News digest: Central bank chief thought he was off the hook. The judge disagreed
Robert Fico is praised by Moscow, Slovakia can be proud of its manufacturers, and ex-minister Dolinková decides to quit parliament.
Good evening. Here is the Friday, October 11 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Judge declines to halt Peter Kažimír's prosecution, citing uncertainty about Criminal Code amendment
Central bank governor Peter Kažimír (in cream coat) at the Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok. (Source: Marko Erd)Despite expectations that the judge might halt the prosecution of former finance minister and current governor of the National Bank of Slovakia, Peter Kažimír, his case will proceed towards a final verdict, TVnoviny.sk reports. Kažimír was found guilty of corruption in April last year, prompting widespread calls for him to resign. He appealed, ignoring the calls, and remains at the head of the central bank.
Kažimír's trial resumed on October 11 at the Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok, where he faces charges of bribing the then director of the Financial Administration, František Imrecze, seven years ago to ensure expedited VAT refunds for several companies amounting to over €3 million. Imrecze testified that he received a bribe of €48,000.
Kažimír, who maintains his innocence, described the allegations as unlawful and stated, "I have never influenced any tax proceedings in favour of or against any taxpayer."
His defence team recently requested that the court dismiss the case based on a recent reduction in the statute of limitations for corruption, but Judge Milan Cisarik decided not to stop the prosecution, noting that the legal community is still clarifying the implications of the recent amendment to the Criminal Code.
The supervising prosecutor has recommended an unconditional custodial sentence in a minimum-security prison for the bribery offence. It remains uncertain whether a verdict will be announced today, as the judge may postpone the hearing for several days, with further updates expected in the coming hours.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
- Transportation: Transport Minister Jozef Ráž (Smer) ordered Bratislava to modify a short section of cycle lane on a city-centre street, Vajanského Embankment, within 40 days. The city's mayor Matúš Vallo opposes the order. The lane is popular with cyclists but has attracted complaints from some motorists.
- Politics: Comments in a speech by Prime Minister Robert Fico to mark a wartime anniversary, in which he criticised MEPs for their views on the Ukraine war and mused about a misile strike on Brussels, have attracted warm praise from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
- Good news: Enjoy a new selection of feel-good stories. This week, kapustnica (sauerkraut soup) is on the menu: it's captured a British influencer's heart; perhaps it's no coincidence that a Slovak team has won a 2024 European Street Food Award.
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FEATURE STORY
From garage beginnings to a leading manufacturer
(l-r) Current company head Ján Haramia Jr., founder Ján Haramia Sr., and Ján Jr.'s sister Zuzana Bystroňová. (Source: Lukáš Klčo)Slovakia has manufacturers it can be proud of. The Haramia family, who share a passion for electrical engineering, transformed their small garage business into Slovakia's leading manufacturer of kiosk transformer stations, establishing a strong reputation that has made them the "Mercedes" of their field.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
Magnificent felines
The largest cat breed in the world will also be on display at the exhibitions in Banská Bystrica. (Source: bbonline.sk)Cat lovers, take note! Banská Bystrica is hosting the 27th and 28th editions of the International Cat Exhibition, featuring 30 unique and rare breeds, including the largest domestic cat breed in the world. Admire the loveliest moggies in Europe!
IN OTHER NEWS
- Zuzana Dolinková (Hlas) will not reclaim her seat in parliament following her recent decision to step down as health minister. She has officially notified the acting speaker of parliament, Peter Žiga, that she will relinquish her parliamentary mandate. Dolinková stated that she needs some distance from politics and will consider her future direction. (TASR)
- A primary school in Devínska Nová Ves has received a prestigious CE ZA AR architectural award for its innovative expansion, which addressed a longstanding issue of space shortage. The project, designed by AtomStudio architects Martin Hudec and Katarína Bergerová, involved a wooden extension and a new floor that enhance the school's capacity while prioritising ecological solutions. Funded by €2.2 million in EU grants, the expansion features modern design elements, including a green roof, and aims to provide a comfortable learning environment for students. (SME)
- The Supreme Audit Office of Slovakia has reported that while partial solutions have been implemented in the health-care sector, comprehensive measures from the Ministry of Health are still lacking. The audit revealed that the financial management of university and faculty health-care facilities is a major concern, with the 13 largest hospitals having over €1 billion in outstanding liabilities. Additionally, the office raised issues regarding the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting a lack of transparency and underutilization of purchased doses, and referred its findings to the European Prosecutor's Office and the European Parliament. (TASR)
- Cities in Slovakia are planning to reduce their spending next year through a joint public procurement initiative for electricity and gas, which is expected to help save money amid government-imposed budget consolidations. Richard Rybníček, president of the Union of Slovak Cities, noted that around 14 cities have already joined the initiative, aiming to cut costs in energy purchases. Additionally, concerns were raised about the recently announced rise in VAT and a projected loss of 19% in personal income tax revenue for municipalities, which will exacerbate financial strain and limit investment in public infrastructure and services. (TASR)
Peter Pellegrini met ten other EU presidents in Krakow, Poland, to discuss the expansion of the union, support for Ukraine, and how to end the war there. He emphasized the importance of respectful dialogue and collaboration, noting that no country can be an isolated island in today's geopolitical landscape. (Source: TASR)WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: Saturday's weather will be clear to partly cloudy. If you're travelling by road in the morning, watch out for fog. On Sunday, rain is expected, with some areas of Slovakia experiencing showers. However, later in the afternoon precipitation will ease and cloud cover will decrease. Daytime temperatures will range from 11°C to 17°C. The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) has issued a level 1 warning for Sunday in Banská Bystrica, Žilina and Prešov Regions due to high winds expected in the mountains. (SHMÚ)
NAME DAYS IN SLOVAKIA: Saturday, October 12 - Maximilián; Sunday, October 13 - Koloman; Monday, October 14 - Boris.
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