What Slovakia Is Writing About: Government Approves Budget Without Union Deal, Taraba Wants Transaction Tax Scrapped Sooner

The government approved the draft 2027–2029 budget on Monday, October 5, with a deficit of almost 5% of GDP. It reached no agreement in the Economic and Social Council, where employers and unions both object, and the Constitutional Court may have the final word. Dismissed minister Taraba ties his support for the budget to the early abolition of the transaction tax, and is collecting signatures to found his own party. Danko, meanwhile, accuses him of blackmailing the government. The opposition is still working out whether and how it will unite: SaS presented a programme with more than 400 measures, and according to Gubík, Gröhling wants to exclude the Hungarian Alliance from the united opposition.

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

The government approved the draft budget, but the Economic and Social Council did not reach agreement on it, as both employers and unions oppose it. STVR ↗ The Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia (ZMOS) described the way it was discussed as unacceptable. According to ZMOS, municipalities received the material for review only a few hours before. Hospodárske noviny ↗

Trend quotes ZMOS, which says the budget should not be negotiated this way. Trend ↗ Refresher writes about the year's most important law amid chaos: according to it, no one has seen the budget, and employers are boycotting the government. Refresher ↗ For readers, this means the draft is on the table, but its fate depends on a coalition in which a dispute over Taraba is currently unfolding.

Newsrooms emphasise different things. Denník N writes that Fico brought "good news" in the budget and that net public debt under this government will rise by €30 billion. Denník N ↗ SME claims that pro-growth measures have disappeared and that the deficit has not been reduced. SME ↗ Startitup writes that experts warn of a serious problem and that the budget may conflict with the constitution. Startitup ↗

The SME commentary goes further and agrees with Taraba 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 numbers to the question of who can change it. The government relies on an exception to the debt brake for a deficit budget, and opposition parties have turned to the Constitutional Court to give a binding interpretation of how it applies. Aktuality.sk ↗ The statutory deadline for submitting the draft to parliament is October 15, as we reported in our previous issue.

Taraba and Danko: a dispute fought in the media

Taraba makes support for the state budget conditional on the early abolition of the transaction tax, and claims the money for it exists. STVR ↗ According to Hospodárske noviny, Danko explained why he wanted Taraba's exit from the environment ministry, and Taraba responded that governing with the SNS chairman is impossible. Hospodárske noviny ↗ The SNS chairman responded to Taraba's remarks on TA3 with a video from Prague, 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 broadcast, Taraba said he had told the prime minister before his dismissal that he did not want to remain in the government and 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 does not promise his vote on the budget and has begun collecting signatures to found a party. Standard ↗ According to Standard, he intends to vote in parliament on a law-by-law basis, since he is not a member of any coalition party. .týždeň writes that he wants to set up his own party. .týždeň ↗

Pluska raises the question of whether Taraba's fall will lead to early elections, and carries sharp remarks from politicians. Pluska ↗ Taraba called Michal Šimečka a "home-grown Smer lightweight," and the PS leader replied by asking what it feels like to be the first minister dismissed in 30 years. TA3 ↗

Pellegrini and the Trump wax figure: a dispute with a Markíza reporter

Denník N writes that Pellegrini did not pose with a Trump wax figure, but criticised a Markíza reporter for doing her job. Denník N ↗ As we wrote on October 2, the president posted a photo with the American president on social media. TA3 highlights his own wording: when asked whether he had been photographed with Trump or with his wax figure, he replied, "The pinnacle of Slovak journalism." TA3 ↗ Denník N thus emphasises the dispute with the media, while TA3 focuses on the photo itself.

Elections: Serbian citizens and a 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 chance to vote. Denník N ↗ Aktuality gives the same number and adds that these are the 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 programme "Reštart Slovenska – Deň po Ficovi" with more than 400 measures. Hospodárske noviny ↗ The chairman of the Hungarian Alliance, László Gubík, rejects Gröhling's words and claims that the SaS leader wants to exclude his party from the opposition's unity. TASR ↗ In the Politika 24 programme on JOJ 24, Gröhling said he wants a meeting with Matovič and is not afraid that Matovič will use it for publicity. Standard ↗

Meanwhile, Matovič has reserved squares in all regional cities except Bratislava for November 17 and invited PS, SaS, KDH and Demokrati to them. Žilinak ↗ Aktuality asks whether KDH will lose an MP. According to them, a defection is being negotiated behind the scenes, and the opposition partner is expected to benefit from it. Aktuality.sk ↗

Staškov: compensation and security

The government set aside €240,000 in compensation for the bereaved and injured after the tragedies in Staškov and Spišská Stará Ves. STVR ↗ After the attack in Staškov, Šutaj Eštok said we cannot allow this to happen again and outlined how he intends to act. TA3 ↗ On Tuesday, October 6, parliament is due to continue its 61st session and also vote on the government's draft law on protecting young people from radicalisation. Aktuality.sk ↗ Opposition female politicians described it as insufficient. Hospodárske noviny ↗

Under the radar

Slovakia has confirmed cases 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 warns that the changes will also affect property and families. Bratislavský kuriér ↗ The rush of Slovaks to cheaper petrol in Poland did not happen; according to STVR, many people did not know about the price caps. One of the drivers asked said it up as "a few cents don't solve it." STVR ↗

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