Rasi: Budget Approval Will Be Biggest Test for Coalition, We Need Agreement

Bratislava, 11 July (TASR) - The approval of the state budget for next year will be the biggest test of the coalition, however, it's necessary to reach an agreement and approve the proposal in Parliament, House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) told TASR, adding that it's impossible to operate under a provisional budget. "The coalition will go into the autumn strong. However, the autumn will be difficult, because we have some major things ahead of us. The first strong issue is the consolidation package, as it will have an impact on the lives of some part of society. Someone has to be taken away, somewhere has to be saved up. The second strong issue will be the budget. It must be approved in course of November," he noted. The parliamentary chair expects that not everyone will be happy with the final budget. "However, the important thing is that there is no winner and no loser. Most importantly, the people shouldn't be losers," he pointed out, calling for an agreement to be reached. "If the government wants to continue to operate and I still say that we have no alternative to the current government in the opposition, then there must be an agreement on the budget, otherwise it would be a big problem for the governing coalition, but also for the functioning of the entire state," he added. Rasi confirmed that Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD) had already presented within the coalition a proposal for consolidation measures. There are 68 measures worth about €3 billion. am