MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, 13 September 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, 12 September): BRATISLAVA - The package of consolidation measures for next year needs to be adopted in Parliament via a fast-track procedure, as there's need to prevent economic damage and prepare the preconditions for Slovakia to have a budget, said Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD) at the beginning of the parliamentary debate on the consolidation package on Friday. "The political reality is that consolidation packages are very difficult to negotiate, as just as it was very easy to spend money under the previous government, it's much more difficult to save that money now. My colleagues also have their priorities, everyone defends their budget. On behalf of myself, I must say that we're trying to ensure that the Slovak Republic has healthy public finances, that we'll behave like responsible managers," he emphasised. BRATISLAVA - The poor state of public finances has been known for a long time, and measures to aid their recovery should have been presented earlier, so they should be discussed via a standard legislative process and not hastily via a fast-tracked legislative procedure, a number of opposition MPs stated on Friday in the debate on a proposal for fast-tracked proceedings on the consolidation package for next year. "In a decent country we would have had this first discussion on consolidation in May. In a decent country it's debated early, you follow the rules, in this case, among others, the legislative rules. In a decent country laws are changed so that people can prepare for them, so that they can learn about the surprises that the government is planning earlier," said Stefan Kiss (Progressive Slovakia/PS). Marian Viskupic (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) pointed out that fast-tracked legislative procedures should be used in extraordinary situations that arise unexpectedly and need to be responded to quickly. "But this is not the case with consolidation. The situation concerning the poor state of public finances, the threat of high interest rates, the rapid growth in debt didn't arise yesterday, a month ago or a year ago," he noted, adding that the coalition should have started working on the consolidation package in January, and changes in laws could have been dealt with since then via a standard legislative process. At that time, all those affected could have commented on them and possibly improved the proposals. BRATISLAVA - Even a year since an amendment to the Criminal Code was adopted that introduced the more lenient prosecution of corruption, the government has still been unable to ensure that shoplifting is punished effectively, opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) vice-chair Viliam Karas declared on Friday, dismissing claims that the rise in theft has been caused by "growing aggression in society" as absurd. According to Karas, the real reason for the increase in theft is confidence among offenders that their actions will go unpunished. "Today’s reality is that a thief can walk out of a shop with goods worth less than 700 euros and face no consequences – even if they do it repeatedly. This is the result of the government's irresponsible policy," said Karas. He pointed out that a solution had already been prepared during the previous parliamentary term in the form of the so-called Karas Amendment, which also aimed to reform the Misdemeanours Act. "Experts and we in the Christian Democratic Movement clearly warned that without a simultaneous amendment to the Misdemeanours Act and without strengthening personnel capacities, a large number of offences would go unpunished," he added. On Thursday (11 September), Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice–SD) and Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) claimed that the rise in crime and aggression in retail does not stem from the coalition-approved amendment to the criminal codes, but from a general increase in societal aggression. TOMASOV - Five foreign ministers of central Europe met in the Central 5 (C5) format in the village of Tomasov (Bratislava region) on Thursday (11 September) to discuss the current situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, illegal migration and EU enlargement. The foreign affairs ministers of Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Slovenia condemned the violation of Polish airspace by drones during a Russian attack on Ukraine, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) has told TASR. "We are united in our approach of aid and solidarity ... We want a definitive solution to be supported by continuing the peace efforts started by the US president's administration," he added. Concerning the situation in the Middle East, the ministers agreed on the need to respect international and humanitarian law, viewing this as crucial, stated Blanar. BRATISLAVA - A tile with the name of Slovak actor and politician Milan Knazko was unveiled on the Film Walk of Fame in front of the Pavel Orsagh Hviezdoslav Theatre in Bratislava on Thursday (September 11) evening, with one of the most famous figures of the Velvet Revolution becoming the 15th person to be so honoured. "It's very difficult for me to speak now, because the main thing I should and would like to say is thank you, thank you, thank you, and so on forever," said Knazko in his speech. Milan Knazko was supported by several figures, including actors Emilia Vasaryova, Frantisek Kovar, Vladimir Cerny, who described him as a "super and top actor" who has achieved many things in his life, and Emil Horvath. Milan Knazko turned 80 at the end of August. He starred in about two hundred films and TV productions, but he also made history as a civil activist and an important figure in the Velvet Revolution in November 1989 that led to the end of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. He also worked in several theatres. Knazko was also an advisor to Czechoslovak President Vaclav Havel and served as an MP, minister and vice-premier. He received several domestic and foreign awards. BRATISLAVA - Revenues in industry, the key sector of the economy, rose by 6 percent in fixed prices in July, the Statistics Office reported on Friday. Thirteen of the 16 monitored industrial branches posted y-o-y growth in revenues. The most significant impact came from the other production (38.8 percent), the production of metals (8.7 percent) and the production of coke and oil products (48.6 percent). Even higher overall growth was dampened by a decline in revenues in electricity and gas supplies, in the production of means of transport, and also in water supply and waste management. Revenues in the IT sector were 1.5 percent higher than a year ago, however, their growth pace slowed down. Revenues in selected market services rose by 0.9 percent, the lowest figure seen this year. Construction companies saw a double-digit revenue increase of 11.7 percent y-o-y, showing the growth rate of above 10 percent for the fourth time this year. Revenues in transport and warehousing went up by 6.5 percent y-o-y. am