DESPITE PM Robert Fico's urging of new government ministers to cut spending, the cabinet itself is spending money lavishly. After yesterday's cabinet session it will even have to pay for premises it did not use, the Pravda daily wrote.
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The government was scheduled to meet at its October 4 session in an opulent mansion located in the southeastern village of Betliar, but PM Robert Fico decided to move the meeting to a local community building. However, the Government Office will have to pay the cost of renting both buildings.
All government ministers had to travel to the east of the country, as well, which also cost the taxpayers money. The prime minister, together with the ministers of defense and the interior, flew east on a military plane.
According to Pravda, the government will have to pay around Sk50,000 for the mansion, which locals had been readying for the cabinet meeting since the beginning of the week. The rent on the community building is around Sk2,000.
The mansion, which serves as a museum, had to be closed to the public for two days due to the planned government meeting. Fico said he would cover the costs from the pay of the employees of the Cabinet Office who came up with the idea.