SUMMARY - Friday, 15 August 2025 - 9 p.m.

Bratislava, 15 August (TASR) - Slovakia has to consolidate its public finances for the second consecutive year due to the poor management of previous governments, Interior Minister and Voice-SD chairman Matus Sutaj Estok stated on Friday, adding that as part of further consolidation, the government could raise more money from the banks and save especially on defence spending. https://etasr.sk/article/22355526 Bratislava, 15 August (TASR) - Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky has turned to the Constitutional Court over the amendment to the NGO Act, TASR has learnt during the ombudsman's press conference held on Friday. https://etasr.sk/article/22355694 Bratislava, 15 August (TASR) - The Slovak Republic welcomes the intensified peacekeeping efforts by the administration of US President Donald Trump related to the war in Ukraine and hopes that Friday's negotiations will contribute to ending the nearly three-and-a-half-year-long conflict, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) stated ahead of the meeting of the US and Russian presidents in Alaska, TASR was told by the ministry's communications department on Friday. https://etasr.sk/article/22355619 Bratislava, 15 August (TASR) - The opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) welcomes any meaningful effort aimed at bringing an end to Russia's unprovoked bloody aggression against Ukraine and also supports peace based on truth instead of conspiracy theories, TASR reported on Friday on the basis of a statement from the party's communications department regarding the Friday's meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. https://etasr.sk/article/22355543 Bratislava, 15 August (TASR) - The coalition Voice-SD party is ready to take responsibility for administrative errors in the case of the financing of Peter Pellegrini's campaign before the presidential election, party leader Matus Sutaj Estok stated on Friday in response to the suspicions related to the campaign loan. https://etasr.sk/article/22355574 Kosice, 15 August (TASR) - Voice-SD is ready to debate the proposal of the Slovak National Party (SNS) to reduce the number of self-governing regions, Voice-SD leader and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said on Friday, drawing attention to the need for a joint expert discussion. https://etasr.sk/article/22355493 Kosice, 15 August (TASR) - The nomination for the post of governor of Slovakia's central bank (NBS) within the governing coalition is fully in the power of Voice-SD and the party supports the current governor, Peter Kazimir, Voice-SD chairman and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok pointed out at a press conference in Kosice on Friday. https://etasr.sk/article/22355417 Bratislava, 15 August (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and his government are fearmongering and spreading conspiracy theories instead of addressing Slovakia's real problems, thus attempting to cover up Slovakia's economic collapse, opposition parties responded to Fico's statements at a press conference held earlier on Friday. https://etasr.sk/article/22355414 Bratislava, August 15 (TASR) - Reducing the number of self-governing regions from eight to four will not generate savings of €500 million, as stated by Parliamentary Vice-chair Andrej Danko (Slovak National Party/SNS) since most of the money that passes through the regions is earmarked for schools, roads and social-care facilities which must be preserved, the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party said in response to Danko's proposal, TASR was told by Peter Koles from the PS media department on Friday. https://etasr.sk/article/22355726 Bratislava, 15 August (TASR) - The Slovak economy's growth is weak, with government creating debt at record-high levels, whereas low unemployment is not the result of the current coalition's effort, but a consequence of the youth and other people leaving the labour market, opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MP Marian Viskupic said in response to Prime Minister Robert Fico’s (Smer-SD) statements on statistical indicators, TASR has learnt on Friday. https://etasr.sk/article/22355766 Notice: If you click on the link or copy it into the search window, the browser will display the full text of the message in the new e-TASR client zone. If you have any questions, please contact obchod@tasr.sk. am