The Cabinet approved the Government Manifesto at its session on Wednesday. The programme priorities for 2016-20, which were agreed on by the coalition partners, served as the outline when drawing up the Manifesto. The Manifesto puts emphasis on four priorities, namely, the fight against unemployment, regional disparities, corruption, and the introduction of policies ushering in a functioning state, informed Prime Minister Robert Fico. "It's especially the fight against unemployment, which contains ambitious goals, that has been embraced by the new governing coalition. There's a goal to create 100,000 new jobs and squeeze the unemployment rate to below 10 percent. These objectives are ambitious, but also absolutely realistic. I also welcome the fact that we've agreed on introducing stricter conditions for those who do not want to work," said the Prime Minister. Also, the four-member governing coalition has pledged to narrow the scope for corruption and non-transparent behaviour. "We're interested in adopting an even more efficient law on letterbox companies," said Fico. As to a better functioning state, the government wants to focus here mainly on education and health care. "I hereby announce that we have the ambition to put a total of €2 billion more into the Slovak education system between 2016-20," said the PM.
The security and defence strategy of Slovakia will be updated, according to the Government Manifesto. In accordance with its NATO commitments, the Government will also secure the gradual growth in defence spending. Emphasis will be put on developing the mechanised brigade and forces deployable for the fight against terrorism. Government's foreign affairs priorities will be policies which emphasise Slovakia's pro-European and pro-Atlantic orientation, stated Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák. The ministry also declared its intent to step up its activities for the care of ethnic Slovaks living abroad, and to increase finances for development aid. The Cabinet intends to embrace effective measures to capitalize on the experience of Slovaks living abroad and encourage them to return to Slovakia.
The Cabinet will present the Manifesto to Parliament and ask for a vote of confidence at a parliamentary session due to begin on April 18th. The Opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party will not support the Manifesto in Parliament. "Based on previous experiences, we have to declare that political parties have learned to draft government manifestos that, on the surface, look pleasing to the eye. Unfortunately, they haven't yet learned to govern in compliance with them," reads the party's statement.
