BRATISLAVA, April 4, (WEBNOVINY) — Leader of Christian Democrats Jan Figel reported that his party was ready to table serious nominations for the top post at the National Security Office (NBU) at Monday’s Coalition Council. “It is important that the agreement in the coalition is serious. It is a sensitive and serious topic. I believe that progress will be made toward an agreement on the National Security Office,” the party chair told journalist. SaS leader Richard Sulik was more reserved. “We are going to talk about it,” he told reporters. The coalition partners are meeting after a month, at the head office of MOST-HID party this time.
In compliance with political agreements, it is SaS that is entitled to nominate a candidate for the given post. SDKU-DS and MOST-HID respect this right. SaS has not disclosed the name of their candidate thus far but plans to present the person to its coalition partners on Monday. The nominee is allegedly not a party member.
The post has been vacant since the former chief Frantisek Blanarik stepped down on March 7. On that day, he handed over his abdication papers to Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Richard Sulik, though his term of office would actually expire in September 2013. Blanarik said that he does not want to become a tool in intelligence games aimed to scandalize certain people, including himself, instead of assessing the level of NBU activities and its position in international structures. Earlier in March, the media informed that Blanarik was allegedly reporting on his friends to the military counter-intelligence in the Communist era.
The Coalition Council is slated to debate the reform of the system of health and social insurance contributions. “I assume that we will achieve an agreement and finally close this topic today,” Finance Minister Ivan Miklos told journalists. On Monday, the respective working group debated a combination of alternatives outlined so far. “It must be budget-neutral,” he underscored. So far the coalition has agreed upon a significant change in the payroll levy system that is expected to simplify the system and reduce its administrative burden.
The program of the session also features the use of privatization proceeds. Prime Minister Iveta Radicova has asserted the money would be used for debt coverage.
SITA