By Matúš Beňo

Copyright sme

Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, September 17 edition of Today in Slovakia – the main news of the day in a few minutes.

New face at STVR raises concerns about more pro-Russian views

Public broadcaster STVR’s newsroom has brought in several new faces, mainly from private TV Markíza and news channel TA3. According to the daily Sme, these include former TA3 host Anka Žitná, known for her close ties with ministers and government politicians who regularly appear on her online show, which also spreads Russian war propaganda.

The daily notes that Žitná has also hosted lawyers such as Marek Para, who, in addition to advising PM Robert Fico (Smer), represents politically connected businessman Norbert Bödör and Smer vice-chair Tibor Gašpar. Both face charges ranging from bribery to abuse of power. Another newcomer is Dag Daniš, until recently a columnist for the online daily Štandard and now active on a new conspiracy website, Marker.

Žitná rarely gives space to opposition politicians. This year, only SaS MP Jana Bittó Cigániková has appeared on her show.

In 2023, Žitná left TA3 after a dispute over an interview with American economist Jeffrey Sachs, who promotes Russian war propaganda. After criticism, the channel removed the interview from its archive. Žitná said that the interview was approved and called the move an infringement on her authorship and left two months later.

Other additions to the STVR newsroom include reporters Soňa Cipínová, Marián Lechan and Zuzana Lechanová from Markíza. Monika Hajko, formerly of TA3, also joined this summer.

According to Nový Čas, STVR director Martina Flašíková said the changes aim to ensure the public views the broadcaster’s news as a credible source with an emphasis on facts and impartiality. However, Sme points out two of Žitná’s interviews from late 2024 titled “Fighting disinformation is an effective tool of censorship” and “Fighting hoaxes is just a pretext for silencing other opinions.”

STVR is also in talks with Austrian conservative author Martino Leidenfrost, a former contributor to Štandard who now writes for the conservative daily Postoj. In Slovakia, he is known for claiming that LGBTI people have become a tool of an ideology that “atomises the state, family and the individual.”

As part of its autumn programming changes, STVR has also cancelled its radio show Overovňa (Fact-checker), which focused on exposing disinformation and hoaxes on Rádio Slovensko. The show previously faced political pressure; SNS chair Andrej Danko objected to pro-Russian bikers from the Brat za Brata club being called a gang, while Daniš also attacked the programme.

MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE

AUTOMOTIVE: South Korean company DH Autolead Slovakia officially opened a new plant in the industrial park in northern Slovakia, with big plans for the future.BUSINESS: Slovaks swipe, but cash is still king in many places. Tax changes and rural gaps are behind rising popularity of physical money.TRANSPORT PROBLEMS: Less than four years after opening, the operating area of Bratislava’s Nivy station has been reduced almost by half, caused by disputes. HISTORY TALKS: The southern Slovak town of Nové Zámky – literally New Castles – takes its plural name from the fact that two fortresses once stood there: an old one and a new one.TOP 10 EVENTS: Choose between folk, rock, or classical music, create a unique ceramic mug, or let your kite soar into the sky.

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.

FEATURE STORY

Creating a community

Writing home about how they fared, Slovaks in America inspired many more to try their luck overseas.

The envelope with the letter often contained money for the trip or even a boat ticket. It was not unusual for the first family daredevil to be followed by other members and eventually even acquaintances from their home village. Thus, numerous Slovak communities and neighbourhoods formed in American cities.

TIP FOR AN UPCOMING EVENT

Bratislava Music Festival

Celebrating its 60th edition, the Bratislava Music Festival has earned respect across Europe and once again aims to bring renowned ensembles and performers from around the world to the Slovak capital. Running from September 19 to October 5, the festival will showcase the full variety of classical music, including overlaps with jazz, dance, and film music. Audiences can look forward to performances by the London Symphony Orchestra, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester Hamburg, Wiener Philharmoniker, and more. Find out more about the programme and tickets here.

IN OTHER NEWS

Since the start of 2025, food prices in Slovakia have risen by 3.4 percent, compared with 40 percent in previous years. Slovakia currently has the third-highest food inflation in the euro area, behind Poland and Hungary. Prices are expected to stabilise in the autumn, with some commodities, such as flour and bakery products, likely to become cheaper, while others, like coffee and sugar, may rise. The government’s planned consolidation package, along with rising wages and VAT, could also affect prices. (SME)According to analysts, Slovakia’s inflation in 2025 is expected to reach around 4 percent, before dropping below this level next year. However, it will still remain above the current EU average of about 2 percent. Analysts shared their views in response to data on August’s year-on-year growth in consumer prices for goods and services. (TASR)The first stage of remediation of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been completed at the Chemko Strážske site in the Košice Region. Since June, 150 tonnes of toxic waste have been transported from the site in lorries under strict safety conditions. The Environment Ministry is now preparing the second stage of the cleanup. By the end of the year, it plans to announce a tender for the disposal of approximately 5,000 barrels of hazardous PCB waste. Work is also underway on a geological survey project for the site. (TASR)Up to 22 Slovak ice-hockey players in 15 teams are set to take part in the NHL training camps starting Wednesday. Only four of them have a secure roster spot: Erik Černák (Tampa Bay), Martin Fehérváry (Washington), Juraj Slafkovský (Montreal), and Martin Pospíšil (Calgary). The goal of the camps is to evaluate players and trim teams to their active rosters. Attending camp does not guarantee a place on the team; cut players may be sent to affiliates or back to their original clubs. (TASR)

The occurrence of Flavescence dorée has been confirmed in a vineyard in the village of Choňkovce, Sobrance district, eastern Slovakia. The disease was detected in Müller-Thurgau and Frankovka Modrá vines. Quarantine measures and a demarcated area have been declared: the village itself is considered an infected zone, and the Sobrance district a buffer zone. All symptomatic plants will be eradicated, while planting and propagating are prohibited. (TASR)Progressive Slovakia and SaS MPs on the parliamentary oversight committee for the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) are calling on the government and President Peter Pellegrini to dismiss SIS director Pavol Gašpar. They argue that he failed to answer questions about his recent car accident and property declaration, and described his replies as arrogant. Mária Kolíková (SaS) added that Gašpar cast doubt on information linking the Ukrainian detainee behind recent school bomb threats to Russia. Committee deputy chair Peter Šuca (Smer) expressed full confidence in Gašpar, who denies wrongdoing and plans to clarify his position before another parliamentary committee. (TASR)Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba (SNS nominee) said Slovakia will not support proposed changes to the EU Green Deal set for discussion on Thursday. He criticised the plan to tighten emission standards from 2050 to 2040, again calling the Green Deal a “scientifically and economically baseless ideological concept.” (TASR)During European Mobility Week, running from September 16 to 22, Bratislava’s Public Transport Company (DPB) is deploying historic trams (T2 and T3), trolleybuses (Škoda 14Tr and 15Tr), and buses (Ikarus 415 and 435) from its fleet. Designated with letters A, H, and M, they will operate between 15:00 and 19:00, following a loop route that lets passengers experience vehicles that once roamed Bratislava. Rides on historic vehicles are free of charge. (DPB)

WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Night temperatures in valleys may drop to 0°C, with a Level 1 ground frost warning for several districts in northern, central, and eastern Slovakia. During the day, expect partly cloudy to sunny skies, with highs of 15–23°C. (SHMÚ)

SEPTEMBER 18 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: It is Eugénia’s time to be in the spotlight, wish her Všetko najlepšie!

Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.

P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram(@slovakspectator).

Join our newsletter family and never miss a Slovak moment: Today in Slovakia | Last Week in Slovakia | Slovak Science| Spectacular Slovakia | Slovak Roots