MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, 31 March 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Monday, 30 March): BRATISLAVA - Lawmakers from the governing Smer-SD party have submitted to Parliament an amendment to the law on conditions for exercising voting rights to revise voting from abroad. The proposal introduces a new method of voting abroad, whereby voters would cast ballots at diplomatic missions instead of by post. It also seeks to extend the option of voting from abroad to presidential elections. In addition, the amendment changes the level of the electoral deposit for parliamentary and European Parliament elections. "The new legal framework responds to a long-standing demand from voters living abroad to participate in in-person voting in nationwide elections at diplomatic missions, thus enabling them to exercise their right to vote in the country where they are present at the time of the election, without the need to travel to the Slovak Republic or to carry out procedures related to postal voting," the submitters explained. They proposed introducing voting at diplomatic missions not only for parliamentary elections and referendums, but also for presidential elections. DOLNY KUBIN - The proposal to extend the terms of office for local authorities from four to five years originated from the grassroots level and was put forward by the representatives of towns, municipalities and self-governing regions themselves, Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) told a press briefing in the town of Dolny Kubin (Zilina region) on Monday, adding that if the constitutional amendment is approved, the extension of electoral terms will take effect as early as this year's combined municipal and regional elections. Rasi is one of five MPs from Voice-SD who submitted the bill for the upcoming parliamentary session, with Roman Malatinec (Independent) being a co-sponsor. "This is a proposal initiated and supported by the Slovak Towns and Villages Association, the Slovak Towns Union, and the Self-governing Regions Association," stated Rasi. The terms of office for municipal and town councils, mayors, as well as regional councils and regional governors, are to be extended from the current four years to five years. According to Rasi, changing the term length is crucial for those who head municipalities, towns, and self-governing regions. "In terms of planned investment activities, the initiative came from our representatives in local government to extend the terms of office to five years to facilitate the implementation, planning, and completion of these activities," said Rasi. BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on Monday criticised the European Commission for prioritising Ukraine over an EU member state. The Commission has sent Slovakia an official letter requesting that the government abolish the application of dual pricing for motor fuels for domestic residents and foreigners. According to the prime minister, the letter, in which the Commission reserved the right to use all available means to reverse the decision, is politically outrageous. "This letter is politically outrageous. It is a double standard. It is a clear preference for the interests of Ukraine over those of a European Union member state. It damages the economic interests of Slovakia and Hungary, but also of the whole of Central Europe, because if the Druzhba oil pipeline were functioning, we would not have these problems," Fico said. The prime minister added that the challenged government regulation is limited to one month and that dual pricing is due to the use of state oil reserves by the Slovnaft refinery. BRATISLAVA/MEDVEDOV - Slovak security forces, primarily the police and Financial Administration (the tax and customs office), launched a preventive operation called 'Green II' on Monday, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) announced at a press conference at the Police Detention Facility for Foreigners in the village of Medvedov (Trnava region). Czech Interior Minister Lubomir Metnar also attended the event. The security forces are inspecting vehicles not only at certain border crossings along the borders with Hungary and Austria, but also inland. The checks are focused on illegal migration. According to the Slovak minister, the checks are being carried out by security forces at land borders, on waterways and at railway connections. "As part of this operation, checks are also being conducted on intra-Schengen flights at the international airports in Bratislava and Kosice. At the same time, enforcement has been stepped up at the external border with Ukraine, where we've already managed to apprehend three illegal migrants today," he said, noting that it's precisely at the Ukrainian border where border guards are recording the highest number of cases of illegal border crossings. TRENCIN - Slovakia is a leader within NATO in the field of explosive ordnance disposal, as well as in training specialists from other NATO-member states to combat improvised explosive devices, stated President Peter Pellegrini during a visit to the NATO Centre of Excellence for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD CoE) in Trencin on Monday. "It's a unique centre of excellence, the only one of its kind in the North Atlantic Alliance. It's a centre where, in cooperation with six other partner countries, we educate and train specialists in countering improvised explosive devices, disposing of unexploded ordnance and training new experts," emphasised the head of state. According to him, Slovakia has a good reputation in this field, and expertise from all the North Atlantic allies converges in Slovakia. The centre has received the highest possible, unrestricted NATO certification. BRATISLAVA - The coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) is interested in maintaining a constructive working relationship with Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (an SNS nominee) at least until the end of the electoral term, head of the SNS chairman's office Zuzana Skopcova told TASR on Monday, adding that unfortunately, the ultimatum-like manner in which he communicates with the party raises unnecessary questions about the future of their cooperation. Over the weekend, Taraba stated that despite the support of the SNS membership base, he believes that the party leadership won't let him join SNS. "We view Minister Taraba's statements as self-serving and completely unnecessary. SNS doesn't interfere with his work and has allowed him to fulfil his professional potential. Given the media reports by 'We Are Family' chairman Boris Kollar, we assume that Minister Taraba wants clarity," stated Skopcova, adding that the SNS presidium, not individuals, decides whether to admit members. ko