MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, July 15, 2024 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, July 14): BRATISLAVA - I strongly condemn the shooting at U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump and I'm deeply concerned about the escalation of violence into politics around the world, President Peter Pellegrini posted on a social network on Sunday, stressing that the use of violence in the pursuit of one's political opinion must always be condemned in the strongest possible terms. "The citizens of the United States, and of all other democratic countries of the world, should decide about their president at the polls, not by shooting in the streets," wrote the Slovak head of state. According to Pellegrini, the use of violence to assert one's political opinion must always be condemned in the strongest possible terms and the perpetrators justly punished so that people don't lose confidence in democracy and democratic state institutions, and don't start to take "justice" into their own hands. BRATISLAVA - Political opponents of U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump are trying to lock him up and, when that doesn't work, they're trying to set the public against him so much that someone takes up a weapon, according to a statement of Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in response to Donald Trump assassination attempt. "Donald Trump's political opponents are trying to lock him up, and when they don't succeed, they're trying to set the public against him so much until a poor soul picks up a gun. And now we'll witness talk of the need for reconciliation, calming down and forgiveness," wrote the premier on a social network. Fico writes about a 'copy-paste' scenario and in his statement also criticises some Slovak media. BRATISLAVA - Opposition political parties have strongly condemned on Sunday the assassination attempt on U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, stressing that violence has no place in democratic politics. "Violence has no place in democratic politics. Not against anyone, not even against those who themselves spread hatred. No one, not even Robert Fico or Donald Trump, deserves to be shot at for their political actions and opinions," said Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader and Parliamentary Vice-chair Michal Simecka. "I ask that we return to a peaceful search for the common good, where the power of argument should prevail and not weapons and violence. I wish Donald Trump and the others injured speedy recovery and my sincere condolences to the bereaved," head of the Christian Democrats (KDH) Milan Majersky posted on a social network. BRATISLAVA - Political parties will receive a total of almost €14.3 million this year for their results in last year's general election, TASR learnt from the data provided by the Finance Ministry. The contribution is shared by eight parties and one coalition that achieved at least 3 percent of the vote in the election. The parties have reported that they are already receiving the 2024 contributions on their bank accounts. The election winner, Smer-SD, has the most money for the election results, almost €3.6 million. The senior governing party is followed by opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS - over €2.8 million), the junior governing Voice-SD party (almost €2.4 million), the opposition coalition composed of OLANO (now 'Slovakia' party), the Christian Union (KU), and 'For the People' (almost €1.5 million), opposition Christian Democrats (KDH - over €1.1 million), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS - €1.04 million) and the junior governing Slovak national Party (SNS - over €935,000). ko