Deal on 2023 state budget clinched

The OLaNO, Sme Rodina, SaS and Za Ludi parties forged a deal on the 2023 State Budget, Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OLaNO) and SaS chair Richard Sulik announced at a joint press conference on Tuesday.
Parliament is expected to pass the budget on Thursday (December 22). Once this happens, Finance Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO) is supposed to resign, and is due to be replaced in a temporary capacity by Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OLaNO) as of Friday (December 23). The deal also encompasses the introduction of expenditure limits and cuts to some selected taxes and fees.
"We've got a deal on the budget. Yes, everyone had to make some compromise, but the deal at the end of the day is that the budget will be supported by the OLaNO, Sme Rodina, SaS and Za Ludi parties," stated Heger. He added that if no budget had been passed by the end of the year, it would have jeopardised the aid for the people, firms, municipalities as well as salary raises for teachers and doctors.
The budget will contain expenditure limits as demanded by the European Commission and the Recovery Plan, the extraordinary taxing of Russian oil, gas transport, alcohol and gambling. On the other hand, VAT tax will be cut for sports facilities and restaurants even after March 31, as originally planned. "In addition, €740 million plus €80 million will be transferred to the Health Ministry budgeting chapter," said Heger.
Sulik claimed that the concession made by SaS was to greenlight several tax hikes. (TASR)