MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Thursday, 22 October 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Wednesday, 21 October): BRATISLAVA/SOFIA - The new Slovak ambassador to Bulgaria will be experienced career diplomat Lubomir Golian, who is returning to Sofia after more than three decades, having previously served there at the start of his diplomatic career, TASR was told by the Foreign Ministry's communications department on Wednesday. Between 1990 and 1992, Golian headed the Cultural and Information Centre of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic in Sofia and subsequently served in Bulgaria as first secretary at the Slovak Embassy and director of the Slovak Institute in Sofia. In the past, he also headed Slovakia's diplomatic missions in Denmark and Iran. At the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry, he also held a number of senior management positions. The new ambassador will build on the intensive political dialogue and developing economic cooperation between the two countries, to which the September talks in Sofia between Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) and his Bulgarian counterpart Velislava Petrova-Chamova also contributed. "We share common positions with Bulgaria on a number of issues, including respect for international law and the pursuit of peaceful solutions to conflicts. It is also an important partner for us in gas transit and in promoting our shared interests in the South-East European region. The new ambassador's role will therefore be to continue this intensive political dialogue, while at the same time opening up new possibilities for Slovak companies and expanding business opportunities for entrepreneurs," said Blanar. According to Golian, Bulgaria ranks among Slovakia's thirty most important trading partners, with bilateral trade turnover exceeding €1 billion in 2025. Tourism also offers scope for closer cooperation. Bulgaria has long been a favourite holiday destination for Slovak tourists, a trend aided by regular flights from Bratislava to Plovdiv and Burgas. "Tourism offers great potential for both sides. Our aim is to promote Slovakia more actively as an attractive tourist destination, including its spa resorts, and to encourage mutual interest in visiting our countries," said Golian. BRATISLAVA - I've asked Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to reconsider the nomination of Filip Kuffa as Environment Minister, President Peter Pellegrini reported on Wednesday. Fico is supposed to put forward a new candidate. Until the president receives a further proposal for appointing a member of the government, the Environment Ministry will continue to be led by the premier. The head of state explained that reports have appeared in the media suggesting the possibility of improper conduct on the part of one of the organisations under the Environment Ministry, the potential mismanagement of Slovakia's assets, and other similar allegations. He therefore considered it to be necessary to verify this information. "Representatives of the Police Corps have officially informed us and confirmed that, in relation to the information and suspicions reported in the media, a criminal investigation has been launched on suspicion of several criminal offences, such as manipulation of public procurement and public auctions, a breach of obligations in the administration of somebody else's property, money-laundering, and the possible abuse of power by a public official," said Pellegrini. The president maintains that he respects the presumption of innocence. However, according to him, no one can currently confirm or rule out whether the criminal investigation may or may not ultimately result in charges being brought against Kuffa. "As it can't be ruled out that this criminal investigation may, in time, lead to an indictment, I have today sent an official letter to the prime minister asking him to reconsider this nomination and to submit a new proposal for the appointment of a member of the government who would be entrusted with the management of the Environment Ministry," he stated. Kuffa is the Slovak National Party's (SNS) nominee for the post of Environment Minister following an escalating dispute between the then minister, Tomas Taraba, and SNS. Taraba was dismissed from his post by the president on 30 September after Parliament had passed a vote of no-confidence in Taraba on the previous day. The head of state temporarily entrusted the prime minister with running the Environment Ministry. BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini has granted Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) request to appoint Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) to the post of vice-premier, the President's Office told TASR on Wednesday, adding that the decree appointing her was submitted to the Culture Minister's office on Wednesday. Fico justified his request by referring to the coalition agreement, under which each coalition party is entitled to a post of vice-premier. SNS lost this post following the dismissal of Tomas Taraba from the government. "Given that Martina Simkovicova is already a member of the government as culture minister, it is entirely within the premier's remit to propose which of the ministers will also hold the post of vice-premier," stated the President's Office. Fico submitted a proposal to appoint Simkovicova to the president on Tuesday (20 October). Taraba left his posts as environment minister and vice-premier on 30 September, when Pellegrini dismissed him following a vote of no-confidence in Parliament the previous day. Following his ouster, Taraba returned to the House, where he now serves as an Independent MP. BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has taken note of the procedure followed by President Peter Pellegrini concerning the nomination of Filip Kuffa for the post of Environment Minister, the Government Office's press department told TASR on Wednesday, adding that Fico pointed out that the prime minister is bound by the coalition agreement, under which he is obliged to submit to the head of state a proposal for appointing the environment minister provided by his coalition partner, Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko. Fico has also announced that he'll meet Danko within the next few days. The president asked the premier to reconsider the nomination of Filip Kuffa as Environment Minister. Pellegrini also asked Fico to put forward a new candidate. In addition, the head of state said that until he receives a further proposal for appointing a member of the government, the Environment Ministry will continue to be led by the premier. Kuffa is the Slovak National Party's (SNS) nominee for the post of Environment Minister following an escalating dispute between the then minister, Tomas Taraba, and SNS. Taraba was dismissed from his post by the president on 30 September after Parliament had passed a vote of no-confidence in Taraba on the previous day. The head of state temporarily entrusted the prime minister with running the Environment Ministry. BRATISLAVA - The coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) is insisting on its proposal to nominate Filip Kuffa to the post of environment minister, SNS leader Andrej Danko stated on Wednesday. On behalf of SNS, Danko took objection to President Peter Pellegrini's decision not to appoint Kuffa to the post, underlining that, according to the party's legal opinion, the head of state must respect the nomination submitted by the prime minister and cannot reject it under the Slovak Constitution. "The president underlined that the presumption of innocence exists. But if there's a presumption of innocence, the president must appoint Filip Kuffa tomorrow," Danko told TASR. He said that he isn't aware of Kuffa having been charged or indicted, or of any matter relating to the performance of his duties. "He has a clean record as a citizen, has the relevant qualifications, and nobody can challenge his mandate," added Danko. The SNS leader also accused the president of applying a double standard. He argued that criminal complaints were routinely filed against nominees of other coalition parties, yet nobody has automatically called on them to resign. "There mustn't be two categories of people. I believe that the president won't judge people according to which political party they belong to," he said. SNS also declared its respect for the coalition agreement, the prime minister and the president. It stated that it has "also demonstrated its responsibility in the vote on the state budget". Danko said that the government has a valid role to play amid the current uncertain international situation and is capable of governing even when the coalition partners disagreed on certain issues. Because of this, SNS will maintain its proposed nomination for head of the Environment Ministry. "The only person who could withdraw the proposal from the president is [Prime Minister Robert] Fico. I hope that he won't do so and breach the coalition agreement," said Danko. Kuffa was nominated by SNS for the post of environment minister following an escalation of tensions between then minister Tomas Taraba and the party. The president dismissed Taraba from office on 30 September, a day after Parliament passed a motion of no-confidence in him. The head of state temporarily entrusted the prime minister with running the Environment Ministry. BRATISLAVA – Slovakia's opposition blames President Peter Pellegrini of applying a double standard in his decision on the nomination of Filip Kuffa as environment minister, with some opposition parties calling for Kuffa to step down as deputy environment minister. Igor Matovic, leader of the 'Slovakia' party, and Veronika Remisova, who chairs the 'For the People' party, said the president should take a tougher stance on other nominees put forward by the governing coalition. Progressive Slovakia (PS) chair Michal Simecka said Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has lost the last remnants of his authority as a result. SaS MP Alojz Hlina challenged at a news conference whether Kuffa could remain deputy minister following the president's statements. The extra-parliamentary Democrats said they would welcome Kuffa's withdrawal from public life. Matovic pointed out that people in senior state administration positions are not only suspected of crimes and under investigation, but also face trial, while the president has raised concerns only about Kuffa. "They used and abused him in votes on the budget and other dirty laws for which they needed his support. Now that they no longer need him, they are throwing him overboard," Matovic stated about SNS head Andrej Danko who backs Kuffa's nomination. The 'Slovakia' leader also views the president's decision as an admission that nominees of the current governing coalition were committing criminal offences. Remisova said the president's decision appeared politically motivated. "Today, the president has informed Slovakia that the police are investigating a whole series of criminal offences at the Environment Ministry – manipulation of public procurement and auction procedures, mismanagement of state assets and money laundering. This is neither a coincidence nor an isolated failure. This is a system and a reflection of the entire government, which hands out state positions as patronage in return for loyalty in Parliament," she said. Simecka claimed on social media that the prime minister has lost the last remnants of his authority. "First, he defended Environment Minister Tomas Taraba, whom we removed from office. He then proposed Filip Kuffa as his replacement. The president has now refused to appoint him because of serious suspicions of criminal activity," Simecka pointed out. Fico has failed to resolve the coalition crisis on his second attempt, he added. Hlina questioned whether Kuffa could remain deputy minister following the president's statements. "Not as a minister, because there are certain circumstances, but as a deputy minister, yes," he remarked. Hlina said the government, which appoints and dismisses deputy ministers, should also have been called upon to act, adding that Kuffa should leave his post. He described Kuffa's nomination as minister as shameful and irresponsible. He also said the president should disclose the information he has received about Kuffa. The Democrats called for Kuffa to leave public life immediately. However, they said the president has also acted evasively and should have clearly rejected Kuffa's nomination. mf