MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, 15 December 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, 14 December): BRATISLAVA - Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) stated on STVR's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday that he doesn't expect President Peter Pellegrini to veto the Penal Code amendment, and he also advocated the transformation of the Whistleblowers Protection Office (UOO). In connection with the president's veto, Kalinak admitted that he doesn't expect it because the president "was also affected by such conduct and he knows what it's like when cooperating defendants are lying". According to him, the approved amendment is only intended to ensure that cooperating defendants do not lie and rather tell the truth. He stressed that if a cooperating defendant is the only evidence, such persons should be trustworthy. He also assured that the new office, which will replace the current UOO, will remain independent, and he doesn't understand why the president vetoed the UOO law. His opponent on the show, opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka, said the scrapping of UOO was purposeful and he doesn't believe the new office will be independent. Simecka described overriding the president's veto "by force" and before Christmas as "insane" and he also criticised the adoption of the Penal Code amendment, as it will deprive the state of any possibility or a tool to "prosecute mafia members and organised crime". If cooperating defendants have lied once in high-profile cases, they automatically become untrustworthy in all subsequent cases, added Simecka. BRATISLAVA - Speaking on JOJ 24's discussion programme 'Politika 24' (Politics 24) on Sunday, junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) chairman Andrej Danko said the presidential election should return to the hands of Parliament, as the existing model creates tension in society. He also spoke about the situation in the coalition, fearing that it could lead to a discussion about options for combining the parliamentary elections with the municipal elections slated for next year. In this context, he pointed to the escalating tension between the coalition parties Voice-SD and Smer-SD. "Thinking that [Prime Minister and Smer-SD leader] Robert Fico has forgiven [President] Peter Pellegrini for betraying him would be naive. When the government was being formed, I felt the tension between Voice and Smer. Today, Fico feels that Voice isn't fulfilling the duties in its ministries, and various scandals are emerging," Danko stated. He repeatedly criticised several moves taken by Pellegrini. He regrets that the head of state isn't siding with the coalition because, according to Danko, Pellegrini wouldn't be president without the coalition's support. Danko also reproached the president for vetoing the law on the transformation of the Whistleblowers Protection Office (UOO) into a new office. BRATISLAVA - Russian gas imports accounted for only one third of Slovakia's total gas supplies in 2025, Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) stated on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday in a discussion with opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MP and deputy chair of the parliamentary finance and budget committee Marian Viskupic. "Under the Russian contract, the quantity from the beginning of January until the end of October averaged only at 33 percent. As much as 67 percent of gas comes from diversified sources, delivered via other routes and from major global players," explained Sakova. Viskupic said diversification is necessary, adding that Slovakia's interests must also be taken into account, "but those interests are not Russian gas and Russian oil which, objectively, aren't cheap and definitely not the cheapest". Sakova said the price of gas under the contract with Gazprom is similar to that of other suppliers. BRATISLAVA - Membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) helps Slovakia to modernise its economy and improve the quality of life for its people, Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) said on Sunday on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Slovakia's OECD membership. "Thanks to OECD membership, several important reforms have been implemented over the past years in the fields of education, healthcare, agriculture, development cooperation, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as in the application of democratic principles and the fight against corruption," he stated. Blanar highlighted the benefits of membership in terms of economic development and implementation of reforms which are crucial for transforming Slovakia's economy and strengthening its position on the international scene. ko