the Council in an attempt to deal with judges deciding corruption cases linked to the coalition.
- The government plans to announce the construction of a new unit at the Jaslovské Bohunice nuclear plant, Trnava Region, soon, said PM Fico.
The national rail carrier ZSSK launches a project that will see some train conductors wear on-body cameras. (Source: TASR)- The state budget reached a deficit of €3.2 billion in April, amounting to a year-on-year increase of €1 billion or 45.8 percent, the Finance Ministry announced.
- The cancellation of a public holiday can bring €130 million to the state budget, said the INESS institute. The government scrapped Constitution Day, September 1, as a public holiday last year to save money. Slovakia is a country with one of the highest number of public holidays.
- PM Robert Fico worked a night shift in the ZKW Company near Topoľčany, the premier’s hometown, on May 1. The share of night work in Slovakia is the highest in the EU, he said. The Fico government plans to increase the minimum wage to €1,000 by 2027. On May 1, Fico also attended a conference in Bratislava to mark 20 years since Slovakia joined the EU. There, he referred to some of his European colleagues as “war hawks”. He also complained that he listens to nothing but “weapons, weapons, weapons and weapons” during European Council meetings regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine. Fico has called for a peace solution to the war until today.
WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: Friday will be cloudy. Prepare for occasional showers and storms. The highest daytime temperature will rise to 27°C. (SHMÚ)
MAY 3 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Galina.
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