Government defend law on minimum pension

We're convinced that the legislation on the minimum pension meets all criteria emerging from the Slovak Constitution, said Prime Minister Robert Fico on Thursday in reaction to the Opposition's efforts to collect enough MPs' signatures to file a motion against the law in question with the Constitutional Court. "The dogs are barking, but the caravan goes on," remarked the Premier after giving a speech at a congress of Slovakia's Pensioners Association. "I understand this political game set off by the Opposition," said Fico, adding that the Opposition has already challenged several things, but to no avail. Earlier in the day the Opposition collected enough MPs' signatures required to file a motion with the Constitutional Court on the matter. The law introducing the minimum pension is set to come into effect on July 1.