PS Wants Premier to Ensure Drivers Won't Pay More for Petrol Than Czechs... (2)

Bratislava, 9 March (TASR) - In connection with the situation in the Middle East, chairman of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party Michal Simecka has called on Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to explain how he'll ensure that Slovak drivers won't pay more for petrol than Czechs or Poles, for example. "This is what Fico promised, because drivers are no longer interested in excuses, conflicts, and threats against Ukraine that he will block its loan or admission into the European Union," the PS leader told a press conference on Monday. "They're interested in what he'll do so that we won't pay more for petrol. And he doesn't know," said the PS chair, adding that there are several options. "There are things that they should have done two and a half years ago. That means diversifying supplies. He can pressure Slovnaft to reduce its margins," suggested Simecka, pointing out that Fico's acquaintance Miroslav Lajcak sits on the supervisory board of this company. According to Simecka, the prime minister could also come up with something regarding excise tax, which is higher in Slovakia than in some other countries. "But let him finally say what he wants to do for Slovak consumers, drivers and citizens when it comes to energy, because he's putting a lot of effort and time into helping Hungarian managers at MOL, because they are the ones who are profiting from so-called cheap Russian oil," he stated. The PS leader said that Fico is doing his best to help the Russians, but he should at least do something to help people in Slovakia, who are paying more for petrol than they should have to. "To help companies that pay for almost the most expensive petrol in Europe, but we hear nothing about that. That's our task for the prime minister for this week, we call on him to pay less attention to conflicts and videos and to submit a clear plan," said Simecka. Responding to statements made by PS on Monday, Fico urged citizens to "record the opposition’s claims regarding rising fuel prices in their diaries" and revisit them during the next general election in September 2027. The statement was released by the Government Office’s press and information department. Fico said the opposition applauded the EU's decision to halt Russian gas and oil supplies to Europe. "They carry the deluded Ukrainian President on their shoulders for halting the transit of Russian gas and oil to Slovakia even before that decision took effect, an act that is brutally damaging our economy. In the same vein, the opposition welcomed US and Israeli aggression against Iran, which is yet another nail in the coffin of a stable strategic raw material supply system that has already been killed," added Fico. He insisted that his government "stands against this madness," noting that Slovakia is suing the European Commission. "We're rightfully demanding the resumption of gas and oil supplies to Slovakia which, according to the EU, we're entitled to receive until the end of 2027," noted Fico. According to him, going to extremes against a "confused Ukrainian President who doesn't hesitate to use blackmail against Slovakia and Hungary" is legitimate. Fico went on to say that he could not "find the words" to describe the opposition, led by Simecka, for demanding measures funded from the state budget in order to curb fuel prices. "Those who set the house on fire, those who not only agreed with the arsonist but provided the matches and a canister of petrol, are now asking me to extinguish the flame," added Fico. However, his statement did not not outline any government plans for adopting measures aimed at mitigating the expected surge in fuel prices. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final six paragraphs jrg