MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, 19 May 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Monday, 18 May): BRATISLAVA - The government is holding negotiations with the Slovnaft refinery on reducing fuel prices to make them competitive, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) announced on Monday, adding that the aim is for Slovakia to once again have the cheapest fuels in the V4, as it did a few weeks ago. "I don't think that reducing excise tax is on the table today, there's very strong pressure from the government on Slovnaft instead. And if Slovnaft approaches this as constructively as it has so far, I believe that people will very soon see the results at petrol stations," said Sutaj Estok. According to him, the Slovak government, through its political pressure, helped to ensure that the Druzhba oil pipeline began operating again, which had a vital effect on Slovnaft and the entire MOL Group. "I believe that Slovnaft representatives will understand that as we helped them by providing fuel loans, now they have to do something about pricing, as the citizens of Slovakia, who are currently paying more for fuels, come first for us," said Sutaj Estok. BRATISLAVA - Slovakia sold government bonds totalling €569 million in its regular monthly auction in May, with the four different bonds maturing between 2031-2047, and the average annual interest rates ranging between 3.26 percent and 4.45 percent, the Debt and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL) reported on Monday, adding that total demand from investors reached €1.121 billion. The highest sum (€225 million) came from bonds due to mature in 2037, with an average accepted yield standing at 3.95 percent. Bonds maturing in 2033 were sold in a volume of €131 million, with average yields coming in at 3.44 percent. Bonds with the shortest maturity period (due in 2031) and the lowest yield of 3.26 percent p.a. brought in €118 million. Bonds with the longest-maturity periods (due in 2047) and the highest interest rate of 4.45 percent were sold in the lowest volume, bringing in €95 million. In the regular auction in April, Slovakia borrowed €516.8 million, with the average yield ranging from 2.67 percent p.a. to 3.64 percent p.a. and total demand from investors reaching €1.619 million. For the entire year, ARDAL plans to issue new government bonds totalling €10 billion. BRATISLAVA - The Visegrad Group (V4) countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) should pull together, Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi told a joint press conference with Speaker of the Polish Lower House Wlodzimierz Czarzasty after receiving him at Bratislava Castle on Monday. The Slovak House chair added that one of the key issues for cooperation among the countries will be Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. According to Czarzasty, the recent Hungarian election has opened up the possibility of close cooperation within the V4 for Poland. Rasi noted that Slovakia will assume the V4 presidency on 1 July. "We would truly like, partly due to all the changes that have taken place following the election, for the Visegrad Four to pull together," he stated, adding that the V4 countries know how to raise issues on which, if they share the same positions, they won't be ignored. "And we can push through what will help our countries, but we can also participate in all major projects," he added. According to him, one common issue could be the reconstruction of Ukraine. "The post-war reconstruction of Ukraine is an issue that will be closest to Poland, Slovakia and Hungary precisely because we are direct neighbours. That's why we'll strive to support all initiatives that will lead to the creation of special financial schemes to support Ukraine," stated the Slovak House chair, noting that Slovak companies can participate in Ukraine's reconstruction and that this can also significantly help the regions bordering Ukraine. BRATISLAVA - Financial Administration (FS) will halt inspection proceedings against a vendor of langos (deep-fried flatbread) from Kvetoslavov (Bratislava region) and refund the €1,500 fine that he's already paid, as procedural errors uncovered by an internal FS investigation have made it impossible to continue the inspection process, said FS president Jozef Kiss at a press conference on Monday. Kiss was referring to the case of the langos vendor who received a fine of €1,500 because the receipt that he issued lacked a diacritic mark. The case caught tabloid headlines and elicited public outrage along with satirical online memes. "We carried out an internal review of the inspectors' procedures, and procedural errors were indeed identified. These stemmed from the fact that one reason for imposing the sanction was stated in the inspection record, while another reason, or not exactly the same reason, was given in the decision on the fine," explained Kiss. According to the FS president, the success of any further legal dispute with the entrepreneur would depend on this procedural flaw. He announced that FS will issue a ruling on the entrepreneur's appeal on Monday and that the decision will be in the entrepreneur's favour. BRATISLAVA - A new tender will be held for completing the construction of Presov hospital, stated Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) at a press conference on Monday, adding that the SNP Central Military Hospital in Ruzomberok (Zilina region) withdrew from the construction contract with the current contractor on Friday (15 May). According to him, a preliminary report on the assessment was received late last week, and it confirmed that most of the columns at the construction site have problems. "In some cases, the problem is so serious that the columns will have to be removed and cannot be repaired," stated Kalinak, adding that the issue concerns one floor currently under construction. "As, despite several calls for improvement, the contractor's approach to the project itself didn't improve, we were forced to opt for quick and radical solutions so that we could move the hospital forward as quickly as possible and begin operations," said Kalinak, adding that the ministry has therefore withdrawn from the contract. At the same time, on Monday, Kalinak signed a construction contract for Presov hospital with a company called In Vest and four subcontractors, including Strabag Pozemne stavitelstvo, Skanska SK, Metrostav Slovakia, and Hornex. BRATISLAVA - Opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) has filed a criminal complaint against Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) and singer Rene Rendy with respect to the nationwide preventive campaign 'Na vlastnej kozi' (First-Hand Experience), over suspected criminal endangerment of the moral upbringing of minors. In addition, the party is calling on the minister to halt the campaign immediately. The interior minister rejected the criticism. According to Sutaj Estok, the campaign will continue, although he admitted changes to its structuring. SaS criticised the fact that a performer singing about alcohol and his fondness for it appears at an event intended to protect children from drugs. In the view of MP Martina Bajo Holeckova (SaS), this represents "an absolutely incomprehensible failure by the interior minister". She pointed out that alcohol is considered a drug in Slovakia and alcohol advertising is banned on television before 8 p.m. "We are filing a criminal complaint against Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, Rene Rendy and all Interior Ministry employees who decided to engage this performer," Bajo Holeckova said, adding that the minister indirectly admitted a mistake himself when he spoke about changes to the programme. jrg