Matovic: Government Increasing Fico's and MPs' Salaries During Consolidation

Bratislava, 12 September (TASR) – Next year, during a period of fiscal consolidation, the salaries of lawmakers and Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) are set to rise, a move that opposition MPs Igor Matovic and Julius Jakab (both 'Slovakia' party) say sends a poor message to the Slovak people. Instead of increasing salaries, lawmakers should reduce their pay and share the burden of consolidation with the public, said Jakab. The lawmaker-salary hike results from an increase in flat-rate allowances, which are tied to the average salary. "Each MP will get an extra €1,200 net, and Robert Fico will receive €1,400 more net next year. This is consolidation mafia-style; this is the consolidation of [Finance Minister] Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD), who doesn't understand finance. He's putting the country in debt twice as fast as previous governments, which he constantly blames, while skillfully squeezing ordinary people and stuffing money into his own wallet," stated Jakab. According to Matovic, while the prime minister currently earns approximately €10,300 net per month, this will rise to €10,416 in 2026. MPs will also see a pay rise, especially those not based in Bratislava, who will earn €6,003 monthly. This represents an annual net increase of €1,188, added Jakab. He added that while employees will lose around €200 next year due to further consolidation measures, and sole traders about €1,000, the salaries of the prime minister and MPs will increase. "That is why we are proposing a law during this parliamentary session to freeze salaries, to ensure that MPs' pay doesn't increase. We're also submitting a proposal to return the salaries of Fico and other ministers — who immorally doubled their own pay — to their original levels from two years ago," said Matovic. mf/df