MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, May 6, 2024 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, May 5): BRATISLAVA - Speaking on TV Markiza's politics show 'Na telo' (Tough Questions) on Sunday, President Zuzana Caputova said that she is planning to visit Ukraine at the end of her term in office. "It's our neighbour, I visit all neighbouring countries as part of my farewell visits," said Caputova. She indicated that the visit should include meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the premier of Ukraine and the speaker of Parliament. BRATISLAVA - Ex-justice minister and former Supreme Court head Stefan Harabin shouldn't become a Judicial Council member, MPs Richard Gluck (Smer-SD), Lucia Plavakova (Progressive Slovakia/PS) and Marian Caucik (Christian Democrats/KDH) concurred on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday. MP Samuel Migal (Voice-SD), also on the show, said that Voice-SD isn't fully identified with Harabin's potential nomination, either. Gluck views it unfortunate that the Slovak National Party (SNS) announced Harabin's nomination as a Judicial Council candidate through the media. "In my opinion, the nominees shouldn't have a political past, so Stefan Harabin should not be nominated for this reason alone," said Gluck. Migal noted that if SNS insists on this candidate, Voice-SD will have to sit over it. KDH won't support potential Harabin's nomination. "The judiciary should be independent," stated Caucik. According to Plavakova, Harabin is a representative of the darkest period of the Slovak judiciary. She also views as scandalous the way in which Jan Mazak and Andrej Majernik were dismissed from the Judicial Council by Parliament. BRATISLAVA - Speaking on TV Markiza's politics show 'Na telo' (Tough Questions) on Sunday, President Zuzana Caputova said that she doesn't intend to engage in party politics. Caputova doesn't regret her decision not to re-run for the post of the head of state. She sees her place primarily in Slovakia. "I'll try to be useful in the public space, not in politics," said Caputova. She wants to be an active citizen in areas where she has some kind of knowledge. She won't return to her law practice. Caputova pointed to the fact that the president isn't the president of the government, but of the citizens of Slovakia. According to her, it is healthy for the head of state to have a high degree of internal freedom and independence. "A kind of tension between the government and the president is okay and absolutely normal," noted Caputova. However, the president should also seek constructive cooperation with the government. She said that she's already met her successor Peter Pellegrini regarding practical matters. KOSICE - U.S. Steel Kosice together with its subsidiaries recorded earnings before interest and taxes of $16 million (€14.89 million) in the first quarter of this year, compare to loss of $34 million (€31.65 million) it showed for the same period of last year, the Kosice steelworks reported on its website based on the data published by its parent company U.S. Steel. Investments amounted to $28 million (€26.06 million) in 1Q24 and production capacities were used at 87 percent. zel