MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Thursday, 17 September 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Wednesday, 16 September): BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini in his State of the Republic address in Parliament on Wednesday said that he considers the political division of the country into two irreconcilable camps to be one of the biggest and most dangerous problems facing Slovakia today, expressing regret that the divide is deepening and that it wasn't even halted by such an unprecedented event as the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) two years ago. Pellegrini also declared that, as president, he'll continue to explore all avenues to halt and reverse the situation, calling on both MPs and the people of Slovakia to look for common ground actively. In the context of the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, he pointed to the contrast in public discourse between the issues that truly trouble people and what politicians offer them. The head of state stressed that while a pilgrimage was taking place in Sastin (Trnava region), politicians were busy intriguing among themselves. "For the first time in history, this pilgrimage was held two days before the actual date of the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, because this feast is no longer a day of rest, having fallen victim to the consolidation of public finances. This has become one of the key topics of Slovak political life over the past three years, with all political actors contributing their part to it," said Pellegrini, adding that consolidation affects the quality of life for many people in Slovakia. BRATISLAVA - Parliament wasn't quorate at the second attempt, either, to open a session on the ouster of Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) on Wednesday, as only 59 MPs were present in the chamber. MPs will attempt to debate the opposition's no-confidence motion again on Thursday (17 September), when the rescheduled extraordinary session is due to start at 12:30 p.m. The ouster was initiated by the opposition 'Slovakia' party, with MPs from other opposition parties also adding their signatures to the motion. The opposition criticises Sutaj Estok for his conduct and scandals, claiming that he lacks the personal, professional and managerial qualifications to lead the ministry. BRATISLAVA - The government has defined the new nuclear power facility in Jaslovske Bohunice (Trnava region) as a strategic investment that will be given priority even over other strategic investments, according to a resolution to this effect approved by the cabinet at its session on Wednesday. The investment expenditures incurred by implementing the project should amount to at least €10.938 billion. "The investment project entails the construction of a new nuclear power facility on the site of the existing Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power plant (NPP) with an installed capacity of up to 1,200 megawatts (MW). Its primary goal is to ensure the long-term stability, security and sustainability of electricity supplies in Slovakia," stated the Economy Ministry in the explanatory report. The investment project is due to begin in 2027 and be completed in 2040. BRATISLAVA - If nothing changes and the situation with oil and fuels is not resolved, the price of diesel could exceed 2 euros per litre, Gabriel Szabo, chairman of the board and chief executive of Slovnaft, warned at a press conference following Wednesday's government session. Szabo was invited to the government meeting to discuss current fuel prices with ministers. He said the government has asked the company to remain restrained in its pricing and no talks were held on additional taxation of the refinery. According to Szabo, evidence of Slovnaft's responsible pricing is that Slovakia has the second-cheapest fuel in the V4 and generally ranks among the cheapest quarter of EU countries. "We must not forget that any intervention in the price and this state of equilibrium would distort the market. It would either mean that imports into the country would cease, or there would then be some form of fuel tourism," he said. The company is also trying to eliminate price fluctuations, he added. BRATISLAVA - The Office for Combating Organised Crime has charged Marta S. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons], who chairs the civic association Project Forum, and her colleague Andrea P. with subsidy fraud, the Daily N reported on Wednesday. Police told TASR that, given the current stage of the proceedings and the need to respect the procedural rights of the persons concerned, they won't comment on the case. Marta S. is being prosecuted on suspicion of subsidy fraud. Andrea P. is also being prosecuted for the offence of falsifying data in economic and business records. Marta S.'s lawyer Matus Harkabus told TASR he was unable to comment on the charges, saying he plans to do so on Thursday (17 September) after collecting his post. A government audit into the use of public subsidies identified shortcomings at Project Forum, where Marta S. is the statutory representative. She is the mother of opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka. BRATISLAVA - Milan Sedlacek has been elected the new chair of the council of the Arts Support Fund (FPU), TASR learnt from the FPU. The council members unanimously elected Sedlacek at Wednesday's meeting. "All council members present voted in favour of his election, with only Sedlacek himself abstaining. Lubomir Klestinec will remain deputy chair of the council," the FPU added. Sedlacek identified strengthening the fund's standing as a respected public-law institution and maintaining open communication with all stakeholders in the culture and arts sector as his main priorities. "I want to contribute to ensuring that the council makes decisions in a stable and transparent manner and in the interests of the cultural and artistic community," the newly elected FPU council chair declared. ko