Presidential Office: Danko's Claims about President's Higher Expenses Are Untrue

Bratislava, 21 September (TASR) - Statements by coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) chair Andrej Danko about President Peter Pellegrini's expenses being twice as high as those of his predecessor Zuzana Caputova are untrue, the Presidential Office informed on Sunday, describing Danko's claims as repeated attacks on the head of state. The final two years of Caputova's term (2019-24) saw reduced budgets at nearly €6.4 million for 2023 and over €7.4 million for 2024, but these amounts were significantly underestimated and had to be increased during the year to nearly €8.7 million and, respectively, almost €9.3 million. This year’s budget for the Presidential Office at over €11.7 million is indeed higher, however, this is due to extensive renovation of the Karaconi Palace and other real estate property with an investment backlog since Michal Kovac's presidency (1993-98). "These figures make it absolutely clear that the statements about the current head of state's expenses being twice as high as those of his predecessor are untrue," stated the Presidential Office. Furthermore, the president's salary is determined by the very same law as that of his predecessor, and the SNS leader hasn't raised any objections to it in public. "If the consolidation package for next year is adopted, the president's net income will fall significantly due to higher taxes and will be lower than that of the prime minister," according to the Presidential Office. On STVR's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve), Danko criticised that Pellegrini has expressed surprise at the scale of the upcoming round of consolidation. "The president was surprised that consolidation is underway, yet his expenses are twice as high as those of President Caputova," noted Danko. jrg