The government coalition is currently in the final part of the discussion on the consolidation of public finances next year. InMost of the measures are already agreed, it is now being discussed to what extent the state is to be involved in consolidation. This was stated after Wednesday’s government meeting in Senica Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD). He refuses that negotiations would be stuck on the topic of higher expenditure of the Ministry of Defense (MO) of the Slovak Republic, as indicated by the chairman of the coalition voice-SD and the Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok.
„No, that’s not true, absolutely. You know, this is that the Ministry of Defense has set internationally mandatory expenses at a level of at least 2 % of gross domestic product (GDP)”Said Fico, saying that the government has a clear opinion on these expenses.” There will be no more of the armaments in 2026, first of all. Second. Second, the Minister of Defense will be very active and continuing to finance dual destination projects, “the Prime Minister underlined. He recalled that without MO it would not be possible to build a new hospital in Prešov or Bratislava.
According to Fico, the discussion could be whether Slovakia will reduce defense spending below 2 %, but this is an international obligation of the Slovak Republic. However, there will be no increase in armaments in 2026. “So if the participants of the coalition advice say that we are not agreed on something, yes, we are not agreed on the share of the state. I say it should be great, that is my attitude,” stressed the Prime Minister.
At the same time, however, in his own words, it understands that each ministry has a different expenditure structure. For example, the Ministry of Labor has a high proportion of compulsory, statutory expenditure, other ministries can handle money more freely. “But the state must somehow participate in consolidation. And this is the final part of the discussion we are currently conducting,” Fico added.
He rejected speculation about increasing value added tax (VAT). It should not even be reduced to the second pension pillar. “I can assure you that everything remains when it comes to contribution to the second pillar, without touching, ” The Prime Minister stated.
