Tomas: We Insist That Allowances for Cabinet Members Should Be Frozen (2)

Bratislava, 15 April (TASR) - Labour, Social Affairs and Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) will insist that lump-sum allowances for ministers should be frozen and will push for the government to include and approve a resolution on the matter. Speaking ahead of Wednesday's cabinet meeting, Tomas claimed that the proposal has also secured support from the Slovak National Party (SNS). He underlined that Voice-SD is committed to honouring a coalition agreement on freezing these allowances. "I believe that it's clear and verifiable that such an agreement existed, as it's also been confirmed by Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD)," said Tomas. Support for the measure has also been declared by SNS chairman Andrej Danko, who had previously stated that his party agrees that ministers' lump-sum allowances should be frozen. Tomas said that Voice-SD has had a draft resolution prepared for two weeks, but it hasn't yet been included on the government's agenda. "This issue was discussed by the coalition council, but remained unresolved. We'll insist that such a resolution should be included in the government meeting and approved," he added. He also indicated that if the government doesn't adopt the resolution, Voice-SD ministers plan to donate the increased lump-sum allowances, including back payments from January of this year, to support people in need. "We'll probably set up a social fund via which these funds will be distributed to those in need," he said. Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) admitted that he doesn't quite understand the efforts of his colleagues representing the junior coalition Voice-SD party. He believes that the agreement to adjust salaries has achieved its intended goal, i.e. to ensure that ministers' salaries wouldn't rise. "It seems to me that they've failed to grasp that we didn't go down the route of freezing lump-sum allowances, as we in fact reduced salaries by increasing the tax burden," said Kalinak. Opposition 'Slovakia' MP Julius Jakab criticised the government for applying double standards in the consolidation of public finances. "While they have repeatedly imposed consolidation packages on the public, they doubled their own salaries after the 2023 elections," he stated. He stated that the government has failed to deliver on its promises to freeze lump-sum allowances. "Instead of cutting their own costs, they are letting their tax-free incomes grow. While people face rising prices for everything, from food through energy to housing, the government is increasing its own benefits in the meantime. They are completely out of touch with reality," said Jakab. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final four paragraphs. jrg/df