Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MP Igor Matovič, who made it into parliament with three other colleagues from the Ordinary People civic association, reacted emotionally to a speech by former prime minister and current deputy speaker of parliament Robert Fico. During a debate on the new government’s programme statement, Fico made a 30-minute address in the house, in which he refused to take responsibility for the serious situation in public finances. He criticised the draft government programme as vague and without solutions.
“Are you not ashamed to say before [all] Slovakia that you did not put the burden of the crisis on regular people’s shoulders? I am asking you, Mr Fico, who will repay the hundreds of billions of debts you bear responsibility for? Do you want to say that it will not be the people of this country? It will be the people of this country, unfortunately, nobody else; and only because of you,” Matovič said, as quoted by the SITA newswire.
Matovič and the three other Ordinary People MPs, whose SaS caucus supports the coalition government, were the subject of speculation in late July about whether they might refuse to vote in favour of the government programme. They have since pledged their support.
Source: SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
