MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Thursday, 29 January 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Wednesday, 28 January): BRATISLAVA/BRUSSELS - Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday rejected claims by Politico magazine that on the margins of last week's European Council meeting in Brussels he told some EU leaders about his concerns regarding the "psychological state" of US President Donald Trump, whom he had previously met at Trump's Florida residence Mar-a-Lago. Politico based its claims on five unnamed European diplomats. Fico described the magazine's information as lies. According to two diplomats, the Slovak prime minister used the word "dangerous" when describing the impression made on him by the White House chief during their meeting in Palm Beach, Florida on 18 January. Fico said that he discussed the war in Ukraine, the European Union and bilateral relations with Trump. The extraordinary EU summit in Brussels on 22 January was convened by European Council President Antonio Costa in response to Trump's threats related to Greenland. According to unnamed diplomats, Fico allegedly shared his impressions of Trump during informal discussions with some leaders and senior EU officials, not during the official talks around the table. BRATISLAVA - The construction of a nuclear power plant always involves several stages, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Wednesday, adding that companies operating in Slovakia should also participate in the construction of the planned new nuclear unit at Jaslovske Bohunice (Trnava region). The construction of the reactor is expected to involve cooperation between the United States and South Korea. There are also parts in which a French company may participate. "We want to discuss all of this when preparing the final contract, which we'd like to sign by the end of 2027," he stated, noting that the recent signing of an intergovernmental agreement on nuclear cooperation with the United States didn't result in a decision on who will supply the new reactor. If Slovakia enters into cooperation with American company Westinghouse, which according to the premier is currently under discussion, this company must be the leader of any consortium. "I expect this issue to be discussed tomorrow with the French president [Emmanuel Macron], and I'll say that it's a matter of agreement," he stated, reiterating that the planned new nuclear unit at Jaslovske Bohunice should be wholly owned by the state. BRATISLAVA - The Slovak government has decided not to join the Board of Peace that was recently set up by US President Donald Trump for now, according to a document approved by the cabinet at its session on Wednesday. One of the reasons for this is that Slovakia wouldn't be able to meet the financial commitment of 1 billion USD due to its consolidation efforts. "The discussion at the government session was very straightforward and clear. We unanimously concluded that the Slovak Republic won't join this Charter of the Board of Peace," said Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) following the session. According to him, the Foreign Affairs Ministry will continue to support the Board and monitor further developments in the peace process in the Gaza Strip. Vice-premier and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) pointed out that Slovakia supports every peace initiative, but he emphasised that the Board of Peace involves a complex series of steps. "At this moment, it is practically impossible for us to join," he added. BRATISLAVA/NITRA – Slovak Information Service (SIS) director Pavol Gaspar has said that he exceeded the speed limit by four kilometres per hour (km/h) at the time of his traffic accident in Nitra and expects to receive an on-the-spot fine of €50. Gaspar told the media this after a session of the special House committee for supervising SIS Activities. "My approach speed at the accident site was 54 km/h in a 50 zone, meaning that I exceeded the limit by four kilometres per hour. The on-the-spot fine in this case would be €50. So, I am prepared, of course, to accept the appropriate penalty for exceeding the speed limit by four km/h," said Gaspar. He claims that the technical cause of the traffic accident was the fault of the other participant, who was driving a Volkswagen Passat. According to Gaspar, the media know what car he was driving and can therefore determine who was responsible for the accident. "It was an ordinary traffic accident, of which hundreds or dozens happen in Slovakia every day. No injuries were caused," underlined the SIS chief. BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) head Pavol Gaspar, TASR has learnt from the President Office's communications department, which stated that the proceedings concern misdemeanours in connection with road traffic safety. "Within the proceedings, possible disciplinary misconduct by the SIS director will be examined," according to the communications department. Gaspar was involved in a traffic accident on Dobsinskeho Street in Nitra on 30 August 2025, when two vehicles collided. A minor suffered light injuries in the crash. Both participants in the traffic accident underwent breathalyser tests for alcohol with negative results. The police announced that the investigation into the traffic accident had been concluded, classifying it as a misdemeanour. However, the police didn't specify who was guilty, as this decision is to be made by the relevant administrative authority. BRATISLAVA - Following last year's first bond issue for individuals, Slovakia plans to sell another issue between 2-20 March, Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD) told a briefing on Wednesday, with director of the Debt and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL) Peter Soltys in attendance. Securities with maturities of two and four years, named Investor II and Patriot II, should again be available. Their nominal value is €1,000 and multiples thereof. Investor II has a volume of €200 million, a maturity of two years, and a yield of 2.7 percent p.a. Patriot II has a volume of €200 million, a maturity of four years, and a yield of 3 percent p.a. "There are five banks via which the bonds will be sold, namely Ceskoslovenska obchodna banka, Slovenska sporitelna, Tatra banka, UniCredit and Vseobecna uverova banka. These are the largest banks in Slovakia, covering most of the market," stated the finance minister. ko