MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, 16 March 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, 15 March): BRATISLAVA - The European Union (EU) has neither exclusive nor shared competence in matters of public health; this competence lies with individual member states, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has stated this in a video on social media in connection with the government's refusal to accept a revision to the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR). "The regulations govern procedures for cross-border pandemics. They create legal conditions, for example, for the possibility of mandatory vaccination, restrictions on the movement of people, the compulsory procurement of medical products designated by the WHO, and other similar interventions in the sovereignty of individual states," said Fico. He finds it strange that the European Union asked member states to accept the revised IHR without reservations. As of 1 March, 11 more countries had rejected them, said the premier. He recalled that Government Proxy for Investigating COVID-19 Pandemic Management Peter Kotlar had warned about their risks as well. In the video, Fico also pointed out that the opposition has refused to join a letter he intended to send, on behalf of all parliamentary parties, to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in connection with the Druzhba oil pipeline. "I assumed that Slovakia's energy security stands above all party interests and that we will together urge Zelenskyy to stop harming Slovakia, to allow a visit to the allegedly damaged oil pipeline in Ukraine so that we could jointly repair it with EU money, if it is really damaged, and to ensure that oil supplies to Slovakia and Hungary are resumed as soon as possible," said the premier. BRATISLAVA - Potential government reshuffle is up to Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD), who will probably think about it, coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) chairman Andrej Danko said on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday, continuing in the criticism of the current functioning of the government he raised on Saturday (14 March). "He (Robert Fico) will probably consider a government reshuffle and who to replace. However, it should definitely be done in a fair manner, he should assess the performance of each minister. Speaking to you as an experienced MP and former House chair, I can say that laws that come to Parliament are often incompetent and last-minute. Some ministers are 'maintenance workers', while others are hard workers," stated Danko. Danko reiterated that he doesn't want to break up the governing coalition, so that it isn't replaced by the current opposition, nor does he want to act as a blackmailer. At the same time, however, he wants to win favour of disappointed voters of the current government. According to him, the cabinet should address the real problems of people. SNS will therefore check the bills that the government will come up with better, while also putting forward its own laws aimed at helping small entrepreneurs, pensioners and families. Opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) ledader Michal Simecka, also on the show, agreed with most of the critical statements about the government made by Danko. According to him, the current government is characterised by "hypocrisy, unfulfilled promises and deceived voters". However, he disagreed with Danko on what coalition politicians should do when they are dissatisfied. He stated that the government reshuffle is not solely up to the premier, as several dissatisfied MPs have already forced it during this electoral term. BRATISLAVA - Speaking on JOJ 24's discussion programme 'Politika 24' (Politics 24) on Sunday, Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) said that he is ready to apply to join SNS as soon as on Monday (16 March). At the same time, Taraba said he isn't aware of any bid for him to join Smer-SD and denied having discussed it with Premier and Smer-SD leader Robert Fico. Neither Taraba, nor Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (a SNS nominee) have received an invitation to the SNS working congress that was held on Saturday (14 March). "I am affiliated with SNS. I'm its nominee in the government. The question is whether the Slovak National Party sees room for us to become its members," he noted. Taraba said that he is ready to join SNS. He praised cooperation with Simkovicova in the government, who is politically close to him. On the other hand, he can't envisage cooperating with Sports Minister Rudolf Huliak (Independent). Taraba opines that SNS as a governing party should communicate also other issues, and not only criticise Fico. "I believe that playing the role of the opposition within the coalition is not always an agenda that people are interested in at a time when the government should demonstrate unity," noted the minister. Taraba on the show also commented on Ukraine and the damaged Druzhba pipeline. He doesn't consider Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a credible partner. He also believes that Ukraine under Zelenskyy's leadership doesn't belong to the EU, calling the country a corrupt state. BRATISLAVA - The government will do its best to keep fuel prices at an acceptable level for all citizens, MP Peter Kalivoda (Voice-SD) said on STVR's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday. Meanwhile, his opponent on the show, MP Tomas Valasek (Progressive Slovakia/PS) claimed that fuel prices in Slovakia have been the highest in the EU for a long time. Kalivoda rejected Valasek's claims about the highest fuel prices. "Today we have some of the cheapest fuels in the European Union, thanks God, and the cheapest in the entire V4 (Visegrad Four - Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland)," he noted. According to him, the government is acting very proactively in the matter. "Tomorrow or the day after, negotiations with Slovnaft should continue, where the situation will be assessed, since, as you can see, the situation in the Middle East is changing dramatically from day to day. So another solutions will be sought," he added. Opposition MP (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) Vladimira Marcinkova, also on the show, criticised the cabinet for not yet convening the Security Council in connection with the oil situation. She said that if fuel prices continue to rise, the government will have to address the situation, for example, by reducing the excise tax. Coalition MP Marian Kery (Smer-SD) doesn't view it as a good solution, since it would result in a huge shortfall in the state budget. "By cutting the excise tax we would absolutely negate our consolidation, which, I admit, was very tough," he said. He criticised the opposition for not joining the letter that Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD), with the support of the coalition parties, sent to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. jrg