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Figel: Fico's Government Fit Only for Fair Weather
Tuesday 08 June 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, June 8 (TASR) - The ability to resolve crisis situations is an important pre-requisite for a good government, but the current Cabinet is a fair-weather one only, opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) chairman Jan Figel said at a press conference on Tuesday, accusing Robert Fico's Government of idleness when it comes to adopting anti-flood measures.
"The Government had been suggesting that the economic crisis wouldn't affect Slovakia, but now it's linking everything to it. It behaves similarly with the floods. It was ignoring them for years, but now it's making politics out of them to use before the election (on June 12)," said Figel.
The state may have provided €25 million in compensation for those affected by the floods, but Slovakia lost twice as much via the shady sale of carbon-dioxide emission quotas, noted Figel.
The KDH chief further lambasted Fico for using the premier's financial reserve to "buy political support before the election".
"(LS-HZDS head Vladimir) Meciar had Claudia Schiffer (in the 1998 election campaign), Fico has his female fitness model," said Figel, alluding to a contribution of €17,000 from the premier's reserve to a fitness model who used some of the money to have her nails manicured before a contest.
Figel also commented on the amendment to the act on financing political parties proposed by Fico, according to which €4 million of the state-budget money for funding political parties should be diverted to reconstructing infrastructure after the recent floods. Figel suggested that Fico should also turn to his sponsors, who have been profiting from business with the state over the past four years. However, he declined to say whether KDH will back the amendment in Parliament, as the party isn't acquainted with the details.
At the same time, Figel promised after that after being elected as MP he will forego his first month's salary to help the flood victims. He added that other KDH MPs will be invited to follow suit.
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