Latest news with #SlovakNationalParty
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Slovak party seeks to officially demand compensation from Ukraine for aid
The Slovak National Party (SNS), a coalition partner, has claimed that Slovakia has the right to demand financial compensation from Ukraine for its assistance. Source: Slovak news agency TASR, as reported by European Pravda, citing Teraz news portal Details: Zuzana Škopcová, director of the office of the SNS chairman, stated that the party urges Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to propose, at the next European Council meeting, that the EU secure a share of Ukraine's mineral wealth. Quote from Škoptcová: "Never in history has any state signed an agreement like the one President Zelenskyy concluded with the United States. The EU's aid is comparable to that of the US. If Ukraine transfers all its mineral wealth to the United States, it will have nothing left to repay European states' support." Details: She added that granting the US exclusive rights to Ukraine's mineral resources is "illogical and unethical". SNS Chairman Andrej Danko plans to formally raise this issue with Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický on Monday 26 May. He will request a comprehensive calculation of Slovakia's costs in supporting Ukraine and the preparation of documents for Prime Minister Fico. The SNS claims Slovakia has provided over €3 billion in aid to Ukraine and argues that, like the US, Slovakia should receive compensation. Quote from Škoptcová: "If Ukraine has decided to pay for assistance during the war against Russia, it is unclear why it does not do so for the EU." Details: SNS believes that Fico will raise this issue at the next meeting of the leaders so that they can address the EU leadership. Background: On 8 May, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) voted to ratify an agreement on establishing a joint investment fund between Ukraine and the United States. All 338 MPs voted in favour, with none of them abstaining or voting against ratification. On 12 May, Zelenskyy signed the ratification of the mineral agreement with the United States. On 13 May, Ukraine signed two commercial agreements with the US International Development Finance Corporation to advance the ratified agreement on the fund's establishment. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Euronews
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Meet the pop star singing to bring Eurovision back to Slovakia
'My song is about deciding to act on things that you can actually influence. I am singing about standing up for myself and walking away from toxic situations or anything that makes me stagnate in life. I am saying goodbye to all of it,' Adonxs says in between rehearsals in Basel for Thursday's Eurovision semi-final. Slovak-born Adam Pavlovčin, performing under the artist name Adonxs, is draped in a glittering white cape and his eyeliner is shimmering. Representing Czechia with his hit 'Kiss Kiss Goodbye,' he has only one focus: 'I just want to qualify honestly. That is the goal. I am not even thinking past that point.' Adonxs' musical career took off in 2021 after he was victorious in the Czech-Slovak show 'SuperStar', becoming the first openly queer winner. A couple of years ago, Adonxs said kiss kiss goodbye to his home country Slovakia and is now based in Prague – a city he calls home. 'Our music markets truly work like one, so it comes very natural to compete for Czechia.' Representing Slovakia was however never an option as the country left the contest in 2012. Adonxs thinks the reason is political: 'This is purely because there is no interest from the government's side. I know a lot of people that would love Eurovision to come back to Slovakia.' Under Prime Minister Robert Fico's government, Slovakia's attitude toward culture and arts has shifted. 'We all remember the LGBTQ+ free zones in Poland. Slovakia is now experiencing a similar situation, particularly when it comes to art,' Adonxs explains. The Slovak government has proposed multiple anti-LGBTQ bills in recent years. As an outspoken queer artist and activist, Adonxs believes the country is moving in the wrong direction. 'I do not think Slovakia is in very good hands right now,' he says. 'Funding for liberal and queer culture has been cut. It is horrible. I think it comes from pure unhappiness. A happy person would not try to suppress someone else's creativity. I actually feel sorry for them.' A person that has been central to this shift is Martina Šimkovičová, the culture minister from the far-right Slovak National Party. She has faced criticism for cracking down on public institutions that are not aligning with the government's views. 'Šimkovičová must be very frustrated – I mean, she is afraid of art while being in charge of it,' Adonxs says.
Russia Today
23-04-2025
- Health
- Russia Today
EU state's PM issues Covid vaccine warning
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has called for an immediate halt to government purchases of Covid-19 vaccines, citing a recent report that found mRNA jabs contain extremely high levels of DNA and substances that were not disclosed by the manufacturer. Bratislava initially considered outright banning the vaccines when a commission led by Peter Kotlar, an orthopedic doctor and member of the ruling Slovak National Party, published a report in October claiming that the mRNA jabs alter human DNA, have been inadequately tested, and therefore should not be administered until they are proven safe. Kotlar has also described the Covid-19 pandemic as an 'act of bioterrorism' and a 'fabricated operation,' and has accused vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer of turning vaccinated people into 'genetically modified organisms.' His report, however, was met with significant pushback from opposition parties, as well as former Slovak Health Minister Zuzana Dolinkova, who cast doubt on Kotlar's qualifications with regard to the subject. She subsequently resigned from her position that same month, citing government backing for an anti-vaxxer and insufficient prioritization of health care. In a post on X on Wednesday, Fico published a video in which he stated that ignoring the findings of the Kotlar-led commission on the quality of the Covid-19 vaccines would be 'extremely irresponsible.' Fico noted that in March, he instructed the Health Ministry to establish a working group to address the findings of the expert report submitted by Kotlar, but acknowledged that this may not produce results quickly enough. The prime minister said he would try to resolve the issue in 'a reasonable timeframe' and propose during an upcoming government meeting that apart from the working group, the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) would also be asked to conduct a quantitative analysis of the presence of DNA and other substances in the vaccines. Fico also suggested that the government should inform the population about the 'serious findings' regarding the jabs. 'Although Covid-19 vaccination rates are extremely low, people deserve such a warning,' he said. The prime minister went on to propose that Slovakia suspend the purchase of additional vaccines from the unspecified manufacturer, which it is obligated to do under a contract signed by the former government in 2023. Bratislava is still expected to procure nearly 300,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in 2025 and 2026, which is estimated to cost around $6.6 million, Fico said, stressing that 'until the results of the additional quantitative analysis are delivered, the government should not procure further vaccines from this manufacturer or pay for them.'
Russia Today
23-04-2025
- Health
- Russia Today
EU state's PM issues warning over Covid vaccines
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has called for an immediate halt to government purchases of Covid-19 vaccines, citing a recent report that found mRNA jabs contain extremely high levels of DNA and substances that were not disclosed by the manufacturer. Bratislava initially considered outright banning the vaccines when a commission led by Peter Kotlar, an orthopedic doctor and member of the ruling Slovak National Party, published a report in October claiming that the mRNA jabs alter human DNA, have been inadequately tested, and therefore should not be administered until they are proven safe. Kotlar has also described the Covid-19 pandemic as an 'act of bioterrorism' and a 'fabricated operation,' and has accused vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer of turning vaccinated people into 'genetically modified organisms.' His report, however, was met with significant pushback from opposition parties, as well as former Slovak Health Minister Zuzana Dolinkova, who cast doubt on Kotlar's qualifications with regard to the subject. She subsequently resigned from her position that same month, citing government backing for an anti-vaxxer and insufficient prioritization of health care. In a post on X on Wednesday, Fico published a video in which he stated that ignoring the findings of the Kotlar-led commission on the quality of the Covid-19 vaccines would be 'extremely irresponsible.' Fico noted that in March, he instructed the Health Ministry to establish a working group to address the findings of the expert report submitted by Kotlar, but acknowledged that this may not produce results quickly enough. The prime minister said he would try to resolve the issue in 'a reasonable timeframe' and propose during an upcoming government meeting that apart from the working group, the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) would also be asked to conduct a quantitative analysis of the presence of DNA and other substances in the vaccines. Fico also suggested that the government should inform the population about the 'serious findings' regarding the jabs. 'Although Covid-19 vaccination rates are extremely low, people deserve such a warning,' he said. The prime minister went on to propose that Slovakia suspend the purchase of additional vaccines from the unspecified manufacturer, which it is obligated to do under a contract signed by the former government in 2023. Bratislava is still expected to procure nearly 300,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in 2025 and 2026, which is estimated to cost around $6.6 million, Fico said, stressing that 'until the results of the additional quantitative analysis are delivered, the government should not procure further vaccines from this manufacturer or pay for them.'
Euronews
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Peter Pellegrini reshuffles Slovakia's cabinet to retain majority
Viktor Orbán, Hungary's rightist Prime minister awarded Italy's deputy PM Matteo Salvini with a medal of honor for what he called defending traditional Christian values and fighting migration. Orbán presented a bronze statue and a certificate to Salvini at the Hunyadi János Award ceremony in Brussels on Wednesday. The international award of the Hungarian Foundation for a Civic Hungary was founded in 2023, when it was awarded to former Member of the European Parliament Professor Ryszard Legutko. Orbán said the prize was awarded for Salvini's "unwavering defence of Europe," as he "fought courageously against the invasion of illegal migrants by sea." In his speech at the ceremony, the Hungarian prime minister also took the time to applaud the United States administrations' migration policy. "The Union cannot be a financial network designed to weaken national governments. The same cleaning that our American friends are doing in Washington is something we will need here in Brussels." Matteo Salvini is the leader of Italy's far-right, anti-migration Lega party. During his acceptance speech, he denounced the EU Commission's €800 billion defence plan and called on the EU to take concrete action to ensure peace. "In these offices in Brussels, there are some people, who are speaking about the war, who are preparing the war, they are talking about the armies. I dont think that the future of Europe is WW3. Here there are people who want peace. Peace, work, serenity, and wellbeing," Salvini said. Salvini has previously been accused of migrant kidnapping over his refusal to let a migrant rescue boat dock in Italy in 2019. The Italian court acquitted him last year. Slovakia's president has sworn in a new minister of investments and regional development, completing a reshuffle that keeps a parliamentary majority for the government. The appointment of Samuel Migaľ was a result of a deal agreed on by three parties in governing coalition to increase the power of the Smer (Direction) party of Prime Minister Robert Fico. Under the agreement, the coalition's two junior partners — the Hlas (Voice) party and the ultranationalist and pro-Russian Slovak National Party — gave up control of one ministry each to Smer. With the addition of the ministries overseeing investments, regional development and information, and tourism and sports, Smer now controls nine ministries, Hlas six and the Slovak National Party two. The deal was struck to solve a recent crisis in the coalition that risked its parliamentary majority. The coalition had 79 seats in the 150-seat parliament known as the National Council before four Hlas lawmakers, including Migaľ and three others, from the Slovak National Party parted with their parliamentary factions. The lawmakers did not join the opposition but have demanded posts in the government, parliament and state institutions in exchange for their loyalty. That has made it difficult for the government to advance its agenda. Another rebel from Hlas, Radomír Šalitroš, will become a state secretary at the ministry led by Migaľ. Pellegrini had already sworn in Rudolf Huliak, one of the rebels representing the Slovak National Party, as the minister of tourism and sports. Richard Raši, the predecessor of Migaľ at the ministry, has resigned and is expected to be elected the parliamentary speaker. That post is vacant since the previous speaker, Pellegrini, won last year's presidential election. Robert Fico is a divisive figure in Slovak politics with many people in the country opposed to what they see as his pro-Russia stance. When he came to power in 2023, he cut financial and military aid to Ukraine and said he would block the country from joining NATO. Those moves have proved highly unpopular with many ordinary Slovakians and sparked a wave of protests across the country. Madrid has adopted a measure to redistribute thousands of unaccompanied migrant minors currently sheltered on the Canary Islands to other parts of Spain. The reform ends a months-long political stalemate between Spain's regions and the central government and is aimed at easing pressure on overcrowded migrant reception centres, mainly in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands is a popular destination for thousands of mostly north African migrants who arrive in the archipelago every year hoping to reach the European Union. For several months, local leaders in the Canaries have complained about a lack of resources to shelter the thousands of unaccompanied children and teenagers who reach their shores. In Spain, which has a population of 49 million, the central government handles the treatment of adult migrants, while regional governments are responsible for unaccompanied minors. After the measure was approved on Tuesday, Ángel Victor Torres, the government minister in charge of Spain's relations with its regions, called it a "milestone in the defence of human rights" and the rights of children. "It would be good for anyone with doubts to visit a migrant centre," said Torres, who previously led the Canary Islands regional government. "And see that in spaces for 20 people, there are 300 people, and that they are kids of 15 years, 10 years and five years." For regions such as the Canary Islands and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa who cannot host more unaccompanied minors, the measure would allow for some of them to be transferred to other regions in Spain, factoring in a region's population, per capita income, unemployment rate and other factors. The Canary Islands are sheltering more than 5,000 unaccompanied minors across the archipelago. Some 4,000 migrants will be transferred elsewhere within mainland Spain. While final numbers are still being worked out, the wealthy Catalonia region that includes Barcelona will only receive between 20 and 30 unaccompanied minors, a spokesperson for the Junts per Catalunya party said. The strip of Atlantic ocean between West Africa and the Canary Islands is one of the world's deadliest migration routed. Nearly 47,000 people who made the crossing last year reached the archipelago, shattering previous records for a second time. Most were citizens of Mali, Senegal and Morocco, with many boarding boats to Spain from the coast of Mauritania. Numbers so far this year are down, according to Spain's Interior Ministry. Almost 11,000 migrants have reached Spain this year by sea as of 15 March, a 21% decrease from the same period last year.
