MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Thursday, 31 July 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Wednesday, 30 July): BRATISLAVA - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party views statements that the Russian economy is now considered to be stronger than German, made by Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) at the weekend, as spreading disinformation. According to SaS, the German economy is more than twice as big as Russia's. The weakening exchange rate of the ruble and negative ratings are symbols of the instability and weakness of the Russian economy, stated the party. "It is not my goal to dishonour the Russian economy, nor to glorify the German one. Every economy has its problems, challenges, strengths, but also weaknesses. But if the Slovak premier publicly declares that the Russian economy is stronger than the German one and presents it as a fact, that's no longer just an opinion, it's truly the spreading of disinformation. And it's shameful that such disinformation is spread by someone who leads the country, someone who has access to data, who has access to analyses, analysts, to foreign reports, someone who has a responsibility to the people, and yet chooses narratives that are not really suitable even for Telegram channels," said SaS MP Marian Viskupic. BRATISLAVA - By using conspiracies about foreign powers influencing Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is trying to cover up a planned increase in value-added tax (VAT) by 2 percentage points during another round of consolidation, opposition Progressive Slovakia party leader Michal Simecka and House finance and budget committee member Stefan Kiss stated at a press briefing on Wednesday. "Further conspiracies, fabrications and attempts to divert attention are set to continue in the weeks to come, such as foreign interference, perhaps a coup d'état or, once again, a discussion on two genders. However, the purpose of all of this is to allow the Fico-led government to cover up what it's had up its sleeve for us. And, as we've come to know, there will be another increase in VAT and additional price hikes. We're talking about this because we fear that our economy and people will not be able to bear another VAT increase and the resulting hikes in the prices of goods and services," said Simecka. BRATISLAVA - The British Embassy in Slovakia has promised to provide an explanation regarding the activities related to information on the alleged influencing of the Slovak general election in 2023, the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry announced following a meeting with British Ambassador Nigel Baker on Wednesday. The embassy should provide this information during August. Slovakia will then evaluate the British side's answers and decide on further action, said the ministry. Slovak diplomacy has asked for answers regarding a contract allegedly concluded between the British Foreign Office and the Zinc Network media agency for the recruitment of influencers. "We asked specific questions and requested clear answers as to whether there's any other contract, in addition to the one reported by the media, which concerns activities in Slovak territory. We also asked for a list of all influencers who have operated or are operating in Slovakia based on this," said Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar. The Slovak Republic is requesting the content of the influencers' posts and the amount of their remuneration. "We also wanted to know whether such a contract is still valid and, if so, we requested an immediate suspension of the contracts," added the minister. BRATISLAVA – The opposition 'Slovakia' party claims that friends of the competitors are influencing decisions in the ambulance service tender, as according to MP and former health minister (2020-21) Marek Krajci ('Slovakia'-For the People-Christian Union alliance) the selection committee includes individuals closely linked to the Agel group. Speaking on Wednesday, Krajci cited media reports as the source of this information. The party argues that emergency medical service licences will be awarded to pre-selected candidates and calls on Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) to explain how the members of the commission were chosen. BRATISLAVA – Law enforcement authorities are investigating information suggesting there may have been an attempt to influence Slovakia’s 2023 parliamentary elections, according to Interior Minister and Voice–SD party leader Matus Sutaj Estok. He made the statement during an interview with TASR TV. Sutaj Estok said the most recent information regarding a British campaign aimed at selectively encouraging participation among young voters in 2023 was just "the last piece of the puzzle". According to the minister, intelligence services had already been working with reports of potential election interference at the end of last year. BRATISLAVA – Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has rejected claims that the government plans to increase value-added tax (VAT) as part of its fiscal consolidation, TASR learnt on Wednesday from Fico's video posted on social media in response to statements by the opposition party Progressive Slovakia (PS). „Instead of admitting who was paid by the British government and for what activities, they come with accusations that I am responsible for the content of the agreement between the United States and the (European) Union on tariffs, or that we intend to raise VAT as part of consolidation. None of this is true," the Prime Minister said. PS claimed at a Wednesday press conference that Fico is using conspiracy theories about foreign influence in Slovakia to divert attention from a planned two-percentage-point VAT increase in the next phase of consolidation. jrg/ko