MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, 22 June 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, 21 June): BRATISLAVA - Slovakia has embarked on several activities in terms of initiatives aimed at expanding drone capabilities for the effective protection of NATO's eastern border, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) stated earlier this week in connection with NATO's Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative. "You're well aware that the first stage of drone production has started in Slovakia, involving patrol- and first-person-view (FPV)-type drones, while the development of interceptors designed to eliminate drone targets and so-called long-range drones is also underway," explained Kalinak. "We'd like to be capable of producing the whole range of drones based on Slovak designs developed by a Slovak company," he added. He also mentioned a remotely controlled anti-drone turret designed by a company based in Kolarovo (Nitra region), which is set to become part of an anti-drone mechanism with a control centre and detection capabilities. "Likewise, we're working on another project that we intend to present as a prototype in the autumn," said Kalinak. He noted that Slovakia is also involved in a Polish initiative aimed at creating Poland's own system while making use of Slovak weapons systems. "There are several initiatives, but we want to offer our partners a solution that is effective and reasonably inexpensive," added the minister. BRATISLAVA - If a general election had been held in June, it would have been won by the senior governing Smer-SD party on 19.8 percent of the vote, followed by the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party with 18.6 percent and the Christian Democrats (KDH) with 9.9 percent, according to a recent poll carried out by the Social Research Centre, which is part of the Statistics Office's subsidiary Infostat. In fourth place would have come the junior coalition Voice-SD party (9.4 percent), followed by the extra-parliamentary far-right Republic party (8.7 percent), the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party (8.1 percent) and the opposition 'Slovakia' party (6.9 percent). Among the parties that would have stayed outside Parliament were the extra-parliamentary Democrats (4.5 percent), the Hungarian Alliance (4.1 percent), 'We Are Family' (3.5 percent), the currently governing Slovak National Party (SNS, 2.8 percent), the far-right Kotlebovci-People's Party Our Slovakia (LSNS, 2 percent), and 'Right to Truth' (1.5 percent). The survey was conducted on a sample of 1,020 respondents between June 1-5. BRATISLAVA - The police are dealing with the Interior Ministry's campaign 'Na vlastnej kozi' (First-Hand Experience), an interactive nationwide roadshow aimed at protecting children from drugs, TASR has learnt from Bratislava region police spokesperson Lukas Pecek. "Officers from the Bratislava I District Directorate of the Police Corps received a criminal complaint from the Bratislava I District Prosecutor's Office in connection with the campaign organised by the Interior Ministry," stated Pecek. Gabriela Kovacova of the Bratislava Regional Prosecutor's Office confirmed for TASR that the supervising prosecutor referred the criminal complaint to a police investigator on 1 June, adding that no charges have been brought against any individual to date. In connection with the roadshow, MP Martina Bajo Holeckova from the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has filed a criminal complaint against Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) and singer Rene Rendy over suspected criminal endangerment of the moral upbringing of minors. Another criminal complaint against the minister concerns suspected procurement manipulation and misuse of power by a public official, according to Bajo Holeckova. "The entire procurement process for the Interior Ministry's campaign was more than suspicious," she said, noting that "there are several videos showing Rendy promoting alcohol" at the Interior Ministry's events intended to protect children from drugs. BRATISLAVA - Junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) leader and House vice-chair Andrej Danko has called on Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) not to engage in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until Ukraine clearly addresses the issue of celebrating figures and symbols associated with the Banderites, TASR has learnt from SNS spokesperson Zuzana Skopcova on Sunday. According to Danko, newly-elected Polish President Karol Nawrocki's has sent a clear signal that the glorification of individuals associated with massacres of Poles is unacceptable. "Poland can be proud to have a president like Karol Nawrocki. His stance shows that historical memory and respect for the victims must take precedence over political correctness. Slovakia should adopt an equally principled stance on this issue," said Danko. He urged Fico to clearly voice Slovakia's disapproval of any kind of glorification of individuals or movements associated with fascism, extremism or crimes against civilians during his contacts with the Ukrainian leadership. "I call on Prime Minister Robert Fico not to shake hands with Volodymyr Zelenskyy until the promoting and glorifying of the Banderites comes to an end. Slovakia's political leadership should adopt the same stance on this issue as the Polish president. Respect for historical truth and the memory of victims must prevail over political interests," stressed Danko. SNS has long maintained that good relations between countries must be based on mutual respect, historical truth and the rejection of all forms of glorification of totalitarian ideologies and their representatives. mf