The joint opposition presidential candidate Iveta Radičová has criticised the incumbent head of state, Ivan Gašparovič - who is also her main rival in the upcoming presidential elections - for being insufficiently active.
She said that she considered his State of the Nation address presented to parliament on Tuesday, February 17, as nothing but a ‘commentary’ that offers no solutions, the SITA newswire reported. “Today we need deeds, not commentaries... creating tensions and black-and-white political judgment is not a good starting point for cooperation and an intensive search for meaningful, positive steps in this country,” Radičová told journalists on February 18.
She says that a president needs to take action and that the presidential post gives opportunities not merely to transfer responsibility to other authorities, but to contribute to the search for solutions. The opposition presidential candidate continued by saying that at a time when people are losing jobs and the growth of wages is slowing, the president should initiate the formation of a group in which experts from political parties, the academic sphere and specialists from think-tanks would be invited to seek anti-crisis measures. Their proposals should then be submitted to the government and parliament.
Radičová says it is important that the president clearly stands up against protectionism. She added that public investment in schools and hospitals should be supported and the construction of rental housing boosted through use of European Union funds. She also said capital from the second pension pillar should be used for investment via government bonds.
She criticised President Gašparovič for the condition of the Slovak judiciary, and added that improvement of relations with neighbouring countries, especially with Hungary, should be a priority. 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.
