MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, 12 May 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Monday, 11 May): BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) met Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen at the Government Office on Monday, the Office's press and information department has told TASR, adding that the meeting focused on the economy and Fico's recent trip to Moscow. "Austria is an important export partner for Slovakia and is also the third-largest foreign investor in our country. Austrian investments in Slovakia have exceeded €7.5 billion, and Austrian companies provide more than 48,000 jobs here," noted the Government Office. The Slovak premier and the Austrian head of state agreed that their two countries should focus on projects that deliver tangible results for people and businesses in the areas of cross-border transport infrastructure, energy security and competitiveness, particularly in the automotive industry. BRATISLAVA - I'm confident that friendly and positive relations with Hungary will continue following the election of Hungary's new Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini told reporters on Monday, adding that he believes that a solution can be found to issues related to the Benes Decrees. The head of state declared at the same time that as president he'll do his best to ensure that any tensions or conflicts are resolved as soon as possible and that the countries return to pragmatic cooperation. "I firmly believe that this issue [the Benes Decrees] won't escalate into a major conflict, but that both prime ministers and both governments will find a way to reach a technical solution or clarification of what Slovakia intended by this. Perhaps finding a mechanism that will prevent the confiscation of property based on the 80-year old Benes Decrees from occurring even in 2026 or 2027. "If we can shift this debate toward a purely pragmatic and technical solution, I believe that nothing stands in the way of good relations between Slovakia and Hungary," stressed the president. BRATISLAVA - House chair Richard Rasi and his Georgian counterpart Shalva Papuashvili have described the parliamentary dialogue between their two countries as important after holding joint talks at Bratislava Castle during Papuashvili's official visit to Slovakia on Monday. Being the first visit of this kind, the meeting also revolved around Georgia's European integration. "We've met here to support parliamentary diplomacy and the ties between our countries. Representatives of committees were also present at the meeting. This will be important for further specific talks, negotiations and especially for addressing the problems encountered by both parliaments," stated Rasi. Papuashvili praised the cooperation between the parliamentary committees. "We hold cooperation in high regard, especially at the parliamentary level, both in terms of exchanges of experience and the focus on common goals," he said. BANSKA BYSTRICA - The high-profile trial in the Purgatory case involving former top police and security forces officials suspected of setting up and operating a criminal group between 2012 and 2018 was adjourned by the Specialised Criminal Court (STS) in Banska Bystrica on Monday and is set to resume on 1 June, TASR reported on the same day. The prosecutor didn't even start reading the extensive indictment. The trial was adjourned due to a procedural motion from former special prosecutor Dusan K.'s defence team requesting that the indictment should be joined with a different case involving former police officer Roman S. [names abbreviated due to legal reasons]. The two cases overlap, and if the court didn't merge them, the taking of evidence would have to be carried out twice. The prosecutor stated that he doesn't view this move as an obstruction, as it will in no way disrupt the proceedings, and he described it as expedient. All of the ten defendants appeared in court on Monday, including Nitra-based businessman Norbert B., current House Vice-chair and former police chief (2012-18) Tibor G. and former special prosecutor Dusan K. [names abbreviated due to legal reasons]. BRATISLAVA - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party plans to prepare systemic measures for family businesses with the help of economist Monika Nadova Kroslakova, an associate professor at the University of Economics in Bratislava, SaS leader Branislav Groehling told a news conference on Monday. According to Nadova Kroslakova, family businesses make up some 60 percent of entrepreneurship in Slovakia and account for half of employment in the private sector. In addition to standard problems, they face specific entrepreneurial challenges, such as generational transfer. "For this reason, it's very important to prepare systemic measures and legal tools that would help them to navigate these challenges," stated Nadova Kroslakova, who also serves as the president of the Slovak Business Alliance (PAS) and is a founder of the Family Business Centre. She's also a member of other professional organisations. BRATISLAVA - The opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) have rejected the efforts of Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky and Premier Robert Fico (both Smer-SD) to present Friday's (8 May) confirmation of Slovakia's credit rating by the international Fitch agency as a government success. Although the agency maintained Slovakia's A- rating with a stable outlook, its report clearly states that the country's rating has been sustained primarily due to Slovakia's membership of the European Union (EU) and the eurozone. It also highlights the growing national debt, poor economic growth, high inflation and deteriorating relations with the EU, the party noted on Monday. "Minister Kamenicky and Premier Fico are trying to spin the rating agency's critical assessment into a success. It's a 'well, at least it's not worse' mentality. But it should be better! However, Fitch clearly states in its report that Slovakia is stagnating and that its public finances remain vulnerable. This isn't praise for the government, but a serious warning. After three rounds of consolidation, we should at least have an improved outlook, if not a better rating. None of that is happening," stated MP Rastislav Kratky (KDH). ko