Samuel Migaľ announces Prešov regional candidacy and ministry merger proposals

Samuel Migaľ, the Slovak Minister of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization, has announced his candidacy as an independent for the chairmanship of the Prešov Self-Governing Region in the 2026 regional elections. Migaľ stated his goal is to prevent the outflow of young people from the region and to leverage its untapped potential by creating new jobs. He emphasized that his independence is intended to allow for cooperation with all political actors, including the government and opposition, without being restricted by party interests.

In a separate discussion regarding state budget consolidation, Migaľ addressed potential ministry mergers. He suggested that his own ministry could be merged with the Ministry of Environment, and proposed combining the Ministry of Tourism and Sports with the Ministry of Culture. Migaľ argued that to improve public finances, the state must lead by example through savings, including potential reductions in the number of deputy speakers in the National Council. Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Richard Takáč noted that discussions regarding the abolition of ministries have not been a formal topic in coalition meetings.