Opposition SaS Proposes €2Bn in Savings and Measures to Boost Economy

Bratislava, 9 November (TASR) – The new government, due to take office following next year's parliamentary election, could save approximately €2 billion in its first year while also helping to kickstart the Slovak economy, opposition SaS party stated at a press conference on Monday. The proposed plan of SaS includes streamlining the state, curbing unnecessary public spending and making social assistance more targeted. A quarter of the savings would be used to reduce the deficit, while the remainder would be invested in supporting economic growth. "The next government will face the difficult task of making savings while boosting the economy. We, in SaS, believe that we can deliver genuine savings in the very first year and restore the way the state operated before Robert Fico came to power," claimed SaS vice-chair and MP Marian Viskupic. The first step, he said, should be to reduce the cost of running the state. The party proposes abolishing the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and other institutions it considers unnecessary. It also wants to reduce the number of deputy ministers, with a maximum of two per ministry, while some ministries would need only one. The plan also includes changes to the salaries of ministers and MPs, including their substantial tax-free flat-rate allowances. According to SaS estimates, these measures could generate savings of at least €5 million a year. In the first year, the party would also abolish all vacant positions in the state administration. Together with other measures, this could generate savings of approximately €500 million in the first few months, Viskupic estimated. The party aims to secure at least a further €200 million a year by curbing overpriced procurement and inefficient state projects. According to Viskupic, the social assistance system should also undergo significant changes, with universal measures replaced by targeted support. "The 13th pension payment would operate as a one-off benefit, topping up the 12th pension payment to the median level of approximately €700," he said. SaS wants to replace the current energy assistance scheme with targeted housing allowances for low-income households earning up to 175 percent of the subsistence minimum. The allowance could amount to approximately €300 for an individual. The liberal party also plans to restrict universal free school meals and free train travel. Free meals would be reserved for children from vulnerable families, while free travel would be available to those who genuinely need such assistance. "I understand that these are not popular measures, but they are necessary. Together with the other changes, we can save €2 billion in the very first year, possibly even more. We want to use a quarter of the savings to reduce the deficit and invest the remainder in growth-enhancing measures that will help kickstart the economy and generate additional revenue for businesses and the state budget," Viskupic added. mf/mcs