Fico: We Can Discuss Technical Shortcomings of Transaction Tax

Bratislava, May 11 (TASR) - No concrete proposals for the adjustment of the transaction tax have been submitted by junior coalition partners yet and if there are technical shortcomings then those can be addressed, but if coalition partners have ideas for changing the tax, they must also explain how to compensate for possible revenue losses, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated at his press conference on Sunday. Fico underlined that he is not the type of person with a kneejerk response to reject everything immediately. "I am ready to negotiate, I am ready to see the proposals. If these proposals can be compensated and we can find a solution somewhere, then we can proceed," Fico claimed. In response to criticism of the transaction tax from coalition partners SNS and Voice-SD, he reiterated his opinion that it's not right for someone to vote for something and then change their mind after critical media coverage. "I don't like the transaction tax either. But I don’t like how public finances have been wrecked. If we want healthy public finances, we sometimes have to make unpopular decisions of this kind," the Prime Minister emphasized, adding that previous governments are to blame for the worst public finances in the EU. mf