Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš dismissed Igor Krnáč from his post as head of the Financial Administration due to his failure to handle certain tasks and he will be replaced by the current director of the customs department, Mária Machová, the internet site Sme.sk reported.
The Sme daily reported last week that the new information system used by the Financial Administration, which merged the work of existing tax and customs authorities at the beginning of 2012, is not working as expected. The system was originally developed through a €5.8-million contract with the Novitech firm, but the contract was terminated in January this year by Miroslav Mikulčík, the head of the department responsible for implementing the UNITAS project to unify collection of income tax, payroll levies, and customs fees. A new work order was given to the Bank Pro Soft, a company to which Mikulčík reportedly has links, according to Sme.
Mikloš promised to solve the situation and said that he would punish the people responsible for the current chaotic situation at the Financial Administration. He explained that even though the one responsible for the malfunctioning system is its supplier, Bank Pro Soft, the problems should have been resolved by the current management of the Financial Administration.
Mikloš responded after a press conference held by Krnáč on February 17 at which he announced that he had found out about the problems with the information system only after the media informed about it, Sme wrote.
One of the first steps that can be made by Machová is sacking Miroslav Mikulčík, Mikloš said. The chair of the opposition Smer party, Robert Fico, announced that he would ask President Ivan Gašparovič to dismiss Mikloš from his post of the finance minister.
Source: Sme, Sme.sk
For more information about this story please see: NKÚ, government and MPs to carry out inspection at Tax Administration
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
