MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Friday, 4 July 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Thursday, 3 July): BRATISLAVA - The police officer M. V. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons], accused of sabotage, has been released, his attorney, Peter Kubina, announced on social media, stating that the Internal Affairs Inspectorate (UIS) of the Interior Ministry, which detained him, "ran into the law." „What we expected has happened. The sabotage charge collapsed at the very first encounter with the prosecutor. M. V. was released during the night,” Kubina wrote. He added that the prosecutor of the Kosice Regional Prosecutor’s Office released M. V. after receiving a case file and motion from the inspectorate investigator to file for custody. The officer was detained on Tuesday (1 July). He is accused of misusing his powers by ordering the launch of a targeted intelligence operation against the Prosecutor General and his first deputy, allegedly without any substantiating evidence of criminal activity. According to UIS, the alleged sabotage took place in 2022, during parliamentary deliberations on pre-trial detention for then-MP and incumbent Prime Minister R. F. The Inspectorate claims that the officer fabricated suspicions that the Prosecutor General and his deputy might interfere in the case involving the MP. BRATISLAVA - Some opposition parties reject the idea of having politicians also contribute to the consolidation of public finances, Interior Minister and Voice-SD leader Matus Sutaj Estok declared on Thursday. Sutaj Estok made the statement on social media in response to criticism of a proposed amendment to the Political Parties Act that would reduce state funding for parties. The Interior Minister argued that opposition parties are hiding behind claims of defending democracy, but are in fact trying to protect their state subsidies. „If citizens have to tighten their belts, so must politicians. The opposition, on the other hand, is displaying classic elitism. Voice’s proposal is clear and fair — we propose cutting state contributions to political parties to save tens of millions of euros,” he said. The minister also pointed out that 'Slovakia' party, led by Igor Matovic, receives the highest state subsidy per MP. The Interior Ministry has submitted a draft amendment to the Act on Political Parties and Movements for interdepartmental review. The proposal includes reducing state contributions to political parties in times of economic downturn and limiting funding only to parties that win seats in Parliament. BRATISLAVA - Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) is misleading the public with his "talk of solidarity" while acting in his own self-interest, 'Slovakia' party leader Igor Matovic declared on Thursday. Matovic said this in response to Sutaj Estok's defence of proposed cuts to state funding for political parties. In Matovic's view, the minister "is taking people for complete fools." "In reality, it was he who voted in government to double his own salary, and it was his Voice party MPs who consistently voted against our proposals to cut state funding for political parties significantly and to reduce the salaries of MPs and ministers," stated Matovic. This view was echoed by the Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS) at a press conference at which it stated that it already has the Interior Ministry's sponsored bill at its disposal. SaS reiterated its objections to multiple provisions in the bill. BRATISLAVA - Former defence minister (2020-23) and leader of the non-parliamentary 'Democrats' party Jaroslav Nad has not yet been charged with respect to the donation of military equipment to Ukraine. Nad noted this on Thursday after being questioned at the Police Corps Presidium, dismissing claims that he damaged EU funds or interests as "utter nonsense". "Our only goal was to help Ukraine, and we succeeded," said Nad, adding that he would act in the same way again and that he believes even more support for Ukraine could have been provided. According to him, the total value of the donated assets is expected to be reimbursed, with Slovakia potentially receiving up to one billion euros in return. "The Slovak Republic got rid of old ammunition and received money to purchase new stock. It was economically advantageous, morally right and justified," he stressed. Nad described the entire investigation as politically motivated, although he said the questioning itself was conducted professionally. He expects to testify again on related matters in the future. BRATISLAVA - Relations between Slovakia and Hungary are at their best-ever level, President Peter Pellegrini said on Thursday following talks with his Hungarian counterpart Tamas Sulyok, who came for a one-day official visit to Slovakia. According to Pellegrini, relations with Hungary are multifaceted, rich and intensive, which is reflected in political, economic and cultural cooperation, as well as in the area of people-to-people relations. "It is natural that there are and will be areas on which we'll have different opinions. That's why it's essential that we're always able to speak frankly and openly about such issues, as good neighbours should," said Pellegrini, who sees a key role for both presidents in fostering a positive atmosphere in their relations. "I'm interested in harmonious inter-ethnic coexistence in Slovakia. I want Hungarians living in Slovakia to perceive our country with pride as their own home and homeland. This is the basis for building a prosperous future together on both sides of the Danube," he said. The presidents discussed a number of topics. In the area of foreign policy, they agreed that in times of conflict it is essential to seek peaceful solutions. Pellegrini thanked Hungary for protecting Slovak airspace. He also highlighted mutual trade, cooperation in oil, gas and nuclear energy and a memorandum on cross-border projects. "I'm very glad that I discussed with the president the fact that the final text on cross-border health care provision is being finalised. This will be to the benefit of both populations, Slovaks living in Hungary and Hungarians living in Slovakia," stated Pellegrini. BRATISLAVA - Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) welcomed President of Hungary Tamas Sulyok at Bratislava Castle on Thursday, praising the level of economic, political and regional cooperation between Slovakia and Hungary. Rasi described Bratislava Castle as a symbolic place, which, like the parliament building in Budapest, commemorates the common history and friendship of the two countries. "Today's meeting, just like the one during my official visit to Budapest, showed that there is a strong partnership between our countries built on trust, pragmatism and common goals," Rasi posted on a social network. The Slovak House chair believes that the Hungarian president's visit to Slovakia will also contribute to further developing relations between Slovakia and Hungary for the benefit of their citizens. BRATISLAVA - Greenpeace Slovakia has called on Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) to urgently address the climate crisis, demanding the drafting of a climate law and an adaptation plan, along with other measures. The activists also drew attention to the inaction of the head of the Environment Ministry and to the current heatwave with a life-size ice sculpture depicting the minister, which they set up in front of the Environment Ministry in Bratislava. "The minister has long ignored the problems of the climate crisis. And not only that, he even tries to systematically undermine the little that comes from the European Union," said Dorota Osvaldova of the organisation at a briefing on Thursday. Greenpeace called on the minister to finally start taking the existing climate crisis seriously, and it criticised him for declaring his support for weakening the Green Deal for Europe, a plan to strengthen and increase Europe's resilience to the climate crisis. The organisation called on the head of the Environment Ministry to urgently adopt a climate law in cooperation with experts, including a plan for adaptation measures because mitigation measures alone aren't sufficient. At the same time, in cooperation with the Economy Ministry, the development of renewable energy sources should be promoted and obstacles to the development of energy communities should be removed. BRATISLAVA - The Environment Ministry recommends that Greenpeace Slovakia should go on strike especially in the world's largest economies, which are the biggest producers of coal and air pollution, claiming that Slovakia hasn't caused a climate crisis, nor can it change it, the ministry told TASR in response to the organisation's call to urgently start tackling climate crisis. "Greenpeace's activities have long been at odds with both socio-economic and environmental realities," stated the Environment Ministry's communications department, referring to what it called Greenpeace's misguided activities as an effort to raise its profile in the media. The ministry also stated that it has been under the leadership of Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) that the most investments in water protection, water-retention measures and nature protection are being made. It pointed out that €750 million from EU funds was contracted last year alone. lin