SUMMARY - Thursday, May 19, 2022 - 9 p.m.

BERN - There are divisions, inequalities and polarisation in society, with social media often intensifying these phenomena, contributing to the rise of extremism; and the role of Europeans is to restore the balance between democratic rights and accountability, said President Zuzana Caputova when addressing members of the Swiss Government at the Federal Palace in Bern on Thursday. BERN - Switzerland is the European Union's closest partner, stated Slovak President Zuzana Caputova at a joint press conference with her Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis on Thursday. BRATISLAVA - Parliament will discuss the anti-inflation aid in a fast-tracked legislation procedure, with MPs approving it in a vote on Thursday. BRATISLAVA - Parliament approved on Thursday that a tax on the extraordinary revenue from Russian oil will be discussed in a fast-tracked legislative procedure, TASR learnt on the same day. BRATISLAVA - The coalition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party will propose that incomes from a tax on Russian oil sponsored by Finance Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO) should be used to slash other taxes, such as VAT on petrol and diesel, and if this doesn't pass, SaS plans to veto the tax on Russian oil, SaS leader and Economy Minister Richard Sulik stated at a press conference in Parliament on Thursday. BRATISLAVA - The opposition Smer-SD party supports the strike alert, announced by the Slovak Towns and Villages Association (ZMOS) as of Thursday, seeing it as a consequence of the Government's failure to continue social dialogue, TASR learnt on Thursday. BRATISLAVA - A number of mayors governing Bratislava boroughs perceive the Government's latest proposals as irresponsible and populist, detrimental to both municipalities and their inhabitants, TASR learnt on Thursday. BRATISLAVA - The appeal hearing in the case of former special prosecutor Dusan K. (name abbreviated due to legal reasons), who was sentenced to fourteen years in prison by the Specialised Criminal Court for corruption last year, will continue at the Supreme Court on Friday (May 20). BRATISLAVA - MEP Lucia Duris Nicholsonova has filed a complaint with the Special Prosecutor's Office and the National European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF), asking them to look into an Agricultural Payment Agency (PPA) contribution worth more than €775,000 for a sports-recreational facility in the village of Podhorie (Zilina region) due to suspicions of subsidy fraud and breaches of environmental rules, TASR learnt on Thursday. BRATISLAVA - Coalition MP Martin Borgula (We Are Family) has denied having any ties to a project challenged by MEP Lucia Duris Nicholsonova as a potential subsidy fraud. am