MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, 16 May 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, 15 May): HANDLOVA - There's still a huge chance of an attack similar to the one that took place in Handlova in May 2024, Prime Minister and Smer-SD leader Robert Fico told a press conference in Handlova (Trencin region) on Friday, claiming that the opposition and the media are contributing to the current atmosphere in society. At the same time, he called on society to calm down, adding that this is what he's also been saying to himself. Fico reiterated that he feels no hatred or anger toward "that gentleman" [convicted pensioner Juraj Cintula], claiming that he was led by the "political atmosphere" to do what he did. He stated that it's correct that the court classified the assassination attempt on him as a terrorist attack, as it was an attempt to remove a prime minister because of differing political views. "The atmosphere and the probability of a similar attack are still huge. Considering the vocabulary used by the opposition in Parliament, considering what is happening at so-called public rallies organised against us, or what I read in the media, I must repeat that the raising up of another terrorist continues," claimed Fico. BRATISLAVA - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has expressed deep concern over the recent attacks by the Russian armed forces on western Ukraine, including those close to Slovakia's border. The premier said this at a press conference held in Handlova (Trencin region) on Friday, adding that he hopes a ceasefire will be reached as soon as possible. "I want to express great concern that such attacks are occurring so close to Slovakia's borders," stated Fico, adding that this is too close and that caution is necessary. He also said that he hopes peace will come as soon as possible. "However, it's not in our hands. If Europe continues to 'fuel' the war, it will last for a long time," he stated. In response to a journalist's question as to why he didn't convene a Security Council session following the attacks, the premier said that he didn't need to make gestures and wasn't obliged to convene such a session automatically. "If a situation arose that posed a threat to us, I would convene the Security Council, I have no problem with doing so," he said. He also noted that a date for a joint Slovak-Ukrainian government session is being sought. BRATISLAVA/HANDLOVA - The state could allocate around €1.7 billion to announced pro-growth measures through savings, said Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in the village of Handlova on Friday on the second anniversary of the assassination attempt against him. In Fico's view, the best solution would be for everyone to cut spending by 3 percent — the state, municipalities, self-governing regions, state-owned social insurer SP and health-insurers alike. He also admitted the possibility of a higher public-finance deficit. "Out of €50 billion, 3 percent is around €1.7 billion, which I'd like to use exclusively to support economic growth, even at the cost of the deficit being slightly higher," said Fico. "We'd also prefer to abolish the transaction tax, but that would immediately create a revenue shortfall of €400 million to €500 million. So, we're asking ourselves where we would find that €400 million to €500 million. If we agree that 3-percent savings will be made everywhere, we can also address the transaction tax issue, certainly yes," he underlined. BRATISLAVA - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has cancelled his participation in STVR's political discussion programme 'Saturday Dialogues', which should have been broadcast this weekend (16 May), the Government Office's press department has informed TASR. Fico did so in connection with the anniversary of the assassination attempt against him, adding that he wants Slovakia to have at least one weekend without politics. House Vice-chair Tibor Gaspar and Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (both Smer-SD) have joined the premier's initiative by cancelling their participation in discussion programmes that should have been broadcast on TA3 and STVR on Sunday. At the same time, they called on the political opponents with whom they were supposed to engage in debate to join them in giving Slovakia at least one politics-free weekend. This didn't sit well with the opposition, though, with Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka claiming that Fico decided to withdraw indicted parliamentary vice-chair Tibor Gaspar from a televised debate scheduled with him. "Robert Fico withdrew the indicted Tibor Gaspar from Sunday's debate with me. He also withdrew Richard Takac, because he wants peace from politics," said Simecka. BRATISLAVA - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party is calling for a proper investigation into the abduction of a Vietnamese national back in 2017, urging Prosecutor-General (PG) Maros Zilinka to deal with the case, party MPs Maria Kolikova and Juraj Krupa told a press conference on Friday. "Setting up an international investigative team and requesting Germany's cooperation and their evidence would be appropriate. The Prosecutor-General could participate in this directly. It should be primarily in his interest to have this matter properly investigated," stated Kolikova. Both MPs believe the case should be handled by the Office for Combating Organised Crime (UBOK) of the Police Force Presidium rather than the Internal Affairs Inspectorate (UIS), highlighting the international dimension of the incident. "We're calling on the Prosecutor-General to take up the case again and transfer it from UIS, where the case isn't being addressed, to UBOK or the police, so that the investigation can be resumed," added Krupa. PRESOV/BRATISLAVA - The consortium of companies building the new hospital in Presov said it wants to ensure the completion of the project and declared its willingness to cooperate in a professional investigation into the current situation. Zsanett Szikszai of West Hungaria Epitoipari Szolgaltato told TASR that the consortium has also made an internal decision to exclude the company Bekor. Following the change, the consortium now consists of West Hungaria Bau Epitoipari Szolgaltato, Magyar Epito and Confector Mernokiroda. The companies jointly declared their determination to complete the project in line with the highest professional and quality standards. The consortium acknowledged the temporary suspension of construction work on the hospital due to an inspection of the quality of work carried out on the load-bearing structures of the building. However, it stressed that publicly presented conclusions had been made before the completion of the official expert assessment and were based on incomplete information. ko