As legal debates swirl over who qualifies for political rights in Slovakia, over 130 students from 31 countries are set to arrive in Bratislava to do something more fundamental: learn the Slovak language itself. The 61st edition of Studia Academica Slovaca, the country’s flagship summer school for Slovak language and culture, kicks off on 28 July at Comenius University.
Participants hail from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas — from France and Finland to Japan, Iran, and the USA. The programme includes everything from grammar drills and translation seminars to folk music workshops and weekend excursions across Slovakia’s cultural landmarks. It is Slovakia’s language diplomacy in action — and a reminder that interest in Slovak identity runs far beyond its borders.
Save the date: On 14 August at 16:00 in Moyzes Hall, students will present their creative work in Sami sebe — an afternoon of theatre, dance, music, and more. Come support them!
Who really gets a say in Slovak politics?
Public Defender of Rights Róbert Dobrovodský during a press conference on March 31, 2025 in Bratislava. (source: TASR – Pavel Neubauer)
Slovakia’s public defender of rights, Róbert Dobrovodský, has reignited a constitutional debate over who gets to participate in the country’s political life. Last week, he filed two major objections to the current Political Parties Act.
The crux: Under current Slovak law, citizens without permanent residence in the country are barred from key political rights, such as joining or founding a political party, voting in party organs, or being elected to party leadership. Dobrovodský calls this unconstitutional, and legal experts are backing him up.
The kicker: Citizens of other EU countries who do hold permanent residence in Slovakia have those rights. “That gives foreign nationals a higher political standing than Slovaks living abroad,” Dobrovodský argued. “It’s legally and morally indefensible.”
Expert backing: Constitutional lawyer Vincent Bujňák says the ombudsman’s objections are not only valid but urgent: “The Constitution guarantees political rights to all citizens. Limitations can only exist if they are absolutely necessary in a democratic society — for national security or public order. This fails that test.” (Rádio Slovensko)
By the numbers: That means a Slovak citizen living in Rajka or Kittsee — towns just over the Austrian and Hungarian borders, home to many daily commuters — can vote in national elections, but cannot join a political party or help found one. Paradox? Absolutely.
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION TOO? Dobrovodský also flagged a second clause, which limits political rights to those with full legal capacity — effectively excluding some people with disabilities, regardless of their individual circumstances. He argues that this violates not just the Slovak Constitution, but also international conventions Slovakia has signed.
Minister will listen: Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) has taken note. His ministry — which is behind the current draft amendment — says it plans to meet with Dobrovodský’s office once the comment process concludes. “We’ll assess all the comments seriously,” Šutaj Eštok told Rádio Slovensko. “All reasonable proposals will be taken into account. That’s how this process works.”
But that’s not all… The proposed Interior Ministry amendment also includes:
Raising the election threshold for public party financing to 5 percent
Locking party names and acronyms for five years
Increasing the election deposit for candidates
If approved, these changes would take effect in the next electoral cycle.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR
LANDLOCKED, NOT ISOLATED: Experts say even landlocked countries need smart maritime strategies — and for Slovakia, that means building faster rail links to seaports like Koper, Trieste, and Gdańsk.
X-RAY DISPUTE: Patients in Slovakia are raising alarms over dental clinics charging for X-rays as a condition for free preventive check-ups — despite the service being publicly insured.
BETTING ON SUN: Austrian firm Enery is investing €60 million into two major solar farms in southern Slovakia.
BEARING TROUBLE: A Slovak firm is accused of breaching EU sanctions by exporting components to Russia via intermediaries — the company denies any wrongdoing.
ROBO-POST ROLLS IN: A new autonomous postal vehicle named mAlka will begin trial deliveries in Bratislava’s city centre this summer.
RISE AND CLIMB: Start your day above the clouds. From gentle forest paths to rocky ridges, these five central Slovak peaks offer unforgettable sunrise views and a peaceful escape into nature.
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PROFILE INTERVIEW The woman behind Tesco’s most human workplace initiatives
Miroslava Rychtárechová (source: Courtesy, Maxman Consultants)
Miroslava Rychtárechová has built a career centred on compassion, creating award-winning programmes that support employees with disabilities, cancer, or difficult life situations. She believes meaningful HR starts with understanding people’s real needs.
SCOOTERGATE Tabaková takes a tumble
There are rules, and then there are Bolt’s rules. And as former MP Romana Tabaková — a figure often mocked and criticised for her controversial statements on LGBT+ issues and her penchant for swimming in off-limits places — just found out, breaking them will get you kicked off — scooter and all.
What happened: A photo surfaced last week showing Tabak riding a shared Bolt e-scooter through central Bratislava with her little son onboard — a clear breach of the platform’s safety policy, which forbids tandem riding.
Romana Tabaková with her son (source: Zomri)
Bolt’s response: Decisive and unflinching. Her user account was deactivated, citing internal rules aimed at keeping the service “safe and responsible” for everyone.
Tabak’s reaction: Contrite — sort of. Posting Bolt’s message to her social channels, she added: “Thank you for caring about safety, I won’t do it again.”
But one note of caution: Let’s just hope Bolt applies those same rules across the board — not just when the violator ends up on satirical websites.
And a footnote in brand loyalty: In response to the ban, Tabaková declared she would be switching to Hopin instead. One small catch: Hopin does not operate e-scooters. Let’s hope she knows.
IN OTHER NEWS
The Ukrainian behind last year’s wave of bomb threats targeting Slovak and Czech schools was reportedly a minor at the time, raising questions over whether he can be criminally prosecuted, according to Ukrainian police. Czech weekly Respekt reports that money linked to his actions came from a Russian bank account.
In June, 126,827 foreigners were employed in Slovakia, with less than a third from EU or EEA countries. Most came from third countries, notably Ukraine, Serbia, and India, but also from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, Georgia, Nepal and the Philippines.
The Railway Workers Union has dropped its strike alert after clinching a deal with state rail operator ŽSR. After months of drawn-out talks, workers will see a 4.8 percent pay rise (up to class 12), a €45 monthly bump for higher grades — and a €400 Railway Day bonus. (TASR)
Progressive Slovakia (PS) tops the latest AKO poll with 22.1 percent, ahead of Smer (19.4 percent) and Hlas (12.4 percent). The current coalition falls short of a majority — even with far-right Republika in tow — landing on just 71 MPs. Meanwhile, the opposition bloc (PS, SaS, KDH) would need to bring the Slovensko movement on board to tip the scales in parliament. A fragmented field and tight margins keep coalition maths anything but straightforward.
Slovakia’s e-commerce market grew 4 percent year-on-year in Q2, bouncing back from a sluggish April with a strong June, thanks to holiday spending, according to Heureka’s E-commerce Insider. The breakout hit? Smart rings, with a staggering 920 percent surge, alongside spikes in erotic gadgets (+876 percent), memory supplements (+703 percent), and travel cribs. On the flip side, sofas, 3D puzzles, and webcams tanked — victims of last year’s boom. Average spend held at €73, and customer satisfaction soared to 95.3 percent. Not quite Czech-level growth (+8 percent), but still holding steady. (SITA)
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini received the letters of credence from two newly appointed ambassadors on 24 July in Bratislava. Representing the Kingdom of Spain, Sofía Ruiz del Árbol Moro formally began her tenure as ambassador to Slovakia. Also welcomed was Konstantin Kvachikidze, the new ambassador of Georgia. (source: TASR)
Financial literacy in Slovakia is creeping upwards, but still lags behind much of Europe. Just 48 percent of Slovaks are financially literate, putting the country below neighbours like the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary, according to ECB data. The Nordics lead the pack, thanks in part to financial education baked into school curricula. Slovaks remain cautious with money — real estate over stocks, savings over risk — and only a third actively invest. (SITA)
Opposition parties SaS, PS, and KDH are teaming up to form a special commission in parliament to scrutinise the government’s plan to build a new nuclear power plant with Westinghouse. SaS MP Karol Galek says all MPs are welcome, with the proposal set to hit the economic affairs committee in September. Meanwhile, other opposition groups are plotting their own moves — from roundtables to calls for Fico to face the parliament. (TASR)
FRIDAY WEATHER BRIEFING: Cloudy with scattered showers or storms — some may be intense. Highs: 27°C–33°C (cooler in the northwest). Heads up: High-temperature warnings are in place for parts of the Košice and Banská Bystrica Regions, where the mercury may push past 33°C. (SHMÚ)
Crowns, choirs & cardio: This week, stroll with kings at Coronation Days, soak in stunning sounds at a free choral-organ concert in St. Martin’s Cathedral, and break a sweat with the Runners Club rooftop workout. History, harmony, and high knees — all in seven days, all for zero euros.
ON THE NAME DAY RADAR: Jakub takes the spotlight this Friday — všetko najlepšie!
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