MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, 11 January 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, 10 January): BRATISLAVA - In his address at the state awards ceremony on Saturday, President Peter Pellegrini has called for the conclusion of an imaginary society-wide agreement on the development of Slovakia, a vision that everyone can agree on despite their different values. "To compel everyone in public life to replace superficial emotional confrontation with creative dialogue based on respect for facts and scientific knowledge," said the head of state. "Let's define our future and our development together. Let's give our statehood new meaning. Let's define a vision that - like the works of our greats - transcends election cycles, escapes the mundane, and is free from petty power struggles. ... At the same time, I see this as an opportunity to create a social climate that will be conducive to the fulfilment of such a vision. One that favours the development of talent, skills, and education. So that our people are successful not despite the circumstances, but because of them," he added. Pellegrini pointed out that nowadays, the political arena often evokes feelings of Slovak insignificance and irrelevance in the name of achieving short-term results. The president therefore appeals to people not to succumb to this feeling and to always remember the figures of contemporary Slovakia or its history. "These are personalities that we carry in our historical memory, in our hearts - while the names of former public officials, political elites, or their detractors have been consigned to oblivion," he said. BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini honoured 22 figures of social, cultural as well as sporting life, including four posthumously, at a ceremony that took place at the Slovak Philharmonic building in Bratislava on Saturday evening. The head of state awarded the Order of Ludovit Stur, First Class in memoriam to footballer and coach Jozef Venglos for his outstanding contribution to the development of Slovakia in sport, as well as for promoting Slovakia's good name abroad. Partisan commander Jan Repta was also awarded the Order of Ludovit Stur, First Class in memoriam for his outstanding contributions to the defence and security of the Slovak Republic. Surgeon Peter Kothaj was awarded the Order of Ludovit Stur, First Class in memoriam for his extraordinary contributions to the development of Slovakia in the field of science and technology, particularly in the field of surgery. The head of state also awarded the Order of Ludovit Stur, First Class in memoriam to former education minister, MP, archaeologist and historian Dusan Caplovic for his extraordinary contributions to Slovakia's development in science and technology, as well as education. Pellegrini also awarded the Order of Ludovit Stur, First Class to anti-communist resistance fighter Ladislav Lampert, figure skater Jozef Sabovcik, economist Ivan Sramko, doctor and dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University in Bratislava Juraj Payer, dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University in Kosice Jozef Zivcak, and a participant in the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) and former chairwoman of a Slovak women's club called Zivena, Zora Breierova. BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini, Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) and Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) have declared agreement on fundamental issues concerning Slovakia's interests at home and around the world, confirming their correct relations with each other, as well as their willingness and ability to constructively discuss any differences of opinion, TASR has learnt at a press conference they held on Saturday following their joint luncheon at Bratislava Castle. "The role of the three most senior constitutional officials is to send a signal that cultured policy can be pursued, that civilised dialogue is possible, and that the three highest constitutional officials must find common ground and be able to reach common positions and decisions for the good of the Slovak Republic," said the president, adding that today's meeting confirmed that the three most senior constitutional officials are able to discuss all issues very openly, constructively, and pragmatically. All three declared that the EU is a vital space for Slovakia, of which it wants to remain a part. However, Fico warned that the EU has never been experiencing such a deep crisis. "I wouldn't like to see Slovakia running around like a wounded deer in this crisis that the European Union is experiencing, and becoming a victim of the significant shifts that may occur in Europe," he said, pointing to the crumbling world order and compliance with international law. According to him, the issue of energy security will also be a challenge. Rasi also confirmed that the three most senior constitutional officials are able to agree on solutions to serious problems affecting Slovakia, including in foreign policy and domestic issues. "I don't see any fundamental problems, and we have common and similar views on many issues," he noted. BRATISLAVA - Opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka expected the meeting of the three most senior constitutional officials to present a plan to take Slovaks out of the stagnation, as well as to outline how Slovakia intends to proceed in foreign affairs. However, according to Simecka, President Peter Pellegrini, House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) and Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) showed that they are "only concerned about themselves" and not about how to lead Slovakia out of the crisis. "These three gentlemen no longer have the ambition or the ability to offer anything to Slovakia. Neither in economics nor in foreign policy. Today, they, and especially Robert Fico, showed that they are only interested in power itself, in maintaining it, in healing their own traumas, in taking revenge. The government is interested in some deals, but it is no longer interested in how to get Slovakia out of this crisis. And that is exactly what has happened. In my opinion, this is the best proof that our country needs change," Simecka told a press conference on Saturday. BRATISLAVA - Slovakia and the United States will sign an agreement on mutual cooperation in nuclear energy on Friday (16 January) in Washington, with Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) intending to attend the signing ceremony, TASR has learnt from the prime minister himself on Saturday afternoon following the joint luncheon with President Peter Pellegrini and Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD). "In cooperation with our American partners, we want to build a new, huge block on the site of the existing nuclear power plant in Jaslovske Bohunice [Trnava region], which will be wholly state-owned and have a capacity of almost 1200 MWh," said Fico. BRATISLAVA - Speaking on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues), Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) stated that a proposal to extend the term of office for local authorities from four to five years is expected to be submitted to Parliament this spring. This change requires an amendment to the Constitution. According to Rasi, the coalition agrees with extending the election term from the next elections, and they have also discussed this with the opposition Christian Democrats (KDH). The proposal should be submitted to Parliament at the second scheduled session this year, which is set to begin on 14 April. Opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka stated that his party doesn't rule out supporting the proposal, but doesn't consider it to be an urgent matter. Rasi emphasised that the need to extend the electoral term came from representatives of towns, municipalities, and regions. OCOVA - A traffic accident occurred near the village of Ocova (Banska Bystrica region) on Friday evening (9 January) involving a vehicle carrying Tourism and Sport Minister Rudolf Huliak (Independent), spokesman for the Interior Ministry Matej Neumann told TASR on Saturday, adding that no one was injured in the accident. Spokesperson for the Banska Bystrica regional police Nikola Zabkova explained that the driver swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle, skidded, and left the road. "The left back fender and left door were damaged," she noted, adding that the damage to the vehicle amounted to approximately €5,000. The driver's breath test was negative. am