Kamenicky: Coalition Continues Talks on Further Consolidation Measures

Bratislava, 20 August (TASR) - The coalition is continuing negotiations on the next package of consolidation measures and it is currently in about the third quarter of the talks, Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD) said on Wednesday following a meeting of the coalition council. According to him, the aim is to reduce the public finance deficit to 4.1 percent of gross domestic product. "We've agreed, and I thank my other colleagues, that we won't comment on any of the measures under discussion. It will be comprehensive, because, of course, some of the measures that we originally proposed are no longer in those measures," said Kamenicky, adding that new measures were also presented, which the Finance Ministry will analyse. The coalition council is expected to continue its deliberations on Monday (25 August). Kamenicky would like to submit all related laws to the government meeting on 3 September, stressing that the priority is to reduce the public deficit. am