MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Friday, 29 May 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Thursday, 28 May): BRATISLAVA - I insist that opposition MP Alojz Hlina (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) violated Parliament's rules of procedure by entering the chamber without the appropriate attire, House Vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Thursday, adding that given the new amendments to the rules of procedure, he considers it to be provocative for Hlina to enter the chamber wearing a jacket bearing offensive inscriptions on the very first day of the session. "He didn't learn the rules of procedure, because we said that formal attire must be worn to Parliament, and furthermore, we said that clothing mustn't display political adverts, offensive imagery, or anything else we wanted to define," said Gaspar, adding that the new amendment to the rules of procedure was intended to prevent lawmakers from wearing inappropriate clothing, such as T-shirts with offensive images. "But how else am I supposed to interpret what MP Hlina did on the very first day of the session under the new rules of procedure, when he had this badge embroidered on his jacket as a blatant provocation? Of course, there's no other way to describe it," stressed Gaspar. According to him, Hlina did the same thing again the next day. "He avoided being expelled that time because he realised that there's a stricter penalty for that, and that it would probably have hit him in the wallet as well," he stated. "I found out this morning that he did it a third time and tried to wear that jacket again, probably testing the presiding officials," he added. The new rules of procedure state MPs who are expelled from the chamber incur the penalty of the loss of one month's salary. BRATISLAVA - I've asked MPs to adopt so-called implementing regulations for the Constitution to make it clear that same-sex couples who have married abroad cannot seek recognition of that marriage at Slovak registry offices, stated Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) during Thursday's question time in Parliament, stressing that the Slovak Constitution defines marriage as a unique union between a man and a woman. In his response to lawmakers, the premier addressed disputes with the European Commission. According to him, the government has once again found itself in contentious situations with the European Commission "as part of its sovereign policy". He emphasised that a constitutional amendment enshrining a definition of marriage, the existence of two genders, and the primacy of Slovak law over international law in matters of national identity have been successfully adopted. "I respect the fact that the European Commission doesn't like this and is initiating proceedings against us, seeking to convince us that we must change it. I have a different opinion on this; in fact, I believe that we must act urgently, and I want to ask you to adopt implementing regulations for the Constitution so that we don't end up in a situation in which a homosexual couple gets married somewhere in another country and then comes here to Slovakia and, in violation of the Constitution, demands recognition and registration of that marriage at a registry office. That is impossible", stated the prime minister. BRATISLAVA - Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) told a news conference on Thursday that he plans to increase police salaries and that his party will make this a condition for adopting the state budget for next year. "I'll do my best to ensure that the next budget includes a hike in police salaries, a substantial hike in police salaries. We have this included in the government manifesto, and it will be one of Voice-SD's conditions. Without it, the budget won't be approved," stated Sutaj Estok. According to him, negotiations on preparations for the budget have now begun. He also spoke about introducing a new salary category. Ex-police president and current House Vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) praised the minister's initiative. He thinks that this demand will probably be raised during the drafting of the budget, which should to be adopted sometime in the autumn. NITRA/BRATISLAVA - The planned reform of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy after 2028 is the biggest challenge facing Slovakia's agriculture sector, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) declared at the general assembly of the Slovak Agriculture and Food Chamber (SPPK) in Nitra on Thursday. The minister criticised in particular the planned creation of a so-called superfund and the proposal for mandatory capping of direct payments. "Mandatory capping of direct payments at the level of 100,000 euros would mean the liquidation of Slovak agriculture," he warned. According to Takac, Slovakia will push at the European level for voluntary capping to be maintained. Bratislava, 28 May (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) received his counterpart from the Principality of Andorra Xavier Espot Zamora at the Government Office in Bratislava on Thursday, TASR was told by the Government Office. The two premiers discussed bilateral relations and opportunities for deepening cooperation, particularly in the economic area, including in the technological and digital sectors, as well as support for research and innovation. "An honorary consulate of the Slovak Republic, which we'd like to open in Andorra la Vella in 2027, will also contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation," said Fico, emphasising that the upcoming double taxation treaty will help to foster economic relations, investment and the business environment between the two countries. Bilateral trade has been growing in recent years, primarily due to exports of cars to Andorra. Cooperation between Slovakia and Andorra could also be strengthened in the areas of culture, education and tourism. The upcoming signing of a memorandum on bilateral cooperation will also serve as a step toward deepening bilateral relations. Bratislava, 28 May (TASR) - The Environment Ministry has halted exploration for antimony and gold in the Trojarova exploration area in the Small Carpathian mountains, issuing an injunction revoking the designation of this area for the Slovak Antimony Corporation, TASR was told by the ministry's communications department on Thursday. For Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee), it is crucial that the Environment Ministry is protecting the public interest, and, in this context, hasn't issued any new permits or approvals for geological exploration. Any future mining would first have to undergo an environmental impact assessment process. "The decision by the ministry's waste and geology section put a clear end to the possibility of antimony and gold mining in the Small Carpathian mountains. It's also a testament to the incompetence and hypocrisy of the Environment Ministry's leadership under Jan Budaj and Michal Kic, who gave the green light to an exploration area for toxic antimony located within the Small Carpathian Protected Landscape Area that coincided with protected areas of European significance," said Taraba. ko