Opposition Slams Voice-SD Over 'Chaotic' Handling of Allowances

Bratislava, 19 March (TASR) – Opposition parties have criticised the coalition Voice-SD's last-minute attempt to address rising lump-sum allowances for government members, calling it further evidence of the cabinet's chaotic governance. In the opposition's view, the issue should have been resolved much earlier, and it pointed out that the government's approach has conflicted with the constitutional law on the debt brake. SaS MP Karol Galek recalled that his party proposed freezing the allowances last year. "At the time, we were told not to worry, that the government would handle it itself and freeze these allowances. Nothing of the sort happened. Now suddenly we see that the allowances are set to increase, there is public uproar, and only now are they waking up and reacting. This is truly a disgrace and confirmation of the chaos created by this government," he said. Rastislav Kratky (KDH) pointed to what he sees as a clear contradiction between rising allowances and constitutional law. One of the sanctions under the debt brake at high levels of public debt is freezing government members' salaries. While this has occurred, the government has significantly increased lump-sum allowances, which are not explicitly addressed by the law. "The government has cleverly circumvented this, effectively increasing ministers' pay by thousands of euros. They should bring this regulation into line with constitutional requirements," he accentuated. Ivan Stefanek (Progressive Slovakia) briefly welcomed the move, saying: "At least they are finally freezing it, because living costs are rising while government members' incomes have been increasing." Earlier in the day, Voice-SD announced that it will propose freezing the allowances at a government session, with Labour Minister and party vice-chair Erik Tomas and Education Minister Tomas Drucker confirming the plan during Thursday's Question Time in Parliament. Deputy Prime Minister and Smer-SD member Robert Kalinak rejected claims that government members' incomes are increasing this year as untrue. He reiterated that ministers' base salaries remain frozen, and although allowances are rising in line with average salary growth, higher taxation on top earners introduced as part of fiscal consolidation has significantly reduced their net incomes. mf/df