MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Wednesday, 26 November 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Tuesday, 25 November): BRATISLAVA - The Whistleblower Protection Office (UOO) isn't being scrapped, it's just being supplemented to include a new agenda of crime victim compensation, House Vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) told a news conference on Tuesday, adding that the possibility of merging it with the Personal Data Protection Office is under discussion as well. "Such an office will remain, but it will be supplemented with a new agenda. That agenda was until now under the jurisdiction of the Justice Ministry, which dealt with compensation for crime victims. This Justice Ministry agenda will now be transferred to the existing office, which is why the office will also change its name so that it will be clear from the name that it isn't here only to protect whistleblowers, but also to deal with the issue of crime victims," stated Gaspar. The Personal Data Protection Office could also fall under this office in the future. According to Gaspar, this is currently only under discussion, and such a proposal isn't on the agenda of the current parliamentary session. He noted that other institutions could be merged from the economic viewpoint in the future as well; for example, the Anti-monopoly Office with the Public Procurement Office. "We're talking about merging offices due to economic issues and consolidation, and I emphasise this so that you'll understand that one of the reasons is the economy," he added. BRATISLAVA - A protest against the proposed transformation of the Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers (UOO) into a new authority took place on Tuesday evening outside the Parliament building in Bratislava, with the protest organized by the extra-parliamentary party Democrats and joined by the parliamentary opposition parties Progressive Slovakia (PS), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). "The governing coalition has decided to liquidate the Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers of Anti-Social Activity – a state institution that protected people who uncovered and reported corruption. Without any discussion, without comments, without shame," the Democrats declared. They consider the abolition of the office an act of open revenge by Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) and Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD). "This is open revenge against honest corruption whistleblowers and police investigators around Jan Curilla. Fico and Sutaj Estok could not accept that the office imposed fines on them, so they decided to abolish it altogether," the party stated. BRATISLAVA - Chair of the Slovak National Party (SNS) Andrej Danko called on all political parties on Tuesday, including Progressive Slovakia (PS), not to reopen the issue of the Benes Decrees, and if PS continues to pursue the topic, SNS will prepare a legal analysis. Speaking at a press conference, Danko said: "We call on all political parties to keep their hands off the Benes Decrees." He added that he was appalled by how some parties are raising the issue. "If PS continues to address the issue of the Benes Decrees, we will prepare a legal analysis and also turn to the Prosecutor-General," he said. The SNS chair pointed out that in the Czech Republic some associations were dissolved already in the preparatory phase if they attempted to reopen questions related to the Benes Decrees. The SNS appeal also concerns the position of a Hungarian political party in Slovakia. "It even has a programme approved that says Stop Benes," Danko noted. BRATISLAVA - A quarter century of membership in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) was a significant leap forward for Slovakia, transforming it from a planned to a market economy which has nearly doubled since 2000, Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) said on Monday during the ceremonial event marking the 25th anniversary of Slovakia's OECD membership, adding that Slovakia has evolved from a country gathering experience to one that can now share its own. "Looking back, the country's economy is now twice as powerful, with doubled productivity and the unemployment rate currently at around four percent," recalled Blanar, adding that Slovakia has also been recognised as a country commanding great respect, being among the first to offer assistance in regions affected by natural disasters. The minister noted that Slovakia supports the OECD's enlargement to include countries that are members of the European Union, but not of the OECD. He recalled that Slovakia became an OECD member even before it joined the EU. BRATISLAVA - Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) has filed a motion to annul the default judgment in his legal dispute with the group of police investigators centered around Jan Curilla and is also requesting the cancellation of a distraint order against him, Daily N reported on Tuesday. Interior Ministry spokesman Matej Neumann confirmed for TASR that "Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok has used all available legal means in accordance with the applicable legislation in this matter". Sutaj Estok lost the 'Curilla case' and must publicly apologise for comparing members of the group to lawfully convicted crime boss and multiple murderer Mikulas Cernak. In addition, he's required to pay compensation totaling €90,000 to six police officers, as well as legal costs and late-payment interest. The police officers' lawyer, Peter Kubina, reported this on social media on 11 November. BRATISLAVA - The low prices of airline tickets is a benefit for Slovak travellers, Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) told a news conference held on Tuesday to mark Ryanair's 20th anniversary at M.R. Stefanik airport in Bratislava. The airline will launch ten new routes from Bratislava to Alicante, Athens, Barcelona, ​​Lamezia Terme (Italy), Malaga, Naples, Palermo, Pisa, Tirana and Warsaw (Modlin airport) in the 2026 summer season. "These routes are in both directions, so we'll be happy when people from all over the world can get to know Slovakia. Affordable tickets are a really good incentive for people to travel within Europe, but also beyond it. I'm very pleased that this has been achieved and that we'll be able to jump from less than 2 million passengers to perhaps double that figure next year," said Raz. ko