Fico: Gov't Not Planning Steps Toward Balanced Budget or Changes in Debt Brake

Bratislava, 21 May (TASR) - The government is currently not planning any steps aimed at a balanced budget or amendments to the constitutional act concerning the debt brake, nor is it preparing a proposal to request a vote of confidence in Parliament due to the high level of public debt, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Thursday. "Looking at the applicable law, it states, inter alia, that if expenditures required in connection with our membership of international organisations exceed 3 percent of GDP, these sanctions don't apply to the Slovak government. As I see it, it won't be necessary to amend the Constitution even with regard to local governments, because this very article of the constitutional act applies," stated Fico. Therefore, according to him, the government's legal opinion is that in this situation, it doesn't have to prepare a balanced budget, while this obligation doesn't apply to local governments, either. He thinks that if the governing coalition wanted to amend the constitutional Fiscal Responsibility Act, the opposition wouldn't help it. A constitutional amendment requires a majority of 90 votes in Parliament, which the coalition doesn't possess, stated Fico. "Why would they help us? Wouldn't it be better for them to plunge the country into chaos by forcing local governments to run balanced budgets? I know exactly what kind of bright sparks I'm dealing with. I think it's practically impossible to approve a constitutional amendment," he said. With the public debt reaching the current high level, the most stringent debt brake sanctions require the government to prepare a balanced budget and request a vote of confidence in Parliament. However, there's no deadline for this request, stressed Fico, adding that, at the same time, preparing a balanced budget is impossible. "With just a bit of common sense and respect for this country, with a little bit of respect for people, pensioners, employees and everyone, there's no way you can submit a balanced budget. Do you know what that means? That's the welfare state collapsing for good, that's the definitive collapse of the state as we know it," stated Fico. He reiterated that his government inherited the worst public finances in the European Union (EU) and is working towards their consolidation, with deficits being lower than planned every year. "It's not as simple as you think. First, an amendment would be very difficult to pass when it comes to local governments. Secondly, there is no deadline set for the government to request a vote of confidence. And thirdly, a balanced budget is science fiction," said Fico. jrg/df