At her meeting with both epidemiologists and economists, President Zuzana Caputova expressed appreciation that the views of the two groups of specialists don't clash. According to her, the two groups have opinions that overlap in this matter.
Keeping the Slovak economy "frozen" for a month won't have devastating impacts on the country, she stated in the Presidential Palace. The main focus of her discussion with the economists was the question of how long it will be possible to keep the economy in its current state without causing disastrous effects. The discussion resulted in the statement that keeping the economy in a more or less turned off state for several months could severely affect the country's economic well-being.
The president at the same time stressed that measures to assist large enterprises need to come more swiftly, also pointing out the importance of European funds, which in her view can go a long way in helping Slovakia to overcome the situation.
Slovak central bank (NBS) vice-governor Ludovit Odor stated that the question of when and how the economy will be given more breathing space depends on what epidemiologists say, and also on the readiness of the health-care system. "Of course, when there's a fire we have to put it out and we don't mind how much water is used to do so. The same principle roughly applies in public finances, meaning that now, in tough times, we need to open up the taps so that we help the economy," said Odor, noting that Slovakia can act to prevent long-term consequences in this manner.
Meanwhile, the head of the Budgetary Responsibility Council, Ivan Sramko, said that for now, at least, the economy isn't facing a total threat. He added, however, that should these throttling measures stay in effect for several months, the risk of such a threat will continue to increase.
