Opposition party PS launched an aggressive campaign highlighting the Fico family's ties to public funds. The move is a response to Smer's efforts to link PS leader Michal Šimečka to alleged irregularities in state subsidy claims by a foundation run by his mother. PS points out that Fico's son receives €5,000 a month from a Smer party company funded by the state. Fico's brother received state contracts through oligarch Norbert Bödör. His mother "purchased" an apartment from a

Europe's largest railcar manufacturer Tatravagónka (Alexej Beljajev and Budamar) is set to commission a €13m paint line. The investment, which will create 55 jobs and increase production capacity at the Poprad plant by 15%, received €5.2m in government tax break. Tatravagónka produces 4,000 freight cars and 10,000 bogies annually, giving it a 45% share of the European market. It is the 2nd-largest railcar maker in India and is considering new production capacity in the Middle

In this year’s Forbes rich list, Jaroslav Haščák’s net worth will exceed €2.5bn. Penta Group, where he and Marek Dospiva are the largest partners, is targeting expansion into Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and Penta Bank is set to expand. Italian expansion is among the goals of pharmacy chain Dr.Max, while betting operator Fortuna, currently not for sale, also has growth plans. Both Dr.Max and Fortuna intend to raise expansion capital through stock‑exchange listings

A ManpowerGroup survey shows 21% of companies plan to hire in 3Q while 27% plan layoffs. The net labor market index fell sharply to -6 from +3 in 2Q26 and +16 in 3Q25, driven by subdued domestic and foreign demand. The automotive sector posts an index of +8. The steepest drop occurred in communications services, which fell to -32 from +1 in the previous quarter. (hnonline.sk)

The government is considering cuts to two fees included in final electricity prices: the system operation tariff (TPS) and the system services tariff (TSS). The Czech government eliminated TPS for this year at a cost of €700m to its state budget. In Slovakia, TPS funds subsidies for green energy sources and amounts to €400–600m annually, with businesses paying 60% of that. TSS funds ancillary services. No decision on the fees has been taken. (hnonline.sk)

Co-owners Milan Lechnický and František Toman have bought out the 30% stake in advertising agency Istropolitana held by global WPP holding after 14 years, making the agency independent from the Ogilvy network. (hnonline.sk) The agency is one of the largest in Slovakia, with €5.2m in revenue in 2024.

CSG group (Michal Strnad) is seeking permits for a €31m investment to triple production capacity at its Snina plant, which manufactures metal ammunition bodies. Capacity at the plant, jointly owned with the state, will rise to 330,000 units annually and headcount will nearly double to 400. The ammunition bodies are shipped to the Dubnica nad Váhom plant, which recently doubled its production capacity to 280,000 rounds thanks to a €100m investment. At the former Chemko Strážsk

For the first time in 2024, the number of Slovaks returning home from abroad significantly exceeded the number leaving, the Institute for Financial Policy noted. Some 19,000 people left the country while 27,000 returned. Reasons for returning vary, with loneliness and high living costs predominating. The return rate of Slovaks who have emigrated exceeds 50% over a ten-year horizon. Departures abroad remain concentrated among young people, often university students. Brain drai

The new hospital in Prešov will cost €720m, Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák said. The underground military section cost €60m, the above‑ground structure is set to cost €540m, and medical equipment €100–120m. (pravda.sk) Kaliňák says construction work has resumed after he terminated the contract with the original Hungarian consortium over poor‑quality concrete. The Defense Ministry signed a €256m contract with In Vest (2024 revenues: €92m), which finished second in the origina

Sladovňa Michalovce (Lapišák family) posted a 6% annual decline in net profit to €2.4m last year, with revenue down 20% to €26.4m. One of Slovakia's largest malt producers, it has annual output of 65,000 tons and exports nearly all of it, primarily to Poland, Hungary, and Romania. Lower malt prices drove last year's revenue decline. The company faced 40% rise in labor costs over the past four years due to minimum wage hikes, various surcharges, and taxes. It expects improved