MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, 21 December 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, 20 December): BRATISLAVA - In connection with the publication of new information in the Jeffrey Epstein case, the junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) has called on Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) advisor and former foreign affairs minister Miroslav Lajcak to disclose whether or not he had enjoyed financial benefits from Epstein, or whether he had received loans, money or other gifts from him, SNS spokesperson Zuzana Skopcova informed TASR on Saturday. "It is evident and has been proven that Epstein purposefully used businessmen and politicians to obtain information that secured an economic advantage to him, or he subsequently passed it on to the intelligence community. Epstein was not an ordinary philanthropist, but a person who systematically misused information he obtained in various ways," ​​reads SNS's statement. The party views it necessary for Lajcak to explain why he had invited Epstein to the Slovak embassy in Austria and at the same time clarify whether or not he had benefited from his contacts with this man. SNS therefore reiterated that Fico should dismiss Lajcak from his post as the premier's advisor. BRATISLAVA - Parliament serving in the current electoral term is the weakest and worst-functioning, opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simečka has said in an interview for TASR, ascribing it to the actions of the currently governing majority. According to Simecka, many laws are only passed to get people close to the government off charges and accountability. These are not only harmful, but also unconstitutional, stated the PS leader, adding that Parliament behaves as if it were subordinated to the government. "I am relatively a newcomer to the Slovak Parliament, I've been there for over two years. However, from what I've seen and what I remember from past electoral terms, this is the weakest, worst-functioning Parliament under the leadership of this governing coalition, producing the worst laws," stated Simecka, adding that this is a consequence of the actions taken by the currently governing majority. "We witness a plenty of laws that are not only bad and harmful, but also unconstitutional," he added. BRATISLAVA - The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has opened a new diplomatic mission in Tanzania, with Ivan Lancaric to be appointed as the head of the mission, TASR learnt from the ministry's press department. "Building partnerships with countries of the Global South is one of the priorities of Slovak foreign policy as defined in the Government Manifesto. We are thus building on the tradition of former Czechoslovakia, which had one of the strongest diplomatic presences in Africa," said Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD). The head of Slovak diplomacy stressed the importance of a broader Slovak presence on the African continent. According to the ministry, Tanzania is one of the priority territories also from the perspective of diversifying Slovak exports. MARTIN - Construction of the new St. Martin's University Hospital in Martin is progressing in line with the set schedule, Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) posted on a social network on Saturday. "The construction of the underground part of the facility is nearing its end, and so is the construction of the sixth floor. The construction of the pillars for the heliport has begun," specified the minister. The Martin hospital reported that the St. Martin University Hospital project continues at a high pace even at the end of the year. "Thanks to the favourable weather, construction teams are working without any limitations, so there is no halt on the construction site even in the pre-Christmas period. The general contractor is reporting record-high numbers of workers, which underlines the increased commitment," reported Martin University Hospital (UNM). ko