Richter Admits Delay in Vote on Constitution, SNS Should Withdraw Its Drafts

Bratislava, 9 September (TASR) - The junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) will withdraw its amendment to the law on the conditions for exercising the right to vote from Parliament, Smer-SD caucus head Jan Richter told a news conference on Tuesday, adding that the party should withdraw its proposal to reduce the president's salary as well. Independent MPs supporting the coalition will withdraw an amendment to the law on gambling, as a government proposal should be prepared in this regard. Richter admitted that if no agreement is found on the government amendment to the Slovak Constitution, the vote will be postponed until the next session. According to Richter, SNS has accepted Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky's (Smer-SD) requirement to withdraw its proposals that directly concerned public finances. SNS should withdraw its amendment that would have increased the threshold of preferential votes needed to advance a candidate to an electable position from 3 to 7 percent. SNS's proposal to halve the president's salary is still under debate, said Richter, adding that the salary of the president and other constitutional officials might be part of the consolidation package. "The president's salary will likely be subject to the largest tax bracket, and he will hand over one third of his salary to the state anyway," indicated Richter. The proposal by which SNS wants to exempt self-employed and small companies with a turnover of up to €100,000 from the transaction tax is still being discussed, added Richter. The vote on the amendment to the Constitution is scheduled for September 25. Richter still wants to talk to MPs of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Richard Vasecka ('Slovakia' party, For the People, Christian Union/KU) about the issue. "If we fail to find consensus, I'm ready to move the thing to the next session," said the head of the Smer-SD caucus. If Jan Ferencak (Voice-SD) wants to support the government amendment only if his proposal to increase the quorum for amending the Constitution from 90 to 100 MPs is passed, Smer-SD won't support it, stated Richter. The coalition isn't united when it comes to the law on so-called COVID amnesties, vetoed by President Peter Pellegrini, either. Smer-SD MPs aren't ready to support the president's veto. "We insist on the law that we approved," added Richter. ko/df