MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, April 28, 2024 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, April 27): BRATISLAVA - President-elect Peter Pellegrini should restrict his public statements on partisanship politics already and, until he is officially inaugurated, shouldn't even speak from the position of the head of state, publicist Juraj Hrabko told TASR TV on Saturday. Hrabko pointed out that Pellegrini could use the time in the transitioning period to encourage higher turnout for the upcoming European Parliament election. Slovakia is traditionally lagging at the very bottom within the EU when it comes to European election turnout. Both outgoing President Zuzana Caputova and president-elect Pellgrini should attempt to calm down the society, which has been polarised in the wake of two highly divisive election campaigns. "We have President Zuzana Caputova with full powers, maybe she should make one more speech in Parliament," said Hrabko. While Caputova is still in office, Pellegrini should exercise restraint regarding any comments on potential decisions he might make as future president. "The worst thing he could do would be to comment in such a theoretical and speculative fashion on issues he can't really influence at the moment," noted Hrabko. BRATISLAVA - A total of five new political parties have pursued registration in Slovakia, TASR learnt from the Interior Ministry's website. The parties are called The Free, Our New Slovakia, United Slavs, Alliance Slovakia and Civic Labour Party Front. There are about 160 political parties in Slovakia, out of which about 100 are inactive and about to be cancelled. Under the law, party founders must collect at least 10,000 signatures, submit them to the ministry and apply for registration. If all legal prerequisites are met, the ministry will register the party. BRATISLAVA - The period of Slovakia's membership of the European Union (EU) has been characterised by economic growth, modernisation of roads and buildings, revitalisation of public spaces and a strengthening of Slovakia's position in the world and in the EU, head of the European Commission's Representation in Slovakia Vladimir Sucha told TASR in anticipation of the 20th anniversary of Slovakia's accession to the EU, adding that it has also brought a number of opportunities for Slovaks abroad. Slovakia joined the EU on May 1, 2004. "Thanks to being in the [European] Union, Slovaks can easily travel, work and study in other member states, as Slovakia participates in shaping these policies and strategies along with its European partners. At the same time, we've been using the common currency, the euro, for 15 years," he said. According to him, EU membership has also brought economic stability to Slovakia, thanks to which significant foreign investments are flowing into the country. "The money we've received from EU funds covers on average up to 80 percent of our public investments, and we're net beneficiaries of EU funds. This means that we receive more from the European budget than we contribute to it," noted Sucha, adding that according to a recent study by Slovakia's central bank, the Slovak budget receives €4,000 more per capita thanks to Slovakia's EU membership. mf