If the state budget is not approved, an early election must be held quickly, said Slovak Speaker of Parliament Boris Kollár on Sunday. He added that by the time the election takes place, the opposition would have to guarantee support for proposals to help people. Kollár wants to hold talks with the opposition to support the amendment to the state budget. Leader of the largest opposition Smer-SD party Robert Fico emphasised that the opposition has no responsibility for the state, the only goal of his party is a snap election in 2023.
Kollár has already talked with MPs around Tomáš Taraba (Independent), who, according to him, is willing to support it under certain circumstances. Kollár will also be happy to negotiate with Fico or head of the extra-parliamentary Voice-SD party Peter Pellegrini.
Fico said that his MPs would only support an increase of €207 million to pay the 13th pensions again. Kollár reproached Fico that he is only interested in pensioners and not in supporting schools, hospitals, employers and households, which is where the rest of the money is supposed to go.
Prime Minister Eduard Heger stated it would be irresponsible to throw the country into a snap-election merry-go-round during an energy crisis. He stressed that a snap election is the last resort that the country should go for if state institutions cease to work. The PM said that despite the fact that the Government is in a minority in Parliament, it approved salary hikes for medical staff, important bills concerning energy and an aid worth €200 million for the elderly.
Source: TASR
