Premier: Cancellation of Tender is Time-sensitive Due to Budget Negotiations

Bratislava, 10 August (TASR) - The scrapping of the ambulance service tender is important in terms of time considering the beginning of the negotiations of the governing parties on the 2026 budget, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said in a video posted on a social network on Saturday evening (9 August), adding that to reach an agreement will be very difficult, especially because of the necessary austerity, but also because of the political views of the ruling parties. Fico claimed that the ambulance tender must be cancelled immediately and a new one organised. He is curious how the coalition Voice-SD party will deal with the proposal of the ruling Slovak National Party (SNS) that the entire rescue system should be state-owned, which would save money. "We can extend the licences for the current partners for some time and create enough time to consider how to proceed in this extremely lucrative part of the Slovak health-care system," he suggested. According to the prime minister, there is a consensus in the coalition that spending on armaments won't be increased. However, he hopes that there will be an agreement to increase spending on projects financed by the Defence Ministry, such as the construction of hospitals and other infrastructure projects. "Regarding energy [supplies], I've already announced that after talks with Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD) and Vice-premier and Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD), we'll submit a proposal to the coalition council to compensate the prices of gas and heat for 90 percent of households. In the case of electricity, the same prices in 2026 are guaranteed by the memorandum signed with power utility Slovenske elektrarne," stated Fico, noting that he's convinced that the absolute majority of Slovak households still need help with energy costs. am