Kiss: Kamenicky Saved from Budget Disaster by Delayed Weapons

Bratislava, 22 January (TASR) - Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD) hasn't been saved from an absolute budget disaster by the government's systemic measures, but by delayed deliveries of military equipment, opposition MP and member of the House finance committee Stefan Kiss (Progressive Slovakia/PS) has stated in response to an updated assessment of the public administration budget for 2026-2028 that was published by the Budget Responsibility Council (RRZ) on Thursday. In it, RRZ improved its estimate of this year's general government deficit from the original 4.6 percent to 4.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). According to the council, however, the improvement is mainly due to a postponement in military equipment deliveries, which will lead to higher spending in the future. According to Kiss, the problem of public finances is thus only being postponed. "This debt hasn't disappeared, it's only been shifted to future years, where, according to RRZ estimates, the deficit will again jump to 5.5 percent of GDP. This is incompetence non plus ultra that has nothing to do with responsible state management," said the opposition MP. According to him, the government is also lying about its goals. "It's promising a deficit of 4.1 percent of GDP for 2026, but according to RRZ, it will actually reach at least 4.4 percent. And if they are to keep their promise of a 3.5-percent deficit by the end of the electoral period, they'll have to take measures worth almost €3 billion. We know where they'll look for that - in our wallets," opined Kiss. The MP stressed that Robert Fico's government (Smer-SD) has been taking money out of people's pockets for three years in a row with the promise that this will improve public finances. "The reality, however, is exactly the opposite. People are paying higher VAT, higher taxes and levies, and the government has also imposed a nonsensical transaction tax on them, but the budget is in worse shape," added the opposition MP. am/df