SUMMARY-Wednesday-October 16, 2019 - 10 p.m.

BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer-SD) has left for Brussels on Wednesday afternoon to attend the autumn European Council session and the ceremony related to the first meeting of the European Labour Agency's (ELA) administrative board, TASR was told by the Government Office's press and information department on Wednesday. BRATISLAVA - The media and opposition are turning the Gorilla case into an appalling political circus, Smer-SD chair declared on Wednesday in response to the emergence of the Gorilla case recording. BRATISLAVA - In connection with the Gorilla case, official actions and decisions by the police, prosecutors and courts may have stronger influence on voters' support than the alleged recording that has appeared on the internet in recent hours, TASR was told by political scientist Pavol Babos of the Faculty of Arts of Comenius University in Bratislava on Wednesday. BRATISLAVA - The Coalition Council strongly urges Health Minister Andrea Kalavska (a Smer-SD nominee) to take all necessary legislative and institutional measures to prevent the increase in drug prices for sensitive patient groups, TASR learnt from Smer-SD spokesman Jan Mazgut, adding that the Coalition Council does not see any reasons for such insensitive interventions in the pricing policy of medicines. BRUSSELS - The European Labour Authority (ELA) has become a reality, and in record time, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker stated on Wednesday evening in Brussels at the opening ceremony of the new European agency, TASR learnt on the same day. BRATISLAVA - Only the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) can tell whether the published recording is really the Gorilla recording, Special Prosecutor Dusan Kovacik said in Parliament in the discussion on the Special Prosecutor's Report on the activities of the Special Prosecutor's Office (USP) for 2018. BRATISLAVA - Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) Chairman Richard Sulik has invited leaders of the OLaNO and We Are Family parties as well as heads of non-parliamentary parties For the People, Christian Democrats (KDH) and Progressive Slovakia(PS)-Together for a working meeting, with the topic being the possible joint procedure of the democratic opposition in the Gorilla case or joint activities on the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, TASR was told by SaS spokesman Robert Bucek on Wednesday. BRATISLAVA - The Coalition Council asks Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD) to present a legislative solution for the extension of the special bank levy at the next parliamentary session, TASR learnt on Wednesday. am