Matovic Slams Sutaj Estok Over Pay Rise, Opposition Blasts Party Funding Bill

Bratislava, 3 July (TASR) - Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) is misleading the public with his "talk of solidarity" while acting in his own self-interest, 'Slovakia' party leader Igor Matovic declared on Thursday. Matovic said this in response to Sutaj Estok's defence of proposed cuts to state funding for political parties. In Matovic's view, the minister "is taking people for complete fools." "In reality, it was he who voted in government to double his own salary, and it was his Voice party MPs who consistently voted against our proposals to cut state funding for political parties significantly and to reduce the salaries of MPs and ministers," stated Matovic. This view was echoed by the Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS) at a press conference at which it stated that it already has the Interior Ministry's sponsored bill at its disposal. SaS reiterated its objections to multiple provisions in the bill. According to Progressive Slovakia (PS), Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is attempting to bend the rules of political competition. "Fico is aware that he's unable to win another election and is therefore trying to rig the system in his favour,” PS claimed. The Interior Ministry has submitted a draft amendment to the Act on Political Parties and Movements for interdepartmental review. The proposal includes reducing state contributions to political parties during economic downturns and limiting funding only to parties that win seats in parliament. As for the criticism of the bill, Sutaj Estok stated that some opposition parties are rejecting the idea of having politicians contribute towards the consolidation of public finances. mf/df