The Slovakian government is under fire for its spending habits, with the leader of Progressive Slovakia, Michal Šimečka, questioning the current administration’s commitment to fiscal consolidation.Šimečka argues that the government, led by Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický, has not sufficiently tightened its own belt, pointing to the increased number of state secretaries as an example of needless expenditure.

“You have 35 state secretaries,the Odor’s government had 22,” Šimečka stated,highlighting what he sees as a lack of fiscal discipline within the government.

Šimečka emphasized the importance of leading by example, stating, “If you can’t save in a small one, you can’t save even big.” He outlined Progressive Slovakia’s approach to consolidation, focusing on reducing government operational costs and state expenditures, estimating potential savings in the hundreds of millions. He also identified social spending as an area for potential cuts.

“We would not have a thirteenth pension, and this is a billion, I will say it,” Šimečka declared, indicating a willingness to make unpopular decisions to address the country’s financial challenges.

Kamenický defended his government’s approach, criticizing former Prime Minister Ľudovít Ódor, now a Member of the European Parliament for Progressive Slovakia, for his proposed austerity measures. Kamenický specifically targeted Ódor’s “LEGO cubes” plan, which included proposals to reduce the number of police officers and other employees, and also abolishing the thirteenth pensions.

Šimečka dismissed Kamenický’s criticism, comparing the “LEGO cubes” to a “menu in a restaurant from which you choose something,” emphasizing that they were merely suggestions and not binding policy decisions.

“If you can’t save in a small one,you can’t save even big.”

Despite the criticism, kamenický defended the government’s spending priorities, stating that “the celebrations will continue.” He specifically mentioned the SNP celebrations, emphasizing their importance and dismissing any criticism of their cost.

“We appreciate the SNP celebrations very much and we will continue to do them and can criticize us who wants what he wants,” Kamenický asserted.

Kamenický indicated that the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the most government departments, would bear the brunt of the consolidation efforts. He stated that his ministry would have less money than the previous year, while departments with significant salary obligations, such as those related to teachers and healthcare professionals, would see the largest increases.

“We will not have an increase somewhere, for example, I will have less money than last year at the ministry of Finance. The biggest growths will be in the party’s resorts, there are salaries of teachers, health care professionals, and somewhere there are SNS resorts,” kamenický explained.

He added, “I saved about 55 million for me at the Finance Ministry last year and I will have to save another 30 million next year.” Kamenický also announced that ministers would freeze flat-rate compensation and reduce their salaries due to higher taxes as part of the consolidation measures.