Sutaj Estok: Voice-SD Ready to Discuss Proposal to Reduce Number of Regions

Kosice, 15 August (TASR) - Voice-SD is ready to debate the proposal of the Slovak National Party (SNS) to reduce the number of self-governing regions, Voice-SD leader and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said on Friday, drawing attention to the need for a joint expert discussion. According to him, the Interior Ministry is ready to come up with a major public administration reform. The minister pointed out that the demand for a lower number of regions was presented for the first time at Thursday's (14 August) coalition council meeting. According to him, Interior Ministry State Secretary Michal Kalinak already has things ready for discussion of the issue. "In terms of savings for next year in terms of consolidation, it will probably not save us much money, but we're ready to debate the issue of reducing the number of self-governing region, but after an expert debate. We have to do it together," added the minister. The intention of the possible public administration reform, according to him, is a strong but "leaner" state with less red tape, fewer officials, but more friendly to the citizen. At Thursday's meeting of the coalition council the SNS party proposed reducing the number of self-governing regions from eight to four. The proposed model would follow Slovakia's historical divisions and create four regions: Bratislava, West, Central and East. According to the party, the reform would generate savings of over €500 million by reducing the number of offices and eliminating redundancy. Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated on Friday that Smer-SD is prepared to vote in favour of the proposal. He noted that reducing the number of self-governing regions is one way to save financial resources without jeopardising the functioning of the state. am/mcs