MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Thursday, 8 January 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Wednesday, 7 January): BRATISLAVA - The opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) has called for cooperation on fundamental issues with all opposition parties, KDH leader and MP Milan Majersky has said in an end-of-year interview for TASR, adding that the opposition would be stronger if it didn't exclude the 'Slovakia' party from some coordinated steps. "On some issues we cooperate with Progressive Slovakia (PS) and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Democrats are invited sometimes as well, and we also coordinate some joint steps with the 'Slovakia' party. I've been always proclaiming that if we want to be heard more strongly and clearly, 'Slovakia' party representatives should also be present at our meetings, whether these concern protests, joint press conferences or we're preparing some actions behind the scenes," stated Majersky. Majersky believes that cooperation between all opposition parties is much more effective. He therefore called for a unified approach and cooperation on crucial issues. He thinks that only then will there be hope for change after the next general election. "Some opposition partners don't like the 'Slovakia' party, some don't like the fact that we supported an amendment to the Slovak Constitution. I may not like some steps, decisions or votes by other opposition parties, either. However, if we communicated everything like this instead of cooperating, then there would be no hope for change after the next election," he said. BRATISLAVA - The junior governing Slovak National Party (SNS) plan to take part in this year's local and regional elections in coalitions with the Voice-SD and Smer-SD parties, SNS caucus head Roman Michelko has said in an interview with TASR, not ruling out coalitions with opposition parties in some justified cases, either. Michelko stressed that the regional level is different, which also applies to elections. He explained that slates for elections in villages, towns and regions will be drafted based on local specifics. "Nevertheless, we'll form pre-election coalitions primarily with the coalition parties," he said. Where local circumstances warrant it, SNS may also enter into coalitions with opposition parties, but this must be properly justified. "We'll have to be part of some kind of bloc to succeed, or there will have be very distinctive figures who don't need party membership," said Michelko. BRATISLAVA - The position of prosecutors specialising in corruption crimes has been established at regional prosecutors' offices and the serious crime department of the Prosecutor-General's (PG) Office, PG Maros Zilinka has announced on a social network. "This means the formal completion of the process of measures taken without pause to ensure that the prosecution service's powers in corruption-related crimes are conducted effectively and that the prosecution service's tasks stemming from international agreements and conventions are fulfilled," said Zilinka. BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on Wednesday stated that Slovakia won't participate in any further war loans to Ukraine, adding that such loans only serve to prolong suffering, which is in stark contrast with the current government's peace policy, TASR reported based on information provided by the Government Office on the same day. Fico added that, as a matter of principle, he prefers bilateral and mutually beneficial cooperation with Ukraine, which is based on joint government sessions, over the plans of the so-called Coalition of the Willing. According to him, recent events clearly underline the fundamental differences in foreign policy between the current government and the opposition. "After I received an invitation to the United States to meet President Donald Trump, the opposition accused me of arranging the invitation myself, and now they are asking me to decline the visit. At the same time, the opposition criticises me for not going to Paris for the meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing to help Ukraine until its very end," remarked Fico. He believes that if the government consisted of the current opposition parties, it would "serve" Brussels, while a sovereign Slovak foreign policy could be kissed goodbye. BRUSSELS - Even though Hungary and Poland remain opposed to signing a trade deal with Mercosur countries, Slovakia will support it, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) said on Wednesday in Brussels, TASR has learnt from its Brussels correspondent. Takac attended the talks between EU agriculture ministers and three EU commissioners to discuss the future of EU's agriculture sector and food security, as well as the trade agreement with Mercosur. According to him, this issue can be viewed from two perspectives. "As a member of the government representing the Slovak Republic, I can say the agreement is beneficial for us, and I see several positive aspects to it. On the other hand, as Agriculture Minister, I must say that there are several risks and open questions that we have highlighted, for instance in terms of the trade agreement with Ukraine or quotas," explained Takac. BUDAPEST – Peter Magyar, leader of the Hungarian extra-parliamentary opposition party Tisza, has written a letter to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) requiring the withdrawal of a legislative amendment that imposes a six-month prison sentence on individuals who question the Benes Decrees, and he's also called on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to sign this open letter, TASR has learnt from its correspondent in Budapest. "Prime Minister, I have written a letter to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on your behalf. There's a blank space left for your signature next to mine. If you still consider yourself to be the Hungarian prime minister, please sign it immediately and send it to Bratislava via the Foreign Affairs Ministry," wrote Magyar in a Facebook post accompanying the open letter. Referring to an amendment to Slovakia's Penal Code introducing criminal liability for denying or questioning post-war documents, including the Benes Decrees, that concern the arrangement of conditions after the Second World War in Slovakia, Magyar wrote that "these laws, unfortunately, still provide a basis for human rights to be trampled on to this day". ko