MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, 4 April 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, 3 April): BRATISLAVA - The Defence Ministry has signed a contract for the supply of 35 backhoe loaders worth more than five million euros excluding VAT, with the contract concluded under a framework agreement from the end of last year, according to a document published in the Central Registry of Contracts. The first 30 units will be delivered by the Banska Bystrica-based company Zeppelin by 15 December 2026 to the 41st Supply Base in Nemsova. The remaining five vehicles must be delivered to Nemsova next year, no later than March, under the contract. The order also includes equipment for the vehicles. The machines are fitted with air conditioning and ventilation. They are also capable of fording water up to a depth of 40 centimetres. BRATISLAVA - Easter is a rare opportunity to pause and realise the value of the things that unite us — family, mutual respect and peace, wrote House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) on social media on Friday. President Peter Pellegrini also wished people a peaceful Easter holiday. "Easter is a time when the traditions of our ancestors meet the hope of a new spring. It is a rare opportunity to pause and realise the value of the things that unite us — family, mutual respect and peace," wrote Rasi. He wished Slovaks the chance to spend the festive days in good health and in the company of their loved ones, and for this year's Easter to be a celebration of life, new beginnings and peace of mind. He also wished them peace, well-being, rest and renewed strength. The president also extended wishes for a peaceful and blessed Easter. "Easter is a symbol of hope, renewal and a new beginning. We wish that you will spend these holidays in peace, joy and within the circle of your loved ones," the President's Office stated on social media. BANSKA BYSTRICA/BRATISLAVA – The Specialised Criminal Court has adjourned indefinitely the trial of Julius K. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons], who is accused of publicly approving of the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), TASR learnt on Friday. The attack took place in Handlova on 15 May 2024. The gunman, Juraj C., was found guilty by the Specialised Criminal Court of committing a terrorist attack and sentenced to 21 years in prison. Julius K., a pensioner, allegedly repeatedly expressed support for him in online posts. He claims that he is innocent. "The court on Thursday (2 April) continued to take evidence by reading documentary materials and playing audio-visual recordings. The hearing has been adjourned indefinitely due to the need to obtain a case file from Nitra District Court from separate proceedings conducted against the defendant. Hearings will resume when the case before Nitra District Court is legally concluded and the file attached to these proceedings," explained court spokesperson Iveta Pulman Erdelyiova. Julius K., who appeared online under the name 'Blue Rabbit', allegedly approved of the terrorist attack in multiple posts shortly after the shooting, thereby committing the criminal offence of other forms of participation in terrorism. "After the assassination attempt, in his so-called morning news programme, which he broadcasts and presents as the only objective news in Slovakia, the defendant stated in response to the attack that Juraj C. had missed the prime minister and should have shot him in the forehead," said prosecutor Janka Pravdova of the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Nitra in the indictment. "I am innocent," stated Julius K., who claimed in his testimony from pre-trial proceedings that he's never approved of any shooting or attack. "How can I approve of something I don't believe in, something I have questioned in many articles? Today, I may think that the attack happened, but certainly not as described by the governing coalition," said the pensioner at the start of the trial. If found guilty, the defendant will face a prison sentence of three to ten years. BRATISLAVA/ZILINA - Winter tracking of large carnivores by volunteers has shown a significant year-on-year decline in the presence of lynx in the Mala Fatra mountains area, Marek Kuchta from the conservation initiative We Are Forest has noted. During a weekend survey in January, volunteers recorded the tracks of only one lynx, along with fresh signs of 22 brown bears and 21 wolves. A total of 140 volunteers took part, covering 57 routes and surveying approximately 70,000 hectares in the buffer zone of the Mala Fatra National Park and the Lucanska Mala Fatra range. "Tracking conditions were excellent thanks to continuous snow cover. The result is a recorded decline in lynx tracks, while long-term monitoring of wolf packs points to significant differences in their population trends. Wolf family groups are shrinking. However, tracks don't necessarily reflect the actual number of animals in the area," said Kuchta. Volunteers recorded signs of 22 bears in the Mala Fatra region. "In three locations, signs of seven bears were found in close proximity to hunting facilities used for supplementary feeding of wildlife. In particular, in the Bystricka valley there are three feeding sites located directly on or very close to hiking trails, increasing the risk of encounters between humans and large carnivores," warned zoologist Tomas Flajs. Flajs previously worked for the Mala Fatra National Park administration, which conducted the monitoring for nine years before volunteers continued the effort this year. "Although a total of 21 wolf tracks were found, there were also locations where wolf packs have completely disappeared. It's worrying that in the entire Lucanska Mala Fatra, along a more than 30-kilometre section of the ridge from Strecno to Klak, not a single wolf was documented, whereas in 2024 two wolf families were confirmed there. Such a situation hasn't occurred in ten years of monitoring," said Flajs. He added that the near absence of lynx is particularly alarming. Tracks of a single lynx were found in the Lucanska Mala Fatra, but the presence of lynx was recorded in three separate locations in the same area in 2024. BRATISLAVA - The National Highway Company (NDS) will sign contracts with future contractors for two sections of the southern R2 expressway, Zacharovce-Batka and Batka-Figa in Banska Bystrica region only after securing financing for their construction. If full funding isn't allocated from the state budget, NDS reserves the right not to sign contracts with the successful bidders. The construction of both sections, with a total length of 14.6 kilometres, for which tenders have already been published in the Public Procurement Office bulletin, isn't currently financed from European Union funds. NDS also has the right to reject all bids and not conclude contracts if the prices submitted, excluding VAT, exceed the estimated value of the contracts. The estimated costs of the Zacharovce-Batka (8.3 kilometres) and Batka-Figa (6.3 kilometres) R2 sections, which will be built in half profile, are €241.7 million and €152.6 million excluding VAT. This corresponds to €29.1 million and €24.2 million per kilometre, respectively. The estimated total cost of both sections is €394.3 million excluding VAT, with the final prices to be determined by the tenders. Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) said that projects with a selected contractor and building permit have been successful in drawing European funds. "Our strategy is to bring projects to the maximum stage of preparation so that it will then depend only on whether we succeed in drawing funds or whether the government decides to seek resources elsewhere," he said. According to the minister, the absence of funds in the current budget shouldn't mean that the procurement will not proceed. "Procurement typically takes eight months and sometimes more than a year," he added. Raz said that EU funding sources would be primarily sought for the sections. "I believe that this has been prepared properly for drawing EU funds. Give us the opportunity to complete the preparation process, which means finishing the public procurement process, and before signing the contract we'll have the financing secured, otherwise we won't sign," he stated. mf