Tomas: As Long As Voice-SD Is in Government, 13th Pensions Won't Be Scrapped

(TA3,'V politike', 19 October) Speaking on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday, Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) said that as long as the Voice-SD party is in government, the 13th pensions won't be scrapped. "As long as the Voice party is in government, the 13th pension won't be abolished. And I'm very happy that despite the heavy consolidation we managed to keep it at €667.30," said Tomas, noting that the 13th pension was a specific promise of the Voice-SD party, but also a commitment from the government manifesto. According to opposition MP Martina Bajo Holeckova (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS), the social standard has been lowered under this government since many taxes have been raised, a transaction tax introduced, and health and social levies increased. "And what is the outcome? After all this, we have the same deficit we had when you took over this republic. It is the same. Where is all that money?" asked the MP. According to her, the state can't afford 13th pensions, it is borrowing to have them and future generations will pay for them. am