SUMMARY - Monday, 27 April 2026 - 5 p.m.

Bratislava, 27 April (TASR) - Financial markets generally anticipate the moves of rating agencies, and so Standard & Poor's expected downgrade of Slovakia's rating on Friday (24 April) came as no surprise; nothing fundamental has changed, and Slovak government bonds are trading on the markets under similar conditions as before, Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD) emphasised at a press conference on Monday, once again rejecting the opposition's claim that the current government is pursuing poor fiscal policy. https://etasr.sk/article/23225174 Bratislava, 27 April (TASR) - In the first three months of this year, social-insurance provider Socialna poistovna (SP) recorded a decrease in the number of sick-leave cases when compared to last year averaging 17,000 fewer per month, and when compared to 2024 - before a legislative change - the figure fell by as much as 24,000 per month, Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) stated at a press conference on Monday, adding that the savings on sick-leave payments for the first quarter when compared to 2024 amount to €80 million. https://etasr.sk/article/23224786 Warsaw/Bratislava, 27 April (TASR-correspondent) - Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski declared at a press conference on Monday that the problem regarding Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico plans to travel to Moscow via Poland for the Victory over Fascism Day celebrations on 9 May no longer exists, TASR learnt from its special correspondent from Warsaw on the same day. https://etasr.sk/article/23225185 Bratislava, 27 April 27 (TASR) - I'll file a criminal complaint regarding the Criminal Office of Financial Administration's (KUFS) investigation into Project Forum, the civil association of my mother Marta Simeckova, leader of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party Michal Simecka stated at a press conference on Monday, citing findings by the Let's Stop Corruption Foundation, according to which KUFS's analytical department received instructions to prepare a report on the association. https://etasr.sk/article/23225138 Bratislava, 27 April (TASR) - Opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party leader Michal Simecka's accusations that the Financial Administration's Criminal Office (KUFS), acting on political orders, screened his mother's civil association and hacked into its account are untrue, inaccurate, distorted and deliberately misleading, Financial Administration (FS) spokesperson Daniel Kovac told TASR on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/23225242 Bratislava, 27 April (TASR) - Office for the Regulation of Network Industries (URSO) chairman Jozef Holjencik is in a multiple conflict of interests situation, which threatens the authority's independent decision-making in energy price regulation, representatives of the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party told a news conference on Monday, calling on the government to approve a proposal to dismiss him as soon as possible. https://etasr.sk/article/23225102 Bratislava, 27 April (TASR) - President Peter Pellegrini will return two bills to Parliament on Monday for further deliberation, the President's Office reported on Monday, adding that the bills were approved by lawmakers during the 49th parliamentary session. https://etasr.sk/article/23224942 Bratislava, 27 April (TASR) - The Agriculture Ministry wants to ban the breeding of dogs and cats for the purpose of placing them on the market, i.e. puppy and kitten mills, by amending the law on veterinary care, Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) told a news conference held on Monday, with Chief Veterinary Officer Martin Chudy and representatives of animal shelters and animal welfare organisations in attendance. https://etasr.sk/article/23224882 Malacky, 27 April (TASR) - The D2-Rohoznik motorway interchange [Bratislava region] may be a small-scale project, but it is all the more significant for the region, stated Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) at the site of the new motorway interchange at its ground-breaking ceremony on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/23225060 Bratislava, 27 April (TASR) - Information about the detention of a person suspected of assaulting Independent MP and mayor of Kezmarok (Presov region) Jan Ferencak, published by some media, isn't true, the Police Corps Presidium's communications department has confirmed for TASR. https://etasr.sk/article/23224943 Notice: If you click on the link or copy it into the search window, the browser will display the full text of the message in the new e-TASR client zone. If you have any questions, please contact obchod@tasr.sk. am