BRATISLAVA, April 7, (WEBNOVINY) — Responding to opposition accusations that she betrayed her voters, SDKU-DS Deputy Chairwoman and Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said on Thursday that it was in particular the previous government that has committed fraud on the citizens of this country when over the last two years of its reign the debt per capita climbed by EUR 2,200. The prime minister reacted to an attack of her predecessor and SMER-SD leader Robert Fico who accused her of an election fraud. ”Who asked them, who gave them their consent that they as politicians can produce such debt for the citizens.,” the prime minister asked. She underscored that the party is meeting its pre-election pledges and commitments and as a member of the government it has adopted a plenty of measures, which are improving the situation in Slovakia.
„We promised and are keeping our promise to put in order the public finances, we promised and are meeting our promise of contributions for young families, holiday in mortgage repayment, cancellation of GP referrals, cuts in expenditure caps in direct payments for drugs for pensioners and the disabled, e-auctions, publication of public sector contracts on the Internet, opening of courts to the public control and many others,“ the prime minister listed the steps of her government.
Radicova announced the plan of her government to revamp the model of the social state, which should be forthcoming, concrete and merit-based,” she said. Social transfers should go to exactly specified groups and be more family-focused. She promised that allowances will not go to those who do not deserve them but the government will take care of people developing efforts to change their lives. The interventions will not be simple many times but inevitable and necessary in order to resume the sense of justice in society, said the prime minister.
Radicova said that the basic step forward which will enable for further reforms is a change in payroll levies, on which the coalition has agreed. She underscored that the reform brings advantages to 1,850,000 persons and is neutral for 280,000 people. She admitted that high-income groups, groups with the highest incomes and quasi-tradesmen will have to cope with certain impacts. She underscored that a public discussion has kickstarted on the reform on Thursday while each citizen is invited to take part.
Changes are prepared also in the health care sector and education. Hospitals should focus more on patients and not on the operation of the facility. The education sector should comply more with needs of the labor market, said the prime minister.
SITA
