PS: Second Highest Inflation in Euro Area Also Result of Consolidation

Bratislava, 20 August (TASR) - Current statistics show that Slovakia has the second highest inflation in the euro area, representatives of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) stated at a press conference on Wednesday, adding that this is also the result of the "messed up" consolidation of public finances by the current government and that the same will happen with the currently prepared package of consolidation measures for next year, which, moreover, is being negotiated in secret and late by the governing coalition. "It is incredible, unbelievable arrogance of this government in the way it is treating public finances and the money of all of us. There was a cabinet meeting today, a meeting at which the consolidation package should have been approved, as announced by Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD). No such proposal has been submitted to the government," PS leader Michal Simecka pointed out at the press conference, adding that the government is not even meeting its own deadlines. According to him, the way how to improve public finances without stifling economic growth should have been discussed publicly for weeks and months. Instead, the coalition is sitting behind closed doors and a few people with Minister Kamenicky are deciding on people's money, what taxes will be introduced or how much goods will become more expensive. According to Simecka, no one is discussing with the social partners, who are presenting their own consolidation proposals. According to him, the current inflation in Slovakia standing at 4.6 percent is not a result of global trends, but of consolidation. He pointed out that the average inflation rate in the European Union is just over 2 percent. "So the result of what they did last year, the tax increases, the stupid transaction tax, is that today everything is becoming more expensive for us almost the fastest of all Europe," stressed the PS chairman. am