(TA3,’V politike’, 1 March) Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) communicated with Samsung before the company announced its intention to close its television manufacturing plant in Slovakia, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) said on TA3’s discussion programme ‘V politike’ (In Politics) on Sunday. Also on the show, opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MP Alojz Hlina expressed his intent to find out to what extent the government’s policies contributed to the company’s decision. Samsung confirmed the decision to close the plant in Galanta (Trnava region) on Friday (27 February), with approximately 800 people expected to lose their jobs. “As far as I know, the Prime Minister and the Economy Minister communicated with the company,” said Takac, reiterating that Samsung also operates a distribution warehouse in Slovakia, which will continue to function. Hlina drew a comparison to the recent closure of the sugar refinery in Trencianska Tepla (Trencin region), where distribution operations will also be maintained. “It seems that something is happening. For the sake of this country, I hope we manage to save what can be saved. We must find out how much of this is a global decision by Samsung and how much we ‘helped’ it negatively,” said Hlina. The politicians also touched upon the halt of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. While Takac claimed that the pipeline is operational and that supplies were halted based on a political decision, Hlina criticised the government’s retaliatory measures, specifically the suspension of supplies of emergency electricity, arguing that this move has damaged Slovakia’s image abroad. Takac responded that regular electricity supplies to Ukraine continue as before, while Ukraine can secure emergency electricity from other sources; therefore, the government’s decision will not pose a threat to ordinary people. He added that insisting on Russian oil supplies is in line with Slovakia’s sovereign policy. Hlina and Takac also disagreed on the absorption of EU funds and the coalition’s plans to restrict voting from abroad. With postal voting, according to Takac, the secrecy of the ballot is not guaranteed. Hlina warned against the changes, claiming the coalition’s move is aimed at restricting opposition voters, as they make up the majority of those voting from abroad. jrg
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