Jakab: Government Failing to Tackle Fuel Crisis

Bratislava, 1 April (TASR) – The government is failing to manage the fuel crisis, and the public is paying for its inaction, said opposition 'Slovakia' party vice-chair and MP Julius Jakab in response to Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) remarks on the current fuel situation in Slovakia on Wednesday. According to Jakab, the government is failing to address the crisis and isn't delivering any concrete measures for Slovakia. "Robert Fico told the whole of Slovakia today that he doesn't know how to resolve the fuel situation, and Slovaks will continue to face diesel shortages at petrol stations," he said. Jakab added that the current situation is the result of long-term government failures and its dependence on external influences. "Robert Fico has become an ordinary vassal of Russian oil as well as Hungary's MOL, while Slovakia's Slovnaft is unable to do absolutely anything," he stressed. The lawmaker also pointed to the different approach taken by other countries when addressing fuel prices. "If we look at Poland, they've reduced taxes so that a litre of petrol is being sold at €1.44, not only for their own inhabitants but for all Europeans, including Slovaks," he said. In Jakab's view, the government has no room for similar measures due to its irresponsible fiscal management. "Robert Fico cannot reduce taxes because he is indebting the country at twice the rate of previous governments, which he constantly blames," he stated. He also criticised the handling of public finances. "All the money from consolidation that this government has taken from people's wallets has been stolen and spent. There are absolutely no reserves in the budget today," he added. Jakab described the current situation as a consequence of the government's inability to address the real problems faced by people. "It's the sheer incompetence of the current government, which is unable to resolve people's problems," he stressed. Earlier in the day, speaking alongside Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) at a briefing at the Bratislava refinery following a joint meeting with representatives of Slovnaft, Fico said that the state of emergency in Slovakia concerning oil could be lifted next Wednesday, 8 April if the Slovnaft refinery returns the borrowed state oil to the state material reserves. mf/df