MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, May 9, 2023 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, May 8): BRATISLAVA - Anti-fascist fighters can be honoured by clearly naming and rejecting extremist actions, interim Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad noted on the occasion of Victory in Europe Day on Monday. "Let us commemorate all the heroes who stood up to the evil of fascism and its atrocities. To all those who put their own lives on the line to fight for our better future, eternal thanks and appreciation are due. It is up to us what we do with the legacy of our ancestors," Nad said. The minister at the same time pointed to innocent victims of the war in Ukraine, adding that every day, Ukrainian defenders protect their homeland and the lives of their loved ones from Russia's unprovoked and unprecedented aggression. "In this case, too, we must persevere in upholding the principles of freedom and democracy," the minister stressed. BRATISLAVA - Freedom and peace are not guaranteed, and the victims of fascism will always remind us of that, said Smer-SD leader Robert Fico on his Facebook account the occasion of Victory in Europe Day on Monday. According to the ex-premier, the message of the anniversary of the end of the Second World War is relevant once again. "The military cemetery in Zvolen and many others across Slovakia, where thousands of soldiers of our liberators from the Red Army are buried, will forever remind us that with war always comes misfortune and with peace comes prosperity," Fico wrote. BANSKA BYSTRICA - Respect, cohesion and dignity are the basic values that symbolise Victory in Europe Day according to the extra-parliamentary Voice-SD party, its leader Peter Pellegrini stated on Monday, adding that these are the values that Slovakia needs in the current political situation. "In Slovak politics in recent months and years, the government's respect for the public has disappeared. There is a lack of cohesion and dignity, just look at the deliberations of politicians and Parliament. Only coherent politics can lead us out of this decline we are in today," Pellegrini said. According to Pellegrini, representatives of the coalition parties that originally formed the previous and later interim government are directly responsible for the current suffering and impoverishment of Slovakia. "People should not forget this and should not give them another chance for what they have been doing here," the Voice leader said. Pellegrini pointed to the fact that Slovakia will have a caretaker government for the first time in its history, adding that his party will respect the caretaker cabinet, but won't express its confidence in it. If it comes up with measures that will help improve the state of affairs in this country, the cabinet can count on Voice's support, claimed Pellegrini. In his opinion, Slovak central bank vice-governor Ludovit Odor, who's set to head the caretaker government, meets the criteria for being a good caretaker premier without any political affiliation. BRATISLAVA - The state subsidy that has been awarded to interim Agriculture Minister Samuel Vlcan's family business hasn't been paid out yet, interim Premier Eduard Heger and Environment Minister Jan Budaj claimed at a press conference on Monday. According to the premier, not a single euro from the subsidy has been sent to the account of the business. Heger at the same time reported that he's ordered the carrying out of checks to find out whether the subsidy was awarded in line with the law. If it's proven that it wasn't, the process will be halted, Heger claimed. Vlcan offered his resignation on Thursday, May 4, after it was reported that his family business has been awarded a subsidy of €1.4 million from the Environment Ministry. The minister noted that he wasn't aware of any violation of the law either by him or the company, however. BRATISLAVA - Real peace cannot be attained without freedom and democracy, and that is why we must always strive for them, President Zuzana Caputova stated on Monday on the occasion of Victory in Europe Day. "The historical experience of the Second World War, as well as of all other military conflicts, confirms that the source of conflicts is not nations or states, but regimes trampling on human freedoms and rights, capable of provoking hatred. Be they fascist, communist or various authoritarian regimes of the 21st century," stressed Caputova. BRATISLAVA - Parliamentary Chair Boris Kollar (We Are Family) commemorated Victory in Europe Day on Monday at the Slavin Memorial in Bratislava, which serves as a burial site for 6,845 Red Army soldiers who died during the liberation of the Slovak capital during the Second World War, he reported on his Facebook account. "Our ancestors and their peers from different countries of the world fought for peace, which, as we have found out even today, is not guaranteed," the parliamentary chair wrote. "Let's not forget to commemorate days such as this one, as they are part of our history and formed our present. Let's learn from them to create a better future for future generations," noted Kollar. BRATISLAVA - Today, in a time of crises, people must come together so that all the scars of history are not in vain, as only in this way will they not repeat mistakes of the past and can build a free world where there's mutual respect, said interim Prime Minister Eduard Heger on Monday on the occasion of Victory in Europe Day. "Every era has its heroes who stand up for right values. Hitler's hatred didn't unite only his followers. It also united the good side," noted Heger. The premier at the same time remarked that just as before the Second World War, lies and misinformation are gaining momentum. Just as then, Heger said, they are so powerful that they provoke social hatred. "That is why, just as then, we need to find the courage and humanity within ourselves not to fall for the false visions that are being fed to us," he stressed. mf