Monitor: Danko Won't Back Down on his Proposal to Abolish Transaction Tax

(TA3, 'V politike', May 11) The chair of the coalition's Slovak National Party (SNS) Andrej Danko stated on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday that he will not back down from his proposal to abolish the transaction tax for sole traders and small businesses, but also won't allow the government to be toppled over the issue. If Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) ties the vote on the tax proposal to a vote of confidence in the government, Danko will seek alternative ways to push through the tax reduction and its eventual abolition. “We will find a way again to reduce and abolish the transaction tax in such a way so that this government doesn’t collapse. We cannot afford to wreck the government, because then people like Mr. Simecka and Mr. Groehling would come in,” said Danko. He added that if the proposal doesn’t pass at the next parliamentary session, he will keep resubmitting it. Opposition SaS party leader Branislav Groehling, also on the show, expressed support for the SNS proposal to eliminate the tax for small entrepreneurs and sole traders. “Ideally, I would prefer the transaction tax to be fully abolished, and we’ll reintroduce such a proposal. But as for Mr. Danko’s initiative — if it means some relief for sole traders, we’ll support it,” he said. During the discussion, party leaders also addressed Prime Minister Fico’s idea to cancel Sunday political talk shows. Danko dismissed it as a trivial issue and said political consensus on the matter was lacking. “It’s a trivial topic. Slovakia needs to solve real problems — hospitals, completing highways, helping young families, raising pensions — and we’re spending a week talking about something completely unrealistic,” Danko said. Groehling added that people should decide for themselves whether to watch Sunday political programs. “We’re still in a free and democratic country. Everyone can choose. And it just takes a small box — a remote control — to turn off, turn on, or change the channel,” he remarked. The debate also touched on Prime Minister Fico’s recent trip to Moscow. Groehling called it “an unbelievable embarrassment” that could damage Slovakia’s international reputation. Danko acknowledged the trip could have consequences. “There’s a difference between a politician doing something and a statesman doing it. If you’re the prime minister, you have to assess the potential impact on the country. The prime minister bears that responsibility,” he added. mf