Encouragement to President Zuzana Čaputová in her stand against Robert Fico, swans threatened by poppy addiction, Old City Days in Žilina.
Good afternoon. Here’s the Friday, May 26 edition of Today in Slovakia – the most important news of the day in less than five minutes.
Refugees forced to travel long distances to get abortions
Ukrainian refugees seeking abortion in Slovakia face multiple obstacles, reproductive health charities report. Most are unfamiliar with the right of conscientious objection that allows Slovak doctors – and sometimes entire hospitals – to refuse to perform abortions. As a result, some are forced to travel back to Ukraine, a war zone, to receive care. Many of the refugees in question are already victims of assault by Russian soldiers. Refugees in general also often struggle to afford reproductive health and sanitation products. When it comes to health care for Ukrainian LGBT+ refugees in Slovakia, activists are simply advising them to leave the country and head west.
Ukrainian refugees are often not familiar with the rules regarding abortion in the Slovak healthcare system. (illustrative photo). (Source: Ján Krošlák, SME)
More from the Slovak Spectator websitee
- Nature: Dozens of swans addicted to poppy sprouts in southern Slovakia are at risk of dying.
- Bratislava: A concert by Depeche Mode, a street food festival and a collector’s day event are just a few highlights from our Top 10 tips for foreigners in Bratislava.
- Weekend: The work of the famous Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha is now ready for visitors in Piešťany. This is what to do on the weekend.
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Event for today
The Žilina Old City Days are here
Until Sunday, May 27, visitors and residents of Žilina can enjoy an exciting and colorful program during the Old Town Days. You can look forward to concerts by current Slovak artists, a chamber concert, orchestral music and more.
The Old City Days focus on Námestie Andrej Hlinka and Mariánske Námestie in Žilina, northern Slovakia.
Today’s events start at 2pm on Námestie Andreja Hlinku and conclude with concerts at 10pm. On Mariánske Námestie, the program starts at 4 p.m. with the State Chamber Orchestra of Žilina and closes at around 9 p.m. with another concert.
The program on Sunday 27 May will start at 2 pm on Mariánske Námestie with an ecumenical prayer and will conclude with a performance by the Jan Valjean Orchestra at 9 pm.
We need a bigger door: the key to Žilina’s city gates. (Source: Daniel Stehlik, TASR)
In other news
- On balance, President Zuzana Čaputová is supported in her legal action against opposition leader Robert Fico (Smer), a new poll suggests. Fico recently intensified his years-long smear campaign against Čaputová by calling her an “US agent”. The Ipsos polling station conducted a poll for the daily newspaper Denník N which showed that 49 percent of people support her decision, while 29 percent disagree. (Dennik N)
- Surcharge for Ukrainian people may change. Prime Minister Ľudovít Ódor wants to support working Ukrainians and single mothers, but he and his cabinet say current solutions for short-term benefits are not motivating for Ukrainians. Slovak citizens hosting Ukrainian refugees will continue to receive an allowance until the end of the year. (TASR)
- The cabinet has withdrawn a proposal for life partnerships for LGBT+ people. The government does not consider the proposal sufficient. The original suggestion about fiduciary statements would have changed inheritance law, health care rights and the rules for protecting minors. (TASR)
- NOVA and OĽaNO will join forces in the upcoming general elections. NOVA leader Gábor Grendel said the two sides have a shared focus on tackling corruption. (SME)
Rastislav Očenáš, teacher of mathematics, computer science and Slovak language, has been named Slovak Teacher of the Year. (Source: Pavel Neubauer, TASR)Weather forecast
This weekend the weather will be beautiful: both Saturday and Saturday sunny and warm with temperatures of 23-24°C.
There may be some rain in western Slovakia on Monday, with temperatures around 22°C. (SHMU)
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