State administration

The Slovak Republic was founded January 1, 1993 as a democratic state with the parliamentary form of government. The president of the republic is elected directly from the citizens and remains in office for 5 years.The National Assembly (the parliament) is the legislative power, its is 150 members are elected for a 4 years term. The suprem body of the executive power is the government with the chairman at its head.

President

Andrej Kiska, elected on 15th june 2014
web site

Prime Minister

Róbert Fico
web site

Official language

Slovak

Surface

49.035 km2

Location

Slovakia is lies in Central Europe. The central and northern Slovakia is a mountainous region. The southern and eastern Slovakia is a lowland region, being an important agricultural area of the country.

Time Zone

1 hr ahead of GMT, the summer time which lasts from March to December is 2 hrs ahead of GMT, as in all European countries.

Eletricity

230 V/50 Hz, standard socket with safety pin

Borders

Ukraine 95.8 km, Poland 508.2 km, Austria 115.3 km, Hungary 630.9 km, Czech Republic 261.3 km

Climate

Slovakia has a moderate climate, with cold and rigid winters, and with moderate and rainy summers. The lowest annual temperature is in mountain (at Lomnicky Peak; -3,7°C). The warmest zone is the Podunajska Lowland. (10.3°C).

Population

The Slovak Republic has 5.379.455 of inhabitants (2001) of whom 51,4% they are women.
The population that lives in Slovacchia so is subdivided: Slovak nationality 85,7%, Hungarian minority 10,6%, Czech 1,1%, Roma 1,6%, Ruthenian 0,3%, Ukrainian, 0,3%, Poles and Germans.

The capital

Bratislava (451.616 inhabitants)

Religion

68,9% of the population is roman catholic, 6,9% are protestants of Augsburg confession, 4,1% greek-catholic, 2% calvinist, 0.5% orthodox.

State holidays

• 1 January - New Year's Day, and Anniversary of the Establishment of the Slovak Republic in 1993
• 5 July - St. Cyril and Methodius' Day
• 29 August - Anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising
• 1 September - The Day of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic
• 17 November - The day of the struggle against the totalitarianism

Festive days

• 6 gennaio - Epiphany (The Three Magi)
• Good Friday, Easter Monday
• 1 May - Labour Day
• 8 May - Victory against Fascism Day
• 15 September - Lady of Sorrows Day / Blessed Virgin Mary
• 1 November - All Saints Day
• 24 December - Christmas Eve
• 25 December - Christmas Day
• 26 December - St. Stephen`s Day

Currency:

Slovakia adopted the euro on 1 January 2009, replacing its previous currency, the Slovak koruna.
Credit cards
Major credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, Visa and MasterCard/Eurocard) and debit cards (Maestro and Visa Electron) may be used to withdraw cash from automatic dispensers of major banks (VÚB, TatraBanka, Slovenská Sporitelna) and for payments in hotels, restaurants, shops and petrol stations. Credit cards can also be used to obtain currency. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Traffic regulation:

On the main roads the speed limit is 90 km/h. On the highway the speed limit is 130 km/h, in the cities and villages it is 50 km/h. Children until 12 years of age must not be seated on front seat. The safety belts have to be fastened on the front seat and back-seat also in towns. To the requisite equipment of vehicle belong a medicine-chest, towing-rope, accident triangle, spare tire.

Town destinations

• Bratislava - Vienna 60 km
• Bratislava - Prague 350 km
• Bratislava - Zilina 210 km
• Bratislava - Banska Bystrica 213 km
• Banska Bystrica - Kosice 237 km
• Banská Bystrica - Poprad 140 km
• Zilina - Kosice 265 km

Important telephone numbers:

• SOS, emergency calls 112
• Police 112
• Fire/Rescue 112
• PAmbulance/Rescue 112, 16155
• Road service (ASA Slovakia) 18 124

Telephone:

Direct international telephone connection is possible with numerous countries in the world. IDD is possible. Calls in Slovakia – SR country code: +421 and the area code of the given city/region (e.g. Bratislava 02) Calls abroad – use code: 00 + the appropriate country code + local area code + telephone/fax number.