The discussion marathon in Parliament on the most important bill of the year, the state budget ended on Wednesday evening. Finance Minister Peter Kažimír introduced it in Parliament a week ago, last Thursday, and since then MPs have been grilling it and adding their views on the draft for altogether about 24 hours.
The opposition strongly criticized it claiming that the consolidation of public finances in based on one-time measures and that the government is not saving on its bodies and institutions, but wants to balance the budget by raising taxes and compulsory fees for citizens. Finance Minister Kažimír does not agree, of course, claiming that next year should be a good one when the economic growth of Slovakia will exceed 2 percent threshold and the situation on the job market should improve as well. The vote on the draft state budget for 2014 is to take place on Thursday afternoon, however as the Parliament is dominated by MPs from the ruling Smer – SD party, it is presumed the law will be passed without any major obstructions.
