MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, 13 October 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Monday, 12 October): BANGKOK - Slovakia offers Thailand a gateway to the European Union, while it views Thailand as its own entry point into the whole of the Southeast Asian region, said Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) following his talks with Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow on Monday. Economic relations were the main topic of the first visit by a Slovak foreign minister to Thailand in 21 years. Blanar also said that he was due to meet Thai Premier Anutin Charnvirakul later on Monday and would hand him an invitation from Slovak Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to visit Slovakia. "As the country holding the Visegrad Four [V4 - Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland] presidency, we're also offering the opportunity for a meeting of premiers in an expanded V4+ format," he added. According to Blanar, his talks with Phuangketkeow included the defence industry, which has a strong tradition in Slovakia dating back to the era of the former Czechoslovakia. "We know that Thailand is building a strong defence policy, and we want to be part of it," he said. Blanar also highlighted Slovakia's expertise in the fields of IT, digitalisation, cyber-security, flood early-warning systems, water management and energy. He sees further opportunities for cooperation in nuclear energy; for example, in the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs). BRATISLAVA - Slovakia's 2027 state budget counts with tax relief for working mothers of four or more children, an increase in the childbirth allowance to €1,000 and changes to the funding of social-care services, Labour Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) told a press conference on Monday. Working mothers of four or more children and single fathers raising at least four children should be exempt from income tax. "If we continue in the next government, we'll push for the threshold for income tax exemption to be lowered to three children," said Tomas. The childbirth allowance, or so-called 'stroller allowance', should increase from €830 to €1,000. The minimum child alimony payment should rise from €40 to €135, matching the subsistence level for a dependent child. The ministry is also preparing a family card that will offer families discounts on goods and services related to childcare. The minister also mentioned a proposal sponsored by the junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) to increase pensions for people aged 85+. Pensions below 2.4 times the subsistence minimum, or €708.50 per month, would be topped up to that level. According to his estimate, the measure could affect some 38,000 pensioners and cost €32 million. BRATISLAVA - House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) has sent a letter to Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka in response to the political activities of the 'Slovakia' party, which in his view also target young people, including minors, TASR learnt from the Parliament's Office press department on Monday. Rasi described the practices as concerning, alleging that the party involves young people in heated political confrontations, offers financial or non-financial rewards and subsequently posts recordings of these activities on social media. He said that Zilinka should consider whether the activities warrant a legal assessment. "I'm convinced that the boundaries of political competition mustn't be pushed at the expense of children's rights and dignity. Freedom of expression and the right to political criticism are fundamental to democracy, but they mustn't mean abandoning responsibility for how politicians communicate and the example they set for the younger generation," said the parliamentary chair in his appeal to the prosecutor-general. ZILINA - After almost two weeks, the exceptional train service arrangements at the Zilina railway hub - introduced following the infrastructure fire on 30 September - will come to an end on Tuesday, 13 October, state-run railway infrastructure operator ZSR posted on social media on Monday, adding that following successful load tests on the traction power supply, services will resume as normal at 8 a.m. "The load tests carried out with the traction power supply switched on, which took place over the weekend and on Monday, went without a hitch. We're therefore resuming operations as of 8 a.m. on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 in the same mode as before the fire," stated ZSR. The infrastructure operator added that, over the coming days, experts will continue to closely monitor processes and activities at the junction so that they can intervene immediately should any unusual situation arise. "The cause of the fire isn't yet known. We're also working with an independent expert to establish the cause. Once the expert report has been received, we'll provide the public with detailed information," added ZSR. BRATISLAVA - Approval of the state budget in Parliament is not a matter of political prestige or competition, but one of Slovakia's security and stability, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) declared in his statement to the media on Monday. Fico called for support for the budget, citing difficult international circumstances and the threat of a crisis. He added that his government wanted to remain stable and continue pursuing an independent foreign policy oriented in all four cardinal directions. "We can hold whatever views we want on the budget, and I respect legitimate criticism of the government's budget. However, at this point, we cannot afford to be without one," the prime minister underlined, adding that a balanced budget would require cuts of €8 billion. "If they say we should have no budget rather than this one, then the outcome would be a provisional budget. What would we do then if there's a gas shortage, as has been discussed, at the end of 2026, and we needed funds to help households and businesses and protect them?" Fico asked. BRATISLAVA - The Government Council for Mental Health on Monday unanimously adopted and approved a strategy for the development and support of mental-health care for children and young people in Slovakia, Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) told a press conference following the council's meeting on the same day, noting that the document has thus been passed on to the next stage of the process. Sasko added that the strategy will be submitted to the government for discussion, and he admitted the possibility of a fast-tracked procedure. He also expects the strategy to be approved in Parliament, which, according to him, could take place in the spring of next year. "I'd like to thank all our partners for the fact that, following a fairly detailed process, the concept for the mental-health care of our children and young people has been unanimously adopted, approved and submitted for the next stage of the process," he said, adding that the strategy is a joint plan in the field of mental health, bringing together the health, education and social services sectors, the police and the judiciary. According to him, the document sets out tasks, measurable targets and accountability for results. jrg