MOVING TO SLOVAK REPUBLIC

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KEY FACTS

Official Name: Slovak Republic

Capital City: Bratislava

Official Languages: Slovak

Area: 49,041 sq. km/18,935 sq. mi.

Population: 5.4 million

Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Greek Catholic

Currency: Euro €

Number of Time Zones: 1

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus 1 hour; Eastern Standard Time (EST) plus 6 hours. Daylight Saving Time is observed from late March to late September.

Country Domain: .sk

Country Tel Code: 421

AT A GLANCE

Newcomers will find that the Slovak capital, Bratislava, has been modernized, thereby losing much of its early architecture. Small towns surrounding the capital, however, offer glimpses into the past. Trnava, for example, located 45 km northeast of Bratislava, is one of the oldest towns in the republic and maintains a medieval character.

The Danube Basin offers beach resorts, but the most popular destination for travelers in Slovakia is the High Tatras, which reaches alpine heights. The Western Tatras offer the same magnificence with fewer crowds. Small towns in the mountain regions, such as Banská Stiavnica, are also well worth visiting, and East Slovakia, home to a third of the country’s Romanies, includes a number of fascinating medieval towns.

Politics

The Slovak Republic is a parliamentary democracy. The head of state is the president, who is elected by parliament for a five-year term. He appoints a prime minister, usually from the majority party in parliament, who heads the executive branch of the government. Legislative power rests with a 150 member National Council. National Council members are elected by proportional representation and serve for a four-year term.

Economy

Since independence, the Slovak Republic has endeavored to make the transition from monolithic controls under socialism to a market economy. The 1998 election saw a new, more liberal government, which initiated policies to promote privatization of publicly owned enterprises. These are now nearly complete. For example, banks are almost completely privatized. The government has also created policies which are friendly to foreign businesses and investors, spawning new investment, particularly in the automobile industry.

The present government is committed to developing an economy more closely in line with those of its neighbors, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary, as evidenced when the Slovak Republic joined NATO in April 2004 and became a member of the European Union in May 2004.

Between 2001 and 2005, economic growth exceeded forecasts. The unemployment level also dropped by almost four percent to 11.5 percent in 2005. It is hoped that future growth will continue to lower unemployment levels.

UNDERSTANDING THE PEOPLE

Following the Velvet Revolution of 1989 and the Velvet Divorce of 1992, the Czech and Slovak people formally became what they had always been – two separate nations. The Slovak Republic, often referred to as Slovakia, shares many more cultural and historical ties with Hungary.

Culture

Much of Slovakia has remained an agrarian and rural society, and value simple life and unspoiled countryside. They cherish tradition, and often wear handmade, elaborate traditional costumes for festivals, weddings and other special events. Slovaks also highly value education, modesty, and humor; they have a jovial and light sense of humor. Literature in the Slovak language did not exist before the 18th century. Prior to then, the Slovak language was not codified, and was myriad dialects. Stories were passed to new generations as folktales, renowned for their poetic meter and chronicling of remarkable deeds. In spite of its richness and detailed history, Slovak literature is one of the least-translated Slavic literatures. Well known poets in the Slovak literary tradition include Ján Hollý and Pavol Országh-Hviezdoslav.

Ethnic make-up

About 10 percent of Slovakia’s population are ethnic Hungarians who became part of present-day Slovakia when the border between Hungary and Czechoslovakia was redefined following World War I.

One highly visible minority is the Roma population. They number at least 500,000 and have been increasingly visible in large cities. The relationship between the Romanies and the rest of the population has historically been quite tense throughout Europe; they are often transient, victims of discrimination, and do not integrate into the culture of the country in which they live. In Slovak Republic, groups of Romanies are often involved in street crime and have been subject to racist attacks.

The balance of the population is composed of Ruthenians, Ukrainians, Czechs, Germans, and Polish.

Education

There is a great respect and emphasis on education and research; the literacy rate in Slovakia is 99 percent. Compulsory education begins at age six and continues until age sixteen. Higher education is free in public institutions in Slovakia, and admissions are competitive.

Religion
As in other former

ly Communist countries, religion has undergone a revival in both the Slovak Republic. Freedom of worship is guaranteed. About seventy percent of the population identify as Roman Catholic, with Protestant religions comprising 10 percent. Other religions, as well as nonreligious, comprise the remaining twenty percent.

Languages

Slovak is a Western Slavic language, belonging to the Slavic language group that includes Polish, Croatian and Russian. It uses the Latin alphabet and accent marks. The Slovak language has a number of dialects that are used in different regions.

Hungarian is the second most commonly spoken language, especially in the southern regions where large numbers of ethnic Hungarians live. Hungarians are campaigning to make Hungarian one of the Slovak Republic’s official languages.

German is widely understood, and English is a popular language with younger people and with those who are interested in business. Russian is also spoken, particularly by the older generations.

Attitude toward foreigners

Slovaks are generally friendly, generous people. Some Slovaks, when encountered on the street or without an introduction from someone, can be very careful, distant, even cold at first. But if you are polite and can break through this thin protective veneer, they quickly open up and become very friendly.

The general attitude toward foreigners is mixed. Some people are eager to meet and get to know newcomers; others are less friendly. The Balkan War did not help the image of Americans in the region.

Slovaks welcome foreign investment in their countries to help promote the transition to a more globally oriented economy, particularly in light of their transition into the European Union. They are proud of their centuries of participation in the economic and cultural life of Central Europe and appreciate an attitude of patience and mutual respect.

Attitudes toward women

Women in Slovakia are valued members of the workforce, are protected by antidiscrimination legislation, and benefit from higher education at an identical percentage to their male counterparts. However, men dramatically outnumber women in fields such as construction, technology, and telecommunications, and also at executive and management levels in most industries. Women earn an average of seventy-five percent less than men at comparable jobs. Tradition also continues to dictate that women maintain longstanding roles in homes and families.

CITIES

Bratislava

Located near its western border, Bratislava is the capital of the Slovak Republic, and the country’s largest city with 426,000 residents. It is also the country’s commercial and business center. Bratislava was the capital of Hungary from the mid-16th century, and has always been a melting pot. Through the centuries, Hungarians or Magyars, Saxons, Romanians, and Ukrainians have settled in the area and contributed to the richness of the city. Hungary, which profoundly influenced Slovak culture, is only 16 km/10 mi due south, while Vienna is only 64 km/38 mi to the southwest. While Bratislava has a multicultural past, today it is also the heart of Slovak culture. The city has added many national museums and cultural monuments to its rich heritage.

Bratislava is bisected by the Danube River, and is overseen by the towering Bratislava Castle. The city’s historic districts boast Renaissance, Baroque, Gothic, and neo-Gothic architecture. The small, tile-roofed cottages, garden plots, and vineyards that slope to the banks of the Danube give Bratislava a special quality, harking back to an earlier age. Central Bratislava is compact and quite walkable, with a pedestrian zone that follows the coronation route of Hungary’s monarchs. Some areas, however, are examples of different eras of more recent city planning. High rise apartment buildings, massive bridges, open squares and new commercial construction can all be found in the city’s five districts.

Kosice

Kosice, a cosmopolitan city located 21 km/13 mi north of the Hungarian border, and 400km/249mi east of Bratislava, has a population of about 240,000. It is home to a number of worthwhile museums, and the largest Gothic cathedral in Slovakia. Buildings of historical interest are situated on the long pedestrian main square of the city. Kosice is regarded as the primary hub of eastern Slovakia, and has its own universities, local and national transportation networks, and universities.

Presov

The third largest city in the Slovak Republic after Bratislava and Kosice, Presov is located in the northeast of the country, along the Torysa River. The city’s historic center features buildings in numerous Renaissance and modern styles as well as good cafés and restaurants. Many operas, concerts, and plays are performed at the Jonas Zaborsky Theatre.

CLIMATE

Slovakia has moderate continental climates, with cold and snowy winters, especially in the mountainous areas, and hot and humid summers in the southern lowlands. The average temperature in Bratislava ranges from -5°C/24°F to 25°C/77°F. Although spring and summer are often quite rainy, May through September is generally pleasant.

Information provided in association with Living Abroad