Takac: Taxes Shouldn't Be Increased as Part of Consolidation

(TA3,'V politike', 31 August) Tax increase should not be part of the consolidation package that is being prepared by the government, Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) said on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday. "I have no information that taxes should be increased. Even if I had this information, I would not say it in this discussion, since I value correct relations with coalition partners. We've agreed that until everything is agreed within the coalition, we won't present it publicly," explained the minister. Opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) MP Tamara Stohlova, also on the show, said that increase in value-added tax (VAT), as well as scrapping of holidays are in the frame when it comes to measures that are under consideration. "I have this information from good sources," she said. According to Stohlova, the opposition must tell people about the prepared consolidation so that the government doesn't make things easier for itself also this year and "doesn't consolidate in the simplest way by saving on people, while giving double salaries to itself". Stohlova said that since it came to power, the coalition should have saved, not increased spending, it should have kick-started the economy, and not stifled it. "These are just empty words. When we asked you at the round table last year what recommendations and proposals would you make in terms of consolidation, you were silent, you didn't say a single sentence, as you simply don't have a clue about it," replied Takac. Stohlova announced that PS will present its consolidation ideas next week. "We'll present our programme - a set of 20 very specific measures to recover public finances and kick-start the economy on 4 September. And when we say that it will be on 4 September, so it will be on 4 September," underlined Stohlova. Takac stressed that the government is communicating the consolidation in a sufficient manner. "I think that the level of communication between the government and individual representatives of ministries and various professional organisations is incomparably different than what we were used to for 3.5 years, when there was no communication at all," added the minister. ko