Danko: State Borrowing to Subsidise Energy Prices, Money Will Have to Be Repaid

Bratislava, 4 August (TASR) - Household energy prices will only remain unchanged because the state is subsidising them, but the state is borrowing money to do so, and it will have to be repaid one day, junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko posted on a social network on Monday in reaction to statements on energy prices for next year made by Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on Sunday (3 August). "I've seen the premier's video assuring you that energy prices will remain the same, but there's a need to tell the truth: energy prices are the same only because the state is subsidising them. How does that work? If you pay €100 for electricity and you should realistically pay €200 according to market prices, the state subsidises the extra €100. It would be okay if the state helped you, but the state is lying to you, as it has to borrow that money. It borrows it with interest and we'll pay it back, including the interest, one day, and we'll pay real market prices," said Danko in a video on a social network. The premier said on Sunday that energy prices in 2026 should remain unchanged for about 90 percent of households, adding that he plans to submit such a proposal for gas and heating price compensation to the governing coalition. He warned that the measure will cost the state hundreds of millions of euros, which will need to be found amid the ongoing fiscal consolidation. He also announced the beginning of intensive negotiations with the European Commission regarding the use of EU funds for this compensation. He recalled that the Commission pledged to seek such options with respect to the approval of the 18th sanctions package against Russia. ko/df