MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Wednesday, 4 November 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Tuesday, 3 November): BRATISLAVA - I've decided to start from scratch and build a political project along with former environment minister Tomas Taraba, Independent MP Roman Malatinec told the media on Tuesday, adding that in Parliament he wants to support legislation that makes sense. He said that on Tuesday he also announced his decision to Rudolf Huliak, the leader of the extra-parliamentary Rural Party, in which Malatinec served as deputy chairman. Huliak said that the news came as a surprise, as he had no indication that Malatinec was considering this move. However, Huliak believes that the coalition isn't losing an MP. "This wasn't done in haste; I've been thinking about my political views and the goals that we want to achieve in Parliament for a long time," said Malatinec. "I met Mr. Huliak this morning and thanked him for our cooperation so far. I think that we agreed on certain matters and disagreed on others, but that's politics. I've decided that we'll start from scratch, building a project with Tomas Taraba. My goal is clear: to participate in this project, and that's the most important thing," stated Malatinec. BRATISLAVA - We'll have to wait and see how the group of Independent MPs in Parliament, led by Tomas Taraba, intends to operate within the governing coalition, stated House Vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) on Tuesday, adding that he expects political talks on whether the coalition will continue with 76 votes. Leader of the SNS parliamentary caucus Roman Michelko considers it to be essential for the coalition council to meet. According to him, the situation will be resolved by Tuesday of next week. "We need to start treating this as a fact; he's already informed us of this, and I assume that there will be some political discussions on whether we'll continue with 76 MPs or what the next steps will be," Gaspar told journalists regarding Independent MP Roman Malatinec's move to Taraba's project. He wants to wait for Taraba's statement on how his group intends to operate within the coalition. He doesn't know whether the coalition will function properly. "If I could predict the future, I'd tell you, but I can't," he replied when asked whether the coalition will be able to function without a snap election becoming necessary. BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has convened a meeting with representatives of the Interior Ministry, the foreigners police and the Labour Office Centre, who are involved in the state's policy on the employment of people from third countries, stating on social media that he refuses to allow Slovakia to end up like the West in terms of the consequences that unregulated and illegal migration has brought it. "Employers are seeking to fill more than 130,000 job vacancies, which, despite the state's active efforts and an unemployment rate of 4 percent, we're currently unable to meet," wrote Fico, adding that he understands the needs of the labour market, which contributes to Slovakia's GDP, but, according to him, these can't take precedence over the safety of Slovaks. Slovakia already has among the strictest rules for admitting and deporting workers from third countries, claimed the premier. "Through the security services, these arrangements thoroughly check and monitor every single person both before and during their temporary stay for work in the Slovak Republic," he said. BRATISLAVA - The Supreme Court upheld the acquittal of David Lindtner, a former judge, lawyer and adviser to Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), at a public hearing on Tuesday, dismissing the prosecutor's appeal against his acquittal by the Specialised Criminal Court (STS) in April, TASR reported on the same day. The Supreme Court found no errors that would warrant overturning the verdict and refer the case back to STS. According to the appellate court, it's inadmissible to establish guilt or conviction solely on the basis of a single piece of evidence. "This indictment should never have come to court in the first place," stated Marian Macura, the presiding judge of the Supreme Court panel. "I'm convinced that this panel is aware that a criminal prosecution should never even have been initiated, nor charges pressed," stated Lindtner after the public hearing, criticising certain media outlets, which, he claimed, distort reality. HERZOGENAURACH - Germany's automotive and industrial components manufacturer Schaeffler will lay off around 700 employees at its plants in Slovakia as part of cost-saving measures that will cut 3,460 jobs in Europe, including 2,660 in Germany, TASR reported on Tuesday, citing press releases issued by the Schaeffler Group and Schaeffler Slovakia. According to Miroslav Janota, Head of the Slovakia, Czech Republic & Eastern Europe Subregion at Schaeffler, the measures aimed at improving the group's financial performance will affect the plants in Kysucke Nove Mesto (Zilina region) and Skalica (Trnava region). In Slovakia, the company employs around 7,000 people. "The situation will affect approximately 700 employees in both production and non-production positions," said Janota, adding that measures at the Slovak plants related to bearing production are planned over a four-year period from 2027 to 2030. PRAGUE - Slovak President Peter Pellegrini met Czech President Petr Pavel at the Municipal House in Prague on Tuesday evening, where they are both due to attend a gala concert by the Slovak Philharmonic to mark the 25th anniversary of the Month of Czech-Slovak Cultural Mutuality, TASR has learnt from its special correspondent in Prague. The first Slovak-Czech Economic Forum is taking place in Prague as well. It was initiated by the Slovak Embassy, which described it as an important step towards strengthening economic ties between the two countries. It was opened by Slovakia's central bank (NBS) Governor Peter Kazimir and is also attended by OSCE Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, Czech Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlicek, and representatives of the Czech and Slovak business, academic and public sectors. The concert will be held at the Municipal House for the fourth time, under the auspices of both presidents. The tradition began in 2023 to mark the 30th anniversaries of the establishment of the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic, as well as the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic. It is organised by the Slovak Embassy in the Czech Republic, the NBS and the Slovak Philharmonic. ko