MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Friday, 29 August 2025 - 1 p.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Thursday, 28 August): BRATISLAVA – The coalition council has continued talks on consolidating public finances via streamlining state operations and reducing government consumption, with relevant ministries having received specific instructions, and discussions slated to resume on Monday (1 September), Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) announced on social media following Thursday's session of the coalition council. Speaking after Wednesday's (27 August) government session in Senica (Trnava region), Fico said that the coalition is now in the final phase of discussions on next year's fiscal consolidation plan. Most measures have already been agreed upon, with current talks focusing on the extent of the state's contribution to the effort. BRATISLAVA – The opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) has sent an open letter to President Peter Pellegrini, calling on him to publicly demand the dismissal of Government Proxy for Investigating the COVID-19 Pandemic Management Peter Kotlar, over what they described as the abuse of his position to question scientific authorities. "We're turning to you on behalf of the KDH with an appeal to use your authority and intervene in the interests of protecting science, scientific institutions, and professional discourse in Slovakia. We're deeply concerned about the growing attacks on scientists and the authority of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), as well as attempts to discredit and abuse it for political purposes," said the party, adding that the SAV's expert analyses are essential in addressing society-wide issues. KDH described as particularly alarming the systematic disparagement of scientists and the support for disinformation and conspiracy theories in Slovakia, including by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) himself. Kotlar, who this week ruled out stepping down, has dismissed the findings of SAV's analysis of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, claiming that the institution is not a certified laboratory. He said that he's awaiting the outcome of an official criminal investigation. BRATISLAVA – Had the parliamentary election been held in August, Progressive Slovakia (PS) would have won with 21.2 percent of the vote, according to a Focus agency poll conducted on behalf of the 360tka news website. Smer-SD would have finished second with 18.7 percent, followed by Voice-SD with 10.1 percent. Also entering Parliament would have been Republic (9.9 percent), 'Slovakia' (8.2 percent), KDH (6.7 percent), and SaS (6.3 percent). Falling below the 5-percent threshold would have been Democrats (4.8 percent), the Hungarian Alliance (4.6 percent), and SNS (4.0 percent). BRATISLAVA – The Foreign and European Affairs Ministry has already received initial information from the United Kingdom regarding allegations of interference in the Slovak general election in 2023, TASR has learnt from the ministry's communications department. At the end of July, the British Embassy in Slovakia promised to explain its activities related to information about alleged interference in the 2023 Slovak election. Slovakia will then evaluate the British responses and decide on how to proceed. "We're in contact with the British and are communicating closely on this matter, but we've asked them to provide additional answers," the ministry has told TASR. BRATISLAVA – Oil deliveries to Slovakia have resumed following last week’s attack on the Druzhba pipeline, Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) announced on social media Thursday. „Oil flow to Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline has been restored! I hope operations remain stable and that no further attacks on energy infrastructure occur," Sakova stated, without clarifying whether full transport capacity has been reestablished. Bratislava, 28 August (TASR) - The Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry determined a quota for culling 74 grey wolves during the 2025/26 hunting season on Thursday, the ministry's spokesperson Lukas Januv informed TASR on the same day. Set at 25 percent of the net annual increase in the grey wolf population to prevent endangering the species in Slovakia, the quota is distributed among the self-governing regions as follows: 21 wolves in the Banska Bystrica region, 25 in the Zilina region, 17 in the Presov region, seven in the Kosice region, and four in the Trencin region. Hunting will not be permitted in areas under the fifth-level degree of protection, in sites of European importance where the grey wolf is a protected species, in border areas with Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region, or in areas surrounding wildlife overpasses, the ministry informed. ko