Grendel: Government Pretends to Be Consolidating, but Is Only Focusing on Itself

Bratislava, May 18 (TASR) - In response to Prime Minister Robert Fico's comments on Sunday, MP Gabor Grendel ('Slovakia-For the People-KU') stated that the government pretends to be consolidating, but is actually only focused on itself, adding that under the previous government, Slovakia's economy performed better than the EU average. "You have seen an example of Robert Fico's credibility. One week he says that Sunday discussion programmes should be discontinued, and the next week he himself participates in a discussion programme without an opposition opponent," Grendel said at a press conference, adding that this is how Fico envisions public debate. According to Grendel, it would be fair if Fico discussed issues with former prime ministers, for example. On the issue of finances, the opposition MP said that the premier "is talking nonsense again," as the government, which included the 'Slovakia' party (then OLANO), managed the economy better than the average EU country, allowing them to deliver €200 per child to families and pension benefits to seniors, the MP stated. "Fico's government only pretends to be consolidating because it takes away all social benefits from people, increases taxes, and introduces new taxes, while recklessly spending on itself," Grendel said. He criticised Fico for not mentioning in the programme why ministers, including himself, had to double their salaries, and why they're introducing a lifetime pension for both him and the prosecutor-general. lin