MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, 8 December 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, 7 December): BRATISLAVA – Slovakia borrowed a total of €12.181 billion by the end of November this year, the Debt and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL) announced in its monthly report for November, adding that in 2025, there will be no more regular monthly auctions of government bonds as the next one is planned for mid-January next year. In November alone, bonds worth €463 million were sold at auction, with investor demand reaching €788 million. A syndicated bond sale from the end of October worth €2 billion was also settled, with investor interest reaching €3.8 billion in this case. This involves the sale of bonds through a group (syndicate) of banks. Over the course of the year, Slovakia sold government bonds through regular monthly auctions worth €6.681 billion and through a syndicate worth €5 billion. Bonds sold to ordinary citizens brought the state an additional €500 million, according to ARDAL. The agency also announced that there will be no auction of government securities in December. The next auction is scheduled for 19 January 2026. ARDAL will announce the bond offering in this auction seven days before the auction date, as is customary. BRATISLAVA - Starting from 1 July next year, certain groups of people could be exempt from paying higher levies; limits on levies could be set for pensioners, sole traders, and people who have regular employment but also earn extra income from other work, leader of the coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) Andrej Danko stated on STVR's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday, adding that he's discussing this issue with Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD). "Yes, it will be approved in the spring. Minister Erik Tomas has already set it up so that we can set limits for people who won't pay those levies, that is, as of 1 July, so that they aren't burdened with these higher levies," said Danko. Another topic of the discussion was energy assistance, with chairman of the opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) Milan Majersky emphasising the apparent absence of an energy poverty law that would provide targeted assistance to the poorest people who are dependent on help with high energy costs. He criticised the government-approved energy assistance for 90 percent of the population, amounting to almost €400 million, which he said isn't targeted. Danko's problem with the law is that even those with high salaries will receive energy assistance, specifying that the limits on who receives it should be clearly defined and that the state could use data from social-insurance provider Socialna poistovna, which has information on people's salaries. He believes that this would have made it possible to determine which Slovaks are and aren't eligible for energy assistance. "I'd look for a solution in Socialna poistovna, which would identify not only energy poverty but also overall poverty in Slovakia," said Danko, adding that it's important that the state still helps people with energy prices and that 90 percent of households will get this support. BRATISLAVA – The name of the new head of the parliamentary committee for European affairs could be announced next week, Parliamentary Vice-chair Peter Ziga (Voice-SD) stated on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday, adding, however, that negotiations on filling this position are still ongoing within the coalition. Another House vice-chair, Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD), confirmed that Jan Ferencak (Voice-SD), who is currently being dismissed from his position as head of the European committee in Parliament, had been offered proposals for solutions if he leaves the post. However, according to Gaspar, Ferencak rejected them. Opposition MP Zuzana Stevulova (Progressive Slovakia/PS) stated in this regard that the ruling coalition is devoting all its energy to its own problems rather than the problems of the country. The discussion also touched on the issue of the draft law on transforming the Whistleblowers Protection Office (UOO) into a new Office for the Protection of Crime Victims and Whistleblowers of Anti-social Conduct, which is currently being debated in the House. Gaspar claimed that the scrapping of UOO is a matter of fact for Smer-SD voters, while according to Stevulova, it isn't in Slovakia's interest. She also believes that the draft law is contrary to the Slovak Constitution and European Union law. Ziga and Stevulova also agreed that this bill has been debated in Parliament for too long. According to Ziga, UOO is dysfunctional, politically biased, and self-serving. However, he believes that it has been debated in Parliament for too long due to obstruction by the opposition. Christian Democrats (KDH) vice-chairman Viliam Karas noted that the scrapping of UOO lacks statesmanship and perspective. He also said that the rules of the fast-tracked legislative procedure had been violated. BRATISLAVA - I'm due to travel to Brussels on Monday (8 December) for a meeting of interior ministers, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) stated in a video posted on a social network on Sunday, adding that he's leaving with Slovakia's sovereign position that the country rejects the EU Migration Pact. "We reject illegal migration, we reject mandatory relocation, we advocate border protection, and we insist on the sovereign right to decide who'll live on our territory," said Sutaj Estok. The minister emphasised that Slovakia wants a safe and functioning Europe. However, he considers it to be absurd for European leaders to dictate who Slovakia should accept. "I refuse to accept people we know nothing about, who don't recognise our traditions and values, and who may pose a security risk to Slovakia," said the minister. Sutaj Estok added that Slovakia is already more supportive than most EU member states. "We've accepted hundreds of thousands of people from Ukraine, providing them with safety, health care, schools, benefits, and jobs. Every day, we receive dozens of new applications for temporary refuge. This is real solidarity, not artificially created mandatory mechanisms that Brussels wants to impose on us," he stressed. jrg