MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, April 26, 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, April 25): BRATISLAVA - I won't sign the law on the so-called COVID amnesties and will return it to Parliament for reconsideration with reservations, President Peter Pellegrini stated in a video on social media on Friday. "Every single person who violated the regulations in effect at the time and was punished according to the law is now supposed to be compensated under the new law. I consider this to be an extremely dangerous precedent," declared Pellegrini. The president pointed out that the law would also compensate individuals who knowingly violated measures, for instance, in hospitals or nursing homes, and through their actions could have actually infected someone and caused their death. "I would not be able to look the relatives of COVID victims in the face if the law came into effect in this form. That's why I am convinced it needs to be amended," he emphasised. The head of state pointed out that the Constitutional Court confirmed the unconstitutionality of pandemic measures only in the case of the involuntary confinement of people in quarantine facilities. "In this regard, I therefore agree that people who were confined against their will in state quarantine facilities – and even had to pay for it – should be compensated for this," said the president. Pellegrini agrees that the measures adopted during the pandemic need to be properly evaluated based on scientific knowledge and respect for facts. "We need to know which measures were effective and protected our lives, which were unnecessary, and which were even harmful to our health," he stated. However, he pointed out that the government has so far failed to present such an analysis. "For a year and a half, the Government Proxy for Investigating COVID-19 Pandemic Management [Peter Kotlar] has been working in the government to review the pandemic management process and the use of resources, but we have yet to see the results of his work evaluating whether the adopted measures were correct," he added. BRATISLAVA - I'll recommend to MPs of the Smer-SD caucus as well as other MPs of the governing coalition that they should vote again for the law on the so-called 'COVID amnesty' and override President Peter Pellegrini's veto, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has posted on a social network, noting that he respects the constitutional right of the president to return a law passed by Parliament for reconsideration. "Just as we respect the president's right of veto, the president will undoubtedly respect the right of Parliament to override his veto. Should this be done during the May-June House session, the aggrieved citizens will have only a few weeks to file a claim for compensation," wrote the premier. Fico pointed out that the so-called COVID amnesty bill was introduced in Parliament by the government in the belief that the practices of previous governments in combating the COVID-19 pandemic were overwhelmingly unconstitutional and illegal and resulted in thousands of innocent victims. "Some of these practices have been declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court. Today, information is also coming to light about the 'quality' of the experimental COVID-19 vaccines and the perversity of the 'Vaccination is Freedom' campaign in support of vaccination," he stated, adding that in these circumstances he would recommend that MPs in the governing coalition should vote in favour of the law again. BRATISLAVA - As of July, highway tolls in Slovakia will increase by 40 percent, with a third of the revenues going to a private company, as politicians and the leadership of the National Highway Company (NDS) have long been adapting the system to channel a significant share of the profits to private firms such as SkyToll or CzechToll, according to representatives of the 'Lets Stop Corruption' foundation and hauliers unions, who are threatening to block roads if the Transport Ministry fails to negotiate with them. "We're calling on the transport minister and the head of the National Highway Company to finally sit down at the negotiating table with the Union of Slovak Hauliers. If this doesn't happen within a certain time frame, for example, within a month, the Union of Slovak Hauliers is prepared to organise another protest. We'll try to block border crossings," said union head Stanislav Skala. Hauliers pay toll fees for using Slovak highways, Skala noted, but even with the planned increase not all of the money will go towards maintaining roads. "Despite repeated promises from various prime ministers and transport ministers, 38 cents in every euro still goes to a private company. At a time when Slovakia urgently needs to repair its highways and bridges, it's unacceptable for politicians to waste toll revenues in this way," stressed Skala. BRATISLAVA - Slovak President Peter Pellegrini appointed Internal Affairs Inspectorate head Branislav Zurian, Prison and Judicial Guard Corps head Lubomir Klistinec and Justice Ministry State Secretary Michal Sedliak to the rank of general at the Presidential Palace on Friday in line with the government's proposal. According to Pellegrini, their appointments are a challenge to build trust in the institutions that they represent. "Their authority is particularly important today, when our society is marked by uncertainty, negative emotions and huge polarisation," he stated. According to the president, serving the state isn't just about carrying out a profession. "Your work must be your true calling, not limited to working hours, but an integral part of your life. It requires dedication and constant readiness to fulfil your duties, serve Slovakia and its people, and also to subordinate all other interests to this," stated Pellegrini. The government proposed Zurian for the rank of general on September 18, 2024, and Sedliak and Klištinec on June 26, 2024. [The Internal Affairs Inspectorate came under criticism earlier this week after dropping criminal proceedings relating to the response of Prime Minister Robert Fico's security detail during the assassination attempt on him in May of last year. The inspectorate also suspended a criminal case concerning a leaked video showing the detained assailant, Juraj C., in which he speaks about his motivations in police custody. ed. note] BRATISLAVA - During a two-day working visit to Kyrgyzstan, Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar held talks with the country’s top officials, agreeing with them on the need to strengthen mutual relations, TASR was told by the ministry's press department on Friday. On the same day, Blanar signed an agreement with the Kyrgyz foreign minister to abolish visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports, as well as a cooperation program between the foreign ministries for 2026-27. On Thursday (April 24), Blanar was received by President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov. On Friday, the Slovak minister, together with Kyrgyz Minister of Economy and Trade Bakyt Sydykov, opened a business forum for Slovak and Kyrgyz companies. Afterwards, the two counterparts held bilateral talks about the potential to increase mutual trade volume. The Slovak delegation also held meetings on Friday with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev and Speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament Nurlanbek Turgunbek. "We have no open issues with Kyrgyzstan; on the contrary, I can say that we share the same views on many topics," Blanar stated at a press conference. The minister praised the political and economic reforms recently adopted by the Kyrgyz government. “Our entrepreneurs can contribute in many sectors such as engineering, energy, or water management, where we offer excellent expertise,” Blanar declared. In addition, Blanar highlighted the developing cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the EU and welcomed the peaceful resolution of territorial and border disputes in the region, which came about partly due to Kyrgyzstan's initiative. “This is a crucial step for stability, security, and the credibility of the region for investors, entrepreneurs, and their activities, which should be carried out without concern,” he noted. am