MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, 19 April 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, 18 April): BRATISLAVA - The claims made by Hungarian election winner Peter Magyar regarding illegal migration are false, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated in a video posted on social media on Saturday, adding that at their first face-to-face meeting, he'll ask Magyar to explain who this false claim was intended to serve. According to the premier, Hungary's borders were "as full of holes as Swiss cheese and completely uncontrolled" between 2022-2023. "I understand that in the heat of the moment before and after elections, politicians will say anything, but I can't accept the endangerment of good relations between Slovakia and Hungary through irresponsible political statements without any factual basis," he said. The prime minister also highlighted the energy crisis, explaining that despite the halt in Russian oil supplies, the government, in cooperation with the Slovnaft refinery, is fulfilling its strategy to ensure Slovakia has the cheapest diesel in the region and comparable petrol prices. "If necessary and should the crisis continue, we're prepared to immediately offer supportive measures, such as significantly discounted fares on public transportation," he declared. Meanwhile, Fico claimed that he won't support the adoption of a new package of sanctions in favour of Ukraine until Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy restores operations on the Druzhba pipeline. "Even the indigenous tribes in Brazil know that there's nothing wrong with the pipeline and that shutting it down was meant to be a tool to influence the elections in Hungary," he noted. BRATISLAVA - The 'Slovakia' party is prepared to support leader of the Christian Democrats (KDH) Milan Majersky in the election for the post of Presov region governor, MP and 'Slovakia' party leader Igor Matovic said on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues), adding that they will definitely not support the "fascist" candidate Milan Mazurek (Republic). "Mazurek has a significant presence on social media. It will be an interesting contest," stated Matovic, noting that if Majersky isn't elected region chairman, the 'Slovakia' party is prepared to lend a helping hand to KDH. He also believes that these elections will be a referendum on the future of the Christian Democrats. MEP and chairman of the extra-parliamentary Republic party Milan Uhrik stated that he has a correct relationship with KDH. He regrets that the party continues to cooperate with Progressive Slovakia (PS). "As Christian Democrats, in my opinion, they should naturally gravitate toward patriotic conservative parties so that they can promote these values. They will never promote their values with PS," he stated. RIMAVSKA SOBOTA - The Winkelmann Group and its reflexGroup division plan to officially open their new production plant in the town of Rimavska Sobota (Banska Bystrica region) on 17 June, TASR was told by SKPR Strategies, the agency handling communications for the German investor in Slovakia. The family-owned company from Germany has a long tradition in mechanical engineering and manufacturing technological components. It plans to produce hot-water storage tanks in Rimavska Sobota. "These are key products for energy-efficient heating and cooling systems that utilise renewable energy sources," stated the investor. The Winkelmann Group is the first company to establish itself in the newly built state-owned industrial park in Rimavska Sobota. The company is expected to employ approximately 450 people in Rimavska Sobota district, which has long been among the districts with the highest unemployment rates in Slovakia. BRATISLAVA - Part of the toll system remains in the hands of a private operator, and the new toll system won't be operational until early 2027, the Supreme Audit Office reported (NKU), adding that the state paid for the construction of the toll system, and the National Highway Company (NDS) has commissioned numerous legal analyses and expert opinions in recent years. The Supreme Audit Office reached these conclusions based on a follow-up audit, in which it took into account not only its own risk analyses but also some of the repeated complaints from the Let's Stop Corruption Foundation. According to the auditors, the project for the new electronic toll system has long been an example of wasteful and inefficient use of public funds. A subsequent audit covering the years 2022-2025 confirmed that, as of 2020, NDS hadn't successfully resolved the issue of ownership of the toll system, even though its construction was financed from public funds. "Even years later, we must conclude that the state paid more than €250 million to build and launch a toll system that it still doesn't own, and there is still a risk that it will have to pay for part of it again. This represents a repeated failure of management, planning, and the protection of the public interest, as well as an unprecedented waste of public funds," noted NKU head Lubomir Andrassy. am