Coalition clinches deal on constitutional officials' salary freeze

The coalition has arrived at an agreement regarding the freezing of constitutional officials' salaries. Representatives of the coalition parties (Smer-SD, Slovak National Party and Most-Híd) clinched a deal at a Coalition Council session on Sunday. The Denník N daily first broke the news that the coalition had agreed to leave lawmakers' salaries unfrozen, but that MPs' incomes will be temporarily hiked by a single euro. This should be achieved via a proposal to the Income Tax Act amendment. The vote on salaries won't be linked to a confidence motion in the government, as was originally entertained by Smer-SD. In addition, the coalition parties intend to pass new legislation on the salaries of constitutional officials at the parliamentary session in January, so that it will come into effect as of July 1. Last week, lawmakers didn't vote for a fast-tracked legislative proposal designed to freeze their salaries. They had been doing so every year since 2011 because if their salaries were unfrozen, this would usher in monthly hikes of €1,000 per MP.