By Peter Dlhopolec
Copyright sme
Greetings from Slovakia, where coalition MPs have decided to “suffer” alongside the people — and where the Peter Kotlár saga has made a comeback, perhaps to distract from the government’s consolidation package.
It’s Thursday, 18 September, and you’re reading Today in Slovakia. Welcome.
Back in June, Slovensko tried to freeze the wages of MPs, ministers and even the president. The bill didn’t survive first reading. The opposition movement accused the ruling coalition of happily tightening belts for everyone but themselves.
Three months, a round of protests and two more in the diary later, and the coalition has shifted. On Thursday, coalition MPs said they’ll freeze their own pay and allowances in 2026.
Numbers: An MP’s salary is pegged to the average wage, which is rising next year. Without action, their salaries would go up too. Instead, they’ll lose about €220 a month — €2,600 a year.
Speaker Richard Raši (Hlas) sold it as solidarity: “In difficult times, not only the state but politicians themselves must save. This is a show of solidarity by MPs that consolidation will touch us personally too.” The freeze will be folded into the consolidation package next week.
Slovensko is calling foul. Their own June proposal was a €608 monthly cut. So they’ve branded the coalition’s offer “fake solidarity”. Their line: €220 is pocket change for an MP. They’ll table an amendment with deeper cuts and dare the coalition to back it.
Context: The average wage last year was €1,524. MPs in 2025 make €4,115 a month before allowances. Those allowances? Between €2,744 and €3,201 — plus €4,115 for staff and office costs.
Question mark: Will ministers and the prime minister follow suit?
Fico off sick, Kotlár takes the stage (again)
PM Robert Fico is down with a virus. The PM scrapped his entire Thursday schedule, according to his office. That’s literally all we know. But where Fico fell silent, his pandemic envoy Peter Kotlár (SNS) took centre stage.
THE KOTLÁR DRAMA: Kotlár declared he won’t hand over his long-promised pandemic reports until ministers and President Peter Pellegrini meet his conditions. “If the government doesn’t like my work, then let them sack me,” he shot back.
THE DEADLINE THAT SLIPPED (AGAIN): Kotlár’s report was due in June. Fico postponed it until after the Slovak Academy of Sciences released its €350,000 vaccine study. Result? Vaccines are safe, Kotlár’s DNA theories are bunk. The government still hasn’t debated the findings — and Kotlár now says there’ll be no outputs until the 2026 budget passes.
KOTLÁR’S WISHLIST:
He wants: – PM Fico to reject updated international health rules before budget season.- Hlas ministers to cough up audits of pandemic spending. – Kamil Šaško (health minister) to prove why he says vaccines are safe. – Maroš Žilinka (prosecutor general) to update him on mRNA investigations.- Public debates featuring disinfo stars Ján Lakota and Soňa Peková.Until then? Silence.
THE HLAS SPLIT: Kotlár accused coalition partner Hlas of narrowing his powers. Hlas clapped back: stop the excuses, stop the conspiracy detours, deliver the report you were hired for.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I won’t be anyone’s clown for two years.” — Peter Kotlár.
THE OPPOSITION CHARGE: Progressive Slovakia’s MP Oskar Dvořák called him “Fico’s fig leaf”. Slovensko’s MP and former health minister Marek Krajčí said the PM “released Kotlár” to distract from looming belt-tightening. Fico made it crystal clear over the summer — he trusts Kotlár, and sacking him will happen only “over my dead body”.
BOTTOM LINE: Eighteen months in, Kotlár has produced zero findings on pandemic spending and mismanagement. Instead, he runs on “intuition”, makes demands, and attacks coalition partners. The only consistent output? Noise.
THROWBACK: On 7 September, TV presenter Lenka Ježová challenged MP Kotlár during a live interview with remarks from his study’s co-author Richard Fleming, who stressed their paper never claimed DNA levels in vaccines exceeded limits – contradicting Kotlár. Kotlár sidestepped, saying he hadn’t seen Fleming’s post on X and would not ask him directly, arguing the matter was for court experts. Fleming still deems mRNA vaccines harmful. (JOJ 24)
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
Weekend in Slovakia: Wine in Pezinok, world and classical music in Bratislava, hikes, cosplay, fujara, vintage trams and kites in the sky. Diplomatic spat: The Foreign Ministry protests against the Czech minister’s presence at Bratislava rally, accusing him of meddling; Prague says it was private. Consulate shuffle: Ex-railways chief and Kaliňák ally Alexander Sako is tipped for the Istanbul post, replacing a career diplomat after a year.Broken trust: Police and firefighters stage a rare protest after the government backtracks on a wage deal, calling it a betrayal.Cyber shock: A cyberattack halts JLR’s Slovak plant for three weeks, forcing suppliers to cut shifts and sparking pleas for government support. Big brother: Slovakia’s new energy aid law offers wide relief but critics warn of intrusive data collection without an opt-out. Energy faultline: President Trump and Finland’s Stubb single out Slovakia and Hungary for fuelling Moscow’s war chest by buying Russian energy.
The 11 most striking rock formations in Slovakia
From limestone towers and volcanic cliffs to caves and “mushrooms”, Slovakia offers 11 striking natural formations – each an easy hike with a glimpse into the country’s ancient geology.
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Cheap flat scandal
Opposition MP Alojz Hlina (SaS) has accused state forestry company Lesy SR of selling a flat in Stupava to the son of a senior manager for just €2,600. Hlina claims the deal was arranged by procurement chief Ivan Danček and enabled by a lease-to-purchase manoeuvre. Danček countered that the property had been derelict for more than a decade, requiring costly renovation. Lesy SR insisted the sale complied with the law, but said it was moving to annul the contract and dismissed Danček from his post, citing a duty to uphold transparency and integrity.
Hlina sceptical: In a Denník N podcast, SaS MP Hlina poured cold water on talk of a general strike matching 1989, saying such momentum needs “a different kind of energy under the pot”. He conceded some action could still have impact. Hlina also predicted that five opposition parties – PS, KDH, SaS, Slovensko and Demokrati – will certainly not all make it to parliament. “Someone has to drop out,” he said.
IN OTHER NEWS
Former finance minister and central bank governor Peter Kažimír has appealed a May court verdict that found him guilty of bribery. He insists the ruling is unlawful and maintains he committed no crime, his lawyers told reporters on Thursday. Slovakia’s coalition pushed its consolidation package through first reading with all 79 MPs in favour on Wednesday, including the far-right Huliak faction and Hlas MP Ján Ferenčák. Coalition MPs first cut short debate on whether the consolidation package should be fast-tracked, then curtailed discussion in the first reading itself. The opposition walked out. Final approval requires second and third readings later this session, when amendments are still possible.Slovakia’s Nation’s Memory Institute has published details of 97 members of the Zbor povereníkov (Board of Commissioners), a proto-government body that operated between 1944 and 1960. The release expands its online database of officials from the communist and wartime regimes, with further lists of Slovak National Council deputies from 1948–1990 still to come. Since Robert Fico returned as prime minister, even senior Smer MP Marián Kéry, who chairs parliament’s foreign affairs committee, says he is left out of the loop. “I won’t pretend the PM consults me on his foreign trips, because he doesn’t,” Kéry told Sme. People in Slovakia have only a short time left to switch health insurers. The process is straightforward and can be completed online.Spy chief Pavol Gašpar denied owning any Czech company after questions over Prague-based Colbey Company. Public records still list Gašpar as 90 percent owner of Colbey, which is under investigation for failing to file accounts. Slovakia’s deputy prime minister’s office for the recovery plan and knowledge economy has launched a new state portal, www.oze.gov.sk, to provide information on renewable energy. The site initially focuses on wind power, which officials say is key to the country’s future energy mix.
The Finance Ministry says spending cuts will save €1.3bn, but the fiscal council warns most measures remain unspecified. So far, adjustments worth just €282m have been presented, leaving a €1bn gap and doubts over the government’s consolidation plan. Slovakia’s state rail operator ZSSK suffered another outage on Thursday afternoon, with its online ticket shop and Ideme vlakom app both down. Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová (SNS nom.) was discharged from hospital on Wednesday morning and sent home for treatment after a sudden health scare the previous day. Officials said she is feeling better and should soon return to work. Slovakia’s armed forces have received their first Patria 8×8 armoured ambulance, capable of transporting up to five patients with equipment compatible with civilian rescue services. Nine more are due by the end of 2025, part of a €447m order for 76 vehicles.Bratislava will host the BRATISLAVAI Forum from 23–26 November, a series of international events on the future of AI and education marking 25 years of Slovakia’s OECD membership. The government has allocated €817,628 for organisation and funding.
FRIDAY WEATHER BRIEFING: Cooler day ahead — mostly clear, but with more clouds in the north and east and the odd shower. Highs around 18°C. (SHMÚ)
NAME DAY: Friday is Konštantín’s name day — congrats to everyone celebrating.
SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE ON FRIDAY: the Biela pastelka (White Crayon) public collection is raising funds to help people with severe visual impairments. The event takes place in streets across Slovakia.
WHAT TO WATCH ON FRIDAY: Emma Zapletalová lines up for the 400m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo at 14:27. The Slovak star already exceeded expectations in the semis, running just four hundredths off her national record — and in lane two, she can only surprise.
DON’T FORGET: the fjúžn festival kicks off on Friday. A highlight of September, it offers a full week of events — some free, some ticketed — so make sure to catch at least one.
That’s all for today. Thanks for reading — Iryna will take over on Friday. Wishing you a great weekend.
P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
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