Parliament Fails to Open Session on Finance Minister's Dismissal

Bratislava, 15 June (TASR) - Lawmakers on Monday failed to open a special emergency session of Parliament convened to debate an opposition motion of no confidence in Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD). During the first attempt on Monday afternoon, only 57 MPs registered their presence. At least 76 lawmakers are required for Parliament to begin proceedings. A second attempt is scheduled for 30 minutes later. Coalition representatives previously indicated that they won't allow separate sessions on motions to dismiss individual cabinet members and instead intend to combine several such proposals into a single special sitting at a later date. The motion to dismiss Kamenicky was initiated last week by the opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and was signed by MPs from all opposition parties. The opposition accuses the finance minister primarily of mishandling fiscal consolidation and abandoning further efforts to improve the state of public finances. The motion also criticises him for introducing the financial transaction tax, worsening the business environment, failing to tackle inflation effectively, poor levels of tax revenues, insufficient action against tax evasion, disregarding expert institutions and damaging Slovakia's international credibility. Kamenicky has rejected the opposition's criticism. According to the minister, previous governments that held office between 2020 and 2023 are responsible for the poor state of public finances, while the current administration has been gradually reducing the high inherited deficit. "It's an opposition absurdity when reckless wrecking balls who ruined public finances want to dismiss me, while we're the ones who have to repair the damage that they caused. That's our schizophrenic, anti-Slovak opposition," said Kamenicky in response to the motion. mf/df