SUMMARY - Monday, 19 January 2026 - 9.15 p.m.

Bratislava, 19 January (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) spoke on the phone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday, TASR was told by the Government Office's communications department on Monday, adding that Fico told him that he'll send on Tuesday (20 January) an open letter to European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen and bring it to the attention of all prime ministers and heads of EU member states. https://etasr.sk/article/22857335 Hejce, 19 January (TASR) - Defence Ministry State Secretary Martin Vojtasovic and Chief-of-General-Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces Daniel Zmeko paid tribute in the Hungarian village of Hejce on Monday to 41 members of the Slovak Armed Forces and one employee of the Defence who died 20 years ago on 19 January at 7.38 p.m. in the crash of an AN-24 military aircraft, the Defence Ministry posted on social media. https://etasr.sk/article/22857174 Bratislava, 19 January (TASR) - The government is respected and, unlike the opposition, pursues a sovereign foreign policy, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) said in response to the statements by the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party, which accuses the government of inaction in foreign policy. https://etasr.sk/article/22857294 Bratislava, 19 January (TASR) - The draft of the new multi-year budget of the European Union (EU) changes the priorities and the method of financing public investments, expert analyst of public finances at the Slovak central bank NBS Marian Labaj noted in his latest blog, adding that Slovakia has long relied on European resources in this area, with investments from the domestic budget among the lowest in the region. https://etasr.sk/article/22857205 Bratislava, 19 January (TASR) – The government fails to act in its foreign policy and Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has also failed so far to present the results of his working visit to the United States, representatives of the opposition's Progressive Slovakia (PS) party stated at a press conference. https://etasr.sk/article/22857025 Bratislava, 19 January (TASR) - Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) is scheduled to pay a working visit to Rome on Tuesday and Wednesday (20-21 January), with the main goal being to deepen the strategic partnership and strengthen the parliamentary dimension between the two countries, TASR was told by the Parliament Office's communications department on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/22857260 Bratislava, 19 January (TASR) - Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SOPK) head Peter Mihok stated that Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) visit to the US is an example of promoting a policy "oriented towards all four cardinal directions", TASR has learnt from SOPK's post on Facebook on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/22857250 Bratislava, 19 January (TASR) - The Interior Ministry will shortly launch a public procurement tender to renew the equipment of forensic laboratories, with the estimated value of the contract to exceed €620,000 excluding VAT, Interior Ministry spokesperson Matej Neumann told TASR on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/22857144 Zilina, 19 January (TASR) - Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka has appointed to the post of Zilina Regional Prosecutor's Office head Marcel Gondzur on Monday, TASR was told by spokesperson for the Prosecutor-General's Office Zuzana Drobova. https://etasr.sk/article/22857064 Notice: If you click on the link or copy it into the search window, the browser will display the full text of the message in the new e-TASR client zone. If you have any questions, please contact obchod@tasr.sk. am