MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Monday, May 12): BRATISLAVA - Martina Flasikova has become the new general director of public broadcaster STVR. The STVR Council, which has the power to elect and dismiss the public broadcaster's head under current legislation, made the decision in a secret ballot at its meeting following the hearings of the candidates on Monday. Flasikova garnered seven votes, while acting director Igor Slanina received two votes from the council members. "We'll hand over the decree to the new general director on Tuesday (May 13) at the premises of the STVR creative centre in Bratislava," said council chair Jozef Kroslak. In addition to the elected candidate, four other candidates presented themselves with their projects at the council session on Monday: Martin Jakubec, Peter Janku, Norbert Majer and Igor Slanina. Flasikova has been working as the head of STVR's television section, and she has worked in public-service television in the past. As part of her career in the audiovisual environment, she has also been engaged in production activities. BRATISLAVA - Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok and Health Minister Kamil Sasko (both Voice-SD) stated at a joint press conference of Monday that they firmly reject any discussion on the decriminalisation and legalisation of drugs, including soft drugs. "We want to do everything we can to prevent what you witnessed at the end of last year, when substances that closely resembled soft drugs were available like sweets to our children in various vending machines in shopping centres," the interior minister stated. Acting police president Jana Maskarova confirmed that the police are ready to take action against drug dealers, highlighting several operations that have led to arrests and the seizure of drugs and criminal proceeds, while noting ongoing cooperation with international partners. BRATISLAVA - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party is calling on Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) to cancel a computer procurement tender, citing an overpriced framework contract based on an analysis by the Finance Ministry's Value for Money Unit, and it's considering approaching the Public Procurement Office or the Supreme Audit Office (NKU), SaS members stated at a press conference on Monday. "This state and this government are incapable of consolidation. They're raising taxes, there's the transaction tax, all fees are going up, basically everything is going up, and people are paying for it out of their own pockets so that overpriced purchases can be made. For example, the Value for Money Unit has just come out with the shocking finding that Sutaj Estok is about to spend €122 million more on computer procurement than he should," stated MP Juraj Krupa (SaS). SaS acknowledged the need to purchase new computers but criticised the contract for being overpriced, and it questioned Sutaj Estok's claim that it's only a framework agreement and that the final amount may decrease, arguing that the framework should have been set lower from the start. "Who believes that they'll actually buy for less? They won't. This is how they set it up, and they want to spend €350 million on computers we don't need. Normally, public administration buys computers for €1,200 or €1,300, but now they plan to buy them for €3,400 each, plus €1,200 per monitor," stated SaS leader and MP Branislav Groehling. BRATISLAVA - The charges brought against former environment minister J.B. (name abbreviated due to legal reasons) should be proof that the law should be above everyone in Slovakia, especially when it comes to politicians, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) posted on a social network on Monday in response to the accusation, adding that Slovakia can only be a strong country if it has strong and independent police. The police on Tuesday charged J.B. with the ongoing crime of violating obligations in the management of somebody else's property in connection with an inefficient, wasteful and purposeless use of Environment Ministry funds. This caused damage to the state budget worth a total of almost €570,000. PEZINOK/BANSKA BYSTRICA - The trial in the case of the assassination attempt on Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is set to begin at the Banska Bystrica branch of the Specialised Criminal Court on July 8, with Juraj C. charged with a terrorist attack, TASR has learnt from court spokesperson Katarina Kudjakova. Juraj C. faces a life sentence for shooting at and seriously wounding the premier following a government meeting in Handlova on May 15 of last year. He was initially charged with attempted premeditated murder, but in July 2024 the charge was reclassified as a terrorist attack. BRATISLAVA - As of Monday, the import of live animals susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease from abroad into farms in the Trencin, Zilina, Banska Bystrica, Presov, and Kosice regions is permitted, but the changes in measures against the spread of foot-and-mouth disease do not yet apply to the Bratislava, Trnava, and Nitra regions, the Agriculture Ministry has stated on social media. According to the ministry, as of Monday, Bojnice Zoo and other approved facilities exhibiting susceptible animals to the public in the Trencin, Zilina, and Banska Bystrica regions are allowed to reopen their gates to visitors. All people and vehicles must undergo disinfection upon entry and exit, and hand disinfection is mandatory when entering and leaving the premises. In addition, animals must not be touched or fed by visitors. ko