Fico: GDP Growth Keeps on Stagnating, but Real Salary Growth is Good News

Bratislava, 16 August (TASR) - Slovakia's GDP growth keeps on stagnating, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has posted on social media, calling it 'a less satisfactory piece of news', while the growth in real salaries is a good one. "The good news is that salary growth in Slovakia is higher than inflation, i.e. increase in prices. That's why we can say that our real salaries are growing. The less satisfactory piece of news is the ongoing stagnation of economic growth. We're still experiencing growth, but not as high as we would like to see," stated Fico in a video, adding that there were problems with economic growth even before the fiscal consolidation. According to the premier, it is still objectively true that Slovakia is one of the most open and export-oriented economies, extremely dependent on development of the German economy. And the German economy 'really isn't doing well', stated Fico. Slovakia therefore needs to focus its efforts on drawing EU funds and seeking new investors, he added. Concerning the project for a new nuclear power facility in Jaslovske Bohunice (Trnava region), he said he starts 'losing his patience' and is becoming convinced that it is being deliberately 'torpedoed'. He said that he'll ask respective ministers to strongly respond to some of the 'complete nonsense' reported in the media regarding the government's plans to seek an investor to modernise the irrigation network in Slovakia. ko