PM Fico Believes That Parliament Will Approve 2027 Budget

Bratislava, 11 October (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) believes that the draft budget for 2027 will be approved by Parliament, adding that it's not a budget tailored to a specific group or a particular industry, but one designed to ensure that Slovakia and its people can get through difficult times, TASR has learnt from his video posted on social media. "I'm proud that we managed to put it together in this way, because it's a small miracle," said Fico, describing the government's approval of the draft budget earlier this week as good news for Slovakia. He recalled that there will be no new or higher taxes or levies. The existing social standard is to be maintained, and salaries in the public sector will increase. Fico also stated that funds are available to prevent hikes in the prices of gas, electricity and heating for households in 2027. Furthermore, €100 million will be allocated for combating drought. He also guaranteed continued funding for projects to build new hospitals and a new nuclear power facility. "The Transport Ministry will move ahead at full speed, while the Education and Health Ministries will have larger budgets," stressed Fico. According to him, Slovakia will enjoy higher economic growth in 2027 than the eurozone average, record-low unemployment and a debt level 25 percent below the eurozone average. Slovakia's debt exceeded 60 percent of GDP, compared with France's 120 percent, while Germany, Austria, Italy, Finland and Belgium had even higher debt levels, he said. "The government's decisions, including the budget proposal, are not improvised. They reflect our response to internal and external crises, with the aim of protecting Slovakia and its people," said the prime minister, adding that the country could not rely on solutions at EU level "because they are not forthcoming". "Dear MPs supporting the governing coalition: by approving the 2027 budget, you will do the best thing you can do for Slovakia. Leave the whining to the opposition, they're masters at it," stated Fico. He also expressed confidence that the meeting of the Visegrad Four prime ministers (V4: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), which is to be held under Slovakia's presidency on Wednesday evening (14 October), will be successful. After a long time, the countries managed to draw up a joint position which they want to push through at the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday (15-16 October), stated Fico. jrg