By Matúš Beňo

Copyright sme

Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, October 1 edition of Today in Slovakia – the main news of the day in a few minutes.

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Investment minister’s plot twist: Pellegrini to oust Fico?

Eight months ago, government representatives spoke of an attempted coup allegedly involving NGOs, the opposition, and “Georgian and Ukrainian actors”. Now, Investment Minister Samuel Migaľ has presented a new theory. Citing no evidence and offering unclear sources, he claimed that President Peter Pellegrini intends to topple Robert Fico’s government (Smer) and replace it with a technocratic cabinet, the Sme daily reports.

“I received information from progressive circles that Pellegrini, after returning from the US [where he attended the UN General Assembly – Ed. note], wants to overthrow the government and form a technocratic one,” Migaľ said on Wednesday.

According to Migaľ, the scenario would unfold as follows: Pellegrini would pressure Fico to dismiss Migaľ, thereby breaching the coalition agreement and several addenda adopted in the spring after a government reshuffle aimed at stabilising the coalition. That reshuffle followed a rebellion by several coalition MPs, including Migaľ, who was expelled from Hlas but later appointed the investment minister.

Following his dismissal, Hlas – allegedly acting on behalf of the president – would use the breach to trigger a no-confidence vote, which would pass with opposition support. The motion would also involve a change of leadership at Hlas. Pellegrini would then, like his predecessor Zuzana Čaputová in 2023, appoint a technocratic government backed by a majority of 80 MPs.

The Sme daily notes that the theory contains many unresolved elements: why Fico would dismiss Migaľ if it could spell the government’s collapse – especially when Fico often says there is no other alternative; why Migaľ’s departure would automatically bring down the cabinet; and why there has been no indication that Hlas chair Matúš Šutaj Eštok is to be replaced. Also analysts point out that there is no reason for the opposition to want the government overthrown due to dissatisfaction with the consolidation and the problems the country is facing.

Asked by a Sme reporter whether his claim amounted to a conspiracy theory, Migaľ replied cryptically: “Those who were supposed to get it, got it.”

The Presidential Office called Migaľ’s statement “an absolute lie”, stressing that the president has no authority to decide whether a government stays or falls. It added that Migaľ should not seek to mask his lack of results by inventing an internal enemy. Hlas vice-chair and Speaker of Parliament Richard Raši expressed a similar view.

Coalition partner SNS leader Andrej Danko, who has frequently criticised both Hlas and Pellegrini in recent months, said he thought Migaľ had “analysed it pretty well”.

MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE

POLITICS: Newly obtained documentation shows how much will the director of Slovakia’s intelligence service pay for his car that he had damaged. Discount inlucded. BUSINESS: Despite ongoing uncertainty, Slovakia’s wealthiest continue to grow richer, Forbes magazine noted in its latest ranking of the richest Slovaks.ENERGY: The government will continue providing energy aid to Slovak households in 2026 to help them cover bills for electricity, natural gas and heating. TOP 10 EVENTS: Experience contemporary art at Biela Noc, step back into the world of the Roman Empire, and celebrate Indian culture at the Diwali Festival. HISTORY TALKS: A postcard from the 1920s depicts typical mining houses that could once be found throughout the whole of central Slovakia’s mining region of Hauerland.

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FEATURE STORY

Finding work in the space sector

Lenka Tkáčová is co-founder of the Slovak branch of the Women in Aerospace initiative, which aims to promote women’s work in the space sector. In an interview, she talks about how to spark the curiosity of children and how having a real life role model in the space sector is crucial at the age when children are most enthusiastic.

IN OTHER NEWS

Due to health issues, PM Robert Fico (Smer) did not travel to the European Union and European Political Community (EPC) summit in Denmark, where leaders are tp discuss strengthening European defence and support for Ukraine. The health problems are said to be linked to the assassination attempt on him last year. (TASR)Opposition MP Marek Krajčí (Slovensko), who unexpectedly voted in favour of the constitutional amendment last Friday, will remain in both the party and its caucus. Both rejected his offer to resign. “With respect and gratitude I have accepted the decision of the caucus and the Slovensko movement, the offered hand of forgiveness and a new beginning. I believe that time and a kind approach can heal many things,” he said. (TASR)Meanwhile, Kresťanská Únia (KÚ) MP Richard Vašečka, who also backed the amendment, is leaving the Slovensko–Za Ľudí–KÚ caucus and will serve as an independent. As the sole KÚ deputy, his departure leaves the caucus composed only of Slovensko and Za Ľudí MPs. Vašečka, who does not currently plan to join another caucus, said his decision was tied to disagreement over the expulsion of Rastislav Krátky, another amendment supporter from Slovensko. He added that the KÚ party was surprised that the decisions of Krátky and Krajčí had caused a “huge explosion” within Slovensko. (TASR)

The 39th parliamentary session ended on Wednesday. Several dozen proposals, including opposition motions to dismiss ministers, a no-confidence vote in the government, and the law on so-called Covid amnesties vetoed by President Peter Pellegrini, have been postponed to the next session beginning on October 14. Some proposals have been repeatedly delayed, with several originally submitted as early as January. The opposition accuses the coalition of undermining democratic principles, particularly over ministerial dismissals. (TASR)Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer) said Slovakia plans to present its own version of a drone wall on NATO’s eastern flank at the Denmark meeting. He noted that some countries will not have sufficient funds to build such systems and claimed Slovakia’s model could be significantly cheaper than existing technologies, though he provided no details. (TASR)Kaliňák will travel to Ukraine on Sunday, October 5. He said only that the trip is connected to the planned joint Slovak-Ukrainian government meeting in Michalovce, eastern Slovakia, on October 17. (TASR)Between October 1–10, Bratislava is gradually shutting down fountains ahead of the winter. The last to be turned off will be those on Hodžovo Námestie, Hlavné Námestie and Hviezdoslavovo Námestie squares. The process includes thorough inspections to protect the fountains from winter damage. (TASR)

EVENT: Do you feel this year’s edition of the Uprising festival was too short, and next year’s still too far away? Then don’t miss Friday’s club version of the festival, featuring Australian street performer and beatboxer Dub FX and British saxophonist Woodnote. The event takes place at the MMC club, with special-price tickets still available. Find out more here.

WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Expect partly cloudy to overcast skies, particularly in the north and east. Snow is likely above 1,200 metres, with warnings issued for the High Tatras and surrounding areas. Daytime temperatures will range from 5°C to 9°C in the north and 9°C to 14°C elsewhere. (SHMÚ)

OCTOBER 2 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: All the best to Levoslavs marking their nameday in Slovakia on Thursday.

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