What Slovakia is writing about: Government approves budget without agreement with unions; Taraba wants earlier abolition of the transaction tax in return for support

On Monday, 5 October, the government approved the draft budget for 2027–2029 with a deficit of almost five percent of GDP, although it failed to reach an agreement with employers or trade unions in the Economic and Social Council, and the Constitutional Court may have the final say. Dismissed minister Taraba is making his support for the budget conditional on an earlier abolition of the transaction tax and is collecting signatures to establish his own party, while Danko is accusing him of blackmailing the government, according to ta3. Meanwhile, the opposition is considering whether and how to unite: SaS presented a programme with more than 400 measures, and according to Gubík, Gröhling wants to exclude the Hungarian Alliance from the unification. Three more major developments have since been added: Huliak is talking about taxing online casinos and ending some VAT refunds, the head of the Supreme Audit Office warned in an interview about money laundering through Arab investors, and teachers from Staškov asked the police for help five days before the tragedy. In the afternoon, the dispute moved to parliament: debate on the budget will begin on Wednesday, the coalition wants to hastily ease the rules for provisional budgetary management, and the opposition is criticising this. MPs also approved a reform of medicines policy, while Branislav Zurian testified at the trial in the Kuciak case.

Budget: approved without agreement, with the Constitutional Court in the background

The government approved the draft budget, but the Economic and Social Council failed to reach agreement on it because both employers and trade unions oppose it. STVR ↗ The Association of Towns and Cities of Slovakia called the way it was discussed unacceptable. According to ZMOS, local governments were given only a few hours to assess the material. Hospodárske noviny ↗

Trend quotes ZMOS as saying that a budget should not be discussed in this way. Trend ↗ Refresher writes about the most important law of the year being surrounded by chaos: according to the outlet, nobody has seen the budget and employers are boycotting the government. Refresher ↗ For readers, this means that the draft is on the table, but its further fate depends on the coalition, which is currently dealing with the dispute surrounding Taraba.

Newsrooms are emphasising different points. Denník N writes that Fico has brought a budget of “good news” and that net public debt will rise by €30 billion under the current government. Denník N ↗ SME claims that growth-supporting measures have disappeared and the deficit has not been reduced. SME ↗ Startitup writes that experts are warning of a serious problem and that the budget may conflict with the Constitution. Startitup ↗

SME’s commentary goes further and says Taraba is right that the budget is immoral and dangerous. SME ↗ This is an opinion, not a finding, but it shows where the budget dispute is moving: from the figures to the question of who can change it. The government is relying on an exception to the debt brake for its deficit budget, while opposition parties have turned to the Constitutional Court to obtain a binding interpretation of its application. Aktuality.sk ↗ The draft is now heading to parliament: MPs will begin debating it on Wednesday afternoon, with a vote expected next week. TA3 ↗ STVR ↗

In a commentary, Postoj.sk argues why the opposition should help Fico with the budget. (postoj.sk ↗)

The coalition also wants to unexpectedly change the rules for provisional budgetary management, meaning a situation in which the budget for the new year has not been approved. Aktuality.sk ↗ SME writes that Smer wants to change them hastily and that Finance Minister Kamenický is to receive more power. SME ↗ Šimečka called this Plan B, according to Hospodárske noviny, “the biggest looting in history”. Hospodárske noviny ↗ Opposition MPs also criticised the plan to relax the rules for provisional budgetary management during debate on the amendment to the budgetary rules act. STVR ↗

Expert assessments of the day are critical. Analysts agree, according to Hospodárske noviny, that the 2027 budget makes no effort to restore the health of public finances. Hospodárske noviny ↗ Trend calls it a “safe” budget that does not seek to improve public finances. Trend ↗ Šuster of the Budget Council told Denník N that it is the budget of a government with no greater ambitions than “keeping the heating and lights on”. Denník N ↗ According to TASR, local governments will not be exempt from the strictest debt-brake sanctions. TASR ↗

Taraba and Danko: a dispute conducted through the media

Taraba is making his support for the state budget conditional on an earlier abolition of the transaction tax and claims that the money for this exists. STVR ↗ According to Hospodárske noviny, Danko explained why he wanted Taraba out of the environment ministry, while Taraba responded that it is impossible to govern with the SNS chairman. Hospodárske noviny ↗ The SNS chairman responded to Taraba’s words in a video from Prague on ta3, accusing him of “blackmailing the government until the very last moment” with the threat that Šalitroš and Migaľ would leave with him. In the same programme, Taraba said that before his dismissal he had told the prime minister he no longer wanted to remain in the government and had wanted to leave on his own. TA3 ↗

Aktuality writes that after leaving the ministry, Taraba is setting conditions for savings: halved MPs’ salaries and an end to the transaction tax. Aktuality.sk ↗ Standard writes that Taraba is not promising to vote for the budget and is beginning to collect signatures to establish a party. Standard ↗ According to Standard, he wants to vote in parliament on a bill-by-bill basis because he is not a member of any coalition party. .týždeň writes that he wants to establish his own party. .týždeň ↗

Pluska raises the question of whether Taraba’s fall will lead to early elections and carries politicians’ sharp messages. Pluska ↗ Taraba called Michal Šimečka a “Smer-bred little politician”, and the PS leader responded by asking what it feels like to be the first dismissed minister in 30 years. TA3 ↗

The coalition is entering the debate with a narrow majority, and Fico and Danko are looking for a new minister, according to Hospodárske noviny. Hospodárske noviny ↗ Meanwhile, after being appointed by Fico, Kuffa launched a purge at the environment ministry: he halted the sale of a hotel and dismissed three directors. TA3 ↗ Tibor Gašpar of Smer admitted to Aktuality that he would not bet on the coalition’s stability. Aktuality.sk ↗ SME has meanwhile calculated one of Taraba’s proposals: how much the state would collect from his extraordinary tax on arms companies whose profits are rising sharply. SME ↗

Parliament: medicines reform passes, social networks move to second reading

MPs approved a reform of medicines policy. STVR ↗ According to Refresher, the state promises more accessible medicines and a halt to illegal re-exports. Refresher ↗ Parliament also approved changes to the Audiovisual Fund, which will bring new obligations for streaming platforms. SITA ↗

MPs advanced regulation of social networks to second reading. SME ↗ Under the proposal, people under 16 would no longer necessarily have access to social networks. STVR ↗

Pellegrini and the Trump model: dispute with a Markíza reporter

Denník N writes that Pellegrini did not take a photograph with a model of Trump, but criticised a Markíza reporter for doing her job. Denník N ↗ As we wrote on 2 October, the president posted a photograph with the US president on social media. Ta3 highlights his own wording: when asked whether he had taken a photograph with Trump or with a model of him, he replied, “The pinnacle of Slovak journalism”. TA3 ↗ Denník N thus emphasises the dispute with the media, while ta3 focuses on the dispute over the photograph itself.

Elections: Serbian citizens and the dispute over voting in Bratislava

The dispute concerns Serbian citizens living in Slovakia. Denník N writes that more than 500 of them may be left without the opportunity to vote. Denník N ↗ Aktuality gives the same number and adds that these are parliamentary elections in Serbia. Aktuality.sk ↗ SME describes the dispute from the other side: an initiative of Serbs in Slovakia complains that they will not be able to vote in Bratislava. SME ↗

Opposition: programme, meeting and the Hungarian Alliance

SaS presented its Restart Slovakia – The Day After Fico programme, with more than 400 measures. Hospodárske noviny ↗ László Gubík, chairman of the Hungarian Alliance, rejects Gröhling’s words and claims that the SaS chairman wants to exclude his party from unifying the opposition. TASR ↗ In the Politika 24 programme on JOJ 24, Gröhling said he wanted a meeting with Matovič and was not afraid that Matovič would record him. Standard ↗

Meanwhile, Matovič reserved squares in all regional capitals except Bratislava for 17 November and invited PS, SaS, KDH and the Democrats to them. Žilinak ↗ Aktuality asks whether KDH will lose an MP. According to the outlet, a transfer is being negotiated behind the scenes, one that is supposed to benefit an opposition partner. Aktuality.sk ↗

PS won a new poll, according to Refresher; as many as eight parties would enter parliament, and no government could be formed without Matovič. Refresher ↗ In the same poll, SITA emphasises that Matovič’s Slovakia achieved a significant milestone. SITA ↗ Meanwhile, Smer is criticising the opposition and claims that Matovič is radicalising young people. SME ↗

As for whether KDH will lose an MP: according to Refresher, Gröhling hinted at a new recruit for SaS, while Kolejáková rejects speculation about a transfer. Refresher ↗ Gröhling told TASR that it is not enough merely to talk about Fico and that he is interested in what comes the day after him. TASR ↗

Staškov: compensation and safety

The government allocated €240,000 in compensation for the bereaved and injured following the tragedies in Staškov and Spišská Stará Ves. STVR ↗ After the attack in Staškov, Šutaj Eštok said that we cannot afford for this to happen again and outlined how he intends to act. TA3 ↗ On Tuesday, 6 October, parliament is to continue its 61st session and also vote on the government’s bill on protecting young people from radicalisation. Aktuality.sk ↗ Opposition politicians called it inadequate. Hospodárske noviny ↗

Nový Čas writes that teachers from Staškov asked the police for help five days before the tragedy; according to the outlet, these are new facts in the case. (Nový Čas ↗)

Hlas presented five measures to improve the protection of children from violence. SME ↗ According to Aktuality, they are also meant to protect children from hatred online. Aktuality.sk ↗ Meanwhile, the funeral of Božena, a teacher who died in the attack, took place in Staškov; according to Nový Čas, her injured colleague and Education Minister Drucker also attended. Nový Čas ↗ At a school in Švábovce near Poprad, police are dealing with threats made by a pupil against a female classmate. Aktuality.sk ↗

Head of the Supreme Audit Office: Arab investors in irrigation and dirty money

In an interview with Aktuality, the head of the Supreme Audit Office speaks about Arab investors in irrigation and the threat of money laundering. Aktuality also links the issue to Prime Minister Fico. (Aktuality.sk ↗)

Kuciak case: Zurian testifies

At the Specialized Criminal Court in Pezinok, Branislav Zurian, former head of NAKA’s anti-organised-crime unit, testified in the murder case of Ján Kuciak. SITA writes that he described how Peter Tóth became a witness. SITA ↗ SME highlights his account of meetings with Tóth and Kriak. SME ↗ Nový Čas brings up the detail that Tóth allegedly had Kočner’s phones in his possession. Nový Čas ↗ Denník N notes that Zurian was proposed by the defence to cast doubt on witness Tóth. Denník N ↗

Under the radar

Slovakia has confirmed the occurrence of bluetongue disease in cattle, so far in two cases. SME ↗ Meanwhile, parliament approved a new Civil Code. Inheritance, contracts and limitation periods are changing; Bratislavský kuriér points out that the changes will also affect property and families. Bratislavský kuriér ↗ The expected rush of Slovaks to cheaper petrol in Poland did not materialise; according to STVR, many people were unaware of the price cap. One of the drivers interviewed summed it up by saying that “a few cents do not solve the problem”. STVR ↗

Nový Čas writes that Huliak is talking about taxing online casinos and ending some VAT refunds; according to the headline, gambling will pay more. (Nový Čas ↗)

Refresher writes that the minimum wage will rise again in 2027 and that all levels of work difficulty will receive an increase. (Refresher ↗)

The Slovak Hydrometeorological Office has officially recognised a new Slovak temperature record: 42.2 °C was measured on 6 August in Dolné Plachtince. Refresher ↗

Huliak’s Rural Party has been renamed Huliak’s Rural Party and, according to Refresher, promises jobs for Roma people as well as a ban on timber exports. Refresher ↗

Slovakia will host a summit of V4 presidents on 4 and 5 November, with European Commission President von der Leyen also attending. STVR ↗ According to Trenčín.zoznam, the summit will take place in Trenčín and its main topic is expected to be EU enlargement. Trenčín.zoznam ↗

Via Iuris claims that the government’s package of judicial changes threatens the independence of the courts and takes them back to the era of Harabin. SITA ↗ According to SME, the Justice Ministry does not share this position. SME ↗

Police solved the murder in Vajnory: they charged two Ukrainians who, according to Aktuality, disappeared from Slovakia. Aktuality.sk ↗ A 31-year-old employee died in a workplace accident at the Minit bakery plant in Dunajská Streda. STVR ↗

What hotinfo is following