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Slovakia's Planned Loan to Greece Up in Air After Election
Monday 14 June 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, June 14 (TASR) - Whether Slovakia will provide financial assistance to debt-ridden Greece is not clear following the country's general election. Four centre-right parties that have attained a parliamentary majority and stand a good chance of forming a Government are either blatantly against the loan or question whether the conditions of the loan are favourable to Slovakia.
The Government headed by Prime Minister Robert Fico gave its preliminary approval to the €820-million loan, but left the final decision up to Parliament. In the meantime, however, the coalition lost majority in the House in Saturday's election.
Two days after the vote, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) chairman Richard Sulik reiterated his rejection of the loan. "When it comes to Greece, we said before the election that we wouldn't back the loan. This continues to be the case, we stand by our commitment," said Sulik.
SDKU-DS party, which received the second largest number of votes in the election, has also been against the loan.
Christian Democrats (KDH) originally gave their nod to the loan package, but later called the conditions disadvantageous for Slovakia. "When it comes to the loan's ratio vis-a-vis the average salary, Slovakia's share in the loan is the highest within the eurozone. Prime Minister Robert Fico's Government has negotiated such outrageously disadvantageous conditions for Slovak citizens," KDH vice-chairman Daniel Lipsic has said.
Most-Hid, the fourth potential member of the governing coalition, isn't particularly in favour of the loan, either. "First we have to examine what they agreed on," party chairman Bela Bugar said.
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