Monitor: Takac: It's Expected that Fuel Prices in Slovakia Will Increase

(STVR, 'O 5 minut 12', 8 March) There is a strong possibility that fuel prices in Slovakia will rise, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister and Smer-SD vice-chair Richard Takac stated on STVR's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday in connection with the situation in the Middle East. According to Takac, fuel prices in the EU will go up. "The situation in terms of fuel price increases across the EU will rapidly escalate, and the situation will worsen. This means that we (the government) will also have to make certain decisions that will be similar to those made in other EU countries," said Takac. "If the government wants to help in some way, the opposition already has a proposal in Parliament to reduce excise duties, which would significantly influence fuel prices to go down," leader of the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) Branislav Groehling responded to Takac, calling on the coalition to support the opposition's proposal to reduce excise duties on fuel. Takac countered that reducing excise duties would cause a shortfall in public finances. Meanwhile, Takac reported that the German owner had refused any discussion about selling Povazsky cukor sugar factory. "They've decided to close it down, they don't want to sell it, they are turning it into a distribution warehouse and keeping the premises," said the agriculture minister. According to Groehling, companies are leaving Slovakia because of the unfavourable business environment created by the current governing coalition. "These companies are leaving because of this government's policies and what this government is bringing in through individual laws. I have a list of 13 companies that have left Slovakia in recent times," emphasised the opposition MP. Takac recommended that Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) shouldn't go to Ukraine for talks. "From this position, I recommend that the prime minister shouldn't go to Kiev under any circumstances. I don't recommend setting foot in Ukraine, because after President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy threatened Mr. [Hungarian Premier Viktor] Orban, there's a strong possibility, and I'm personally convinced of this, that there are people in Ukraine who are capable of shooting dead the Slovak prime minister simply because he has a sovereign stance, an opinion different from that desired by Mr. Zelenskyy," added Takac. am