Opposition: Seeking Exemption from Debt Brake Attempt to Circumvent Law

Bratislava, 1 June (TASR) - The government's attempt to seek exemptions from several obligations under the debt brake, including the requirement to balance the budget, is an effort to circumvent the purpose of this constitutional law, representatives of several opposition parties stated in Parliament on Monday, noting that the current government has long been avoiding debt-brake sanctions for the current high levels of public debt, including, for example, the obligation to ask Parliament for a vote of confidence. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has stated repeatedly recently that neither the state nor local governments are currently obliged to prepare balanced budgets, as public expenditures related to observing Slovakia's international treaties have exceeded 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), which constitutes an exemption from the strictest debt-brake sanctions. "I'm convinced that while this may be a legal opinion, it's absolutely unacceptable as the prime minister presents it. If we look at the purpose of the debt-brake law, it shouldn't be for [observance-related expenditures] to exceed 3 percent, but that something should be increased [by 3 percent]," emphasised opposition MP and vice-chair of the House finance committee Marian Viskupic (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS), adding that the exception should only be used in an urgent situation. In his view, the correct approach would be to amend the debt brake so that the requirement of a balanced budget doesn't apply to local governments, as the state is responsible for the vast majority of public debt. The opposition would support this change, so there would be no problem in achieving a constitutional majority, said Viskupic. Opposition MP Julius Jakab ('Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus) is convinced that the current government has been violating the debt-brake rules ever since they became applicable to it following an initial two-year exemption. "So, when someone tells others to circumvent a constitutional law through a regulation issued by some Finance Ministry, that's a pretty absurd approach in my opinion. Of course, local governments need help, but whether this will actually help them - and whether it's in accordance with the law - is something I'd really like to know," he added. am/df