Gov't Office: Coalition Leaders to Present Political Agreement on Budget

Bratislava, 21 September (TASR) - The Coalition Council discussed the draft state budget and agreed that the leaders of the governing parties will present a political agreement on the budget in the coming days, TASR learnt from the Government Office's press department on Monday. Smer-SD parliamentary caucus chair Jan Richter stated on STVR's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday (20 September) that during the Coalition Council's meeting on Monday, the parties will discuss, as the main item on the agenda, the draft state budget for 2027 which he said will be "99 percent final" when submitted to Parliament. Richter believes that the vote on the budget in Parliament will not be tied to a vote of confidence in the government. According to him, the coalition rejects drawing up a budget that would scrap existing social support measures for people. According to Richter, the coalition has reached a consensus regarding government bills submitted to Parliament. "Then there are bills submitted by parties, such as the childbirth allowance amounting to €1,000. And there are also MPs' bills, mainly tabled by Voice-SD and the Slovak National Party (SNS). An agreement has been reached that we'll support them in the first reading, while amendments and changes will be made in the second reading," said Richter, adding that comments to such amendments will also be presented by the relevant minister and the finance minister. His opponent on the show, opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) MP Zuzana Mesterova said that the government is going to present a "campaign budget", with each coalition party now seeking to deliver on the promises they put up on billboards. "First of all, it needs to be said that the situation is extremely serious and that the governing coalition is clearly getting ready for the campaign, because this is going to be an irresponsible campaign budget. However, the Council for Budget Responsibility (RRZ) has repeatedly said that this governing coalition is violating its constitutional obligations and, considering the level of public debt, it should first of all submit a balanced budget," she said, adding that this obligation is based on Slovakia's constitutional debt brake legislation. jrg/mcs