Slovak News Back to the news
Fico Warns of Attacks on Smer; Praises Party's Handling of Crisis
Sunday 06 December 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, December 6 (TASR) - Representatives of the leading coalition Smer-SD party will act in an uncompromising manner until the end of this Government's term, and none of its members is worthy of damaging Smer-SD's reputation, Smer-SD chief and Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Sunday at a ceremonial convention held to mark the party's 10th anniversary.
In his address, which lasted for more than an hour, the premier warned that Smer must get ready for scandalisation and attacks on it in the run-up to the general election in June 2010. "They'll provoke us in an incredible manner, but we'll do our best for victory," he said.
Smer will take part in the election as an experienced party aiming to attain the same success as in the 2006 election, he said. "We can't, nor do we want to exclude anybody from post-election co-operation. It's ridiculous that a party that has never won a parliamentary election should assume the role of a kind of referee holding up a red card," said Fico in reference to the leading opposition SDKU-DS party, which has announced that it won't join a coalition with Smer.
Fico stated that Smer intends to win the election in a manner that will ensure that the party will play a decisive role in the setting-up of the next coalition. "We were, and we are in favour of co-operation based on the principle of agreement and a positive government manifesto, instead of hatred towards anybody and anything," said Fico, citing care for ordinary people and an open commitment against corruption and clientelism as two key pre-conditions for forming a governing coalition.
The Smer leader went on to chastise what he labelled "the anti-government media". According to him, the Slovak press releases three kinds of information. "True (information) such as sports results, then probable such as weather forecasts, and false, which includes virtually everything concerning us, the Government and the Smer party," he stressed.
At the same time, however, he vowed that Smer will put up with the phenomenon of "an anti-government press". "It's really unprecedented that the press should take over the role of the political opposition. Nonetheless, we've got the obligations that pertain to a governing party, and we can't join in this game," said Fico.
The Smer chief also praised the Government's performance vis-a-vis the economic crisis. "We responded to difficulties plaguing the financial sector in a prompt manner. We've handled the crisis without any impact on the banking sector and without jeopardising people's savings," he said, also thanking people for their attitude towards the introduction of the euro.
At the same time, Fico claimed that no support from the Opposition or the "anti-government media" was apparent during euro-adoption, and that spiteful scenarios concerning the Government's alleged inability to overcome the repercussions of the crisis haven't materialised. "Euro-adoption was among the turning-point decisions, and this Coalition and Smer-SD will always be linked to it," he said.
Fico also said that the Government has also been successful in maintaining the stability of energy prices. If next year's economic situation is favourable, the range of goods and services with lower VAT will be increased. The budgets of all but three ministries have been cut amid the crisis, with people's social standards unaffected. Pensions and social benefits will be valorised, The Christmas bonus on pensions will be paid out, with support for mortgages also to continue. "This is real social-democratic policy, the way it should be pursued," he said.
A total of 1,767 guests attended the ceremonial convention, including Czech Social-Democratic party (CSSD) chairman Jiri Paroubek Austrian Chancellor and Social Democratic Party Chairman Werner Fayman.
All rights reserved. Any publishing or further dissemination of press releases and photographs from TASR's resources without TASR's prior written approval constitutes a violation of the Copyrights Act.
