BRATISLAVA, October 11, (WEBNOVINY) — Speaking to the plenum in the debate on approving the appendix to the framework agreement on the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) on Tuesday, Finance Minister Ivan Miklos (SDKU-DS) said he expects the Slovak Parliament to eventually approve the eurozone’s bailout fund enhancement this week. Miklos said this with regard to the declaration of the largest opposition party SMER-SD that it will support the changes in the second vote.
In his address, Minister Miklos pointed out that uncertainty surrounding the approval of the bailout fund extension in Slovakia is shaking global markets. Miklos added that the current situation is serious, while Slovakia’s reputation and its image have already been damaged.
Slovak deputies are going to vote only on continuation of the government of Iveta Radicova, but also on whether Europe will have an enhanced bailout fund. “The bailout fund enhancement is an inevitable minimum instrument to avert a crisis in Europe and the world,” Miklos said. He reminded that parliaments of sixteen eurozone members have already expressed support the EFSF enhancement.
According to the finance minister, the debate on the bailout fund in Slovakia has been politicized. Miklos emphasized that it is not possible to benefit from the eurozone membership without participating in funding of common anti-crisis measures. Miklos admitted that the bailout fund is not an ideal solution to problems, but a problem is that there is no better alternative on the table at the moment.
The finance minister mentioned further arguments speaking in favor of the EFSF enhancement in the Slovak Parliament. According to him, there are several myths about the bailout fund being spread. He believes those are tools of populism.
SITA