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Miklos: Former Gov't Only Interested in Flood Victims Before Election
Wednesday 14 July 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Clearing up after the floods that hit Slovakia in May and June and caused estimated damage of €695.1 million was the focal point of one of the first policy meetings of the new Government on Wednesday.
The finance and justice ministers accused the previous cabinet of Robert Fico (Smer-SD) of being pro-active in looking after the victims only up until election day. It set up a committee to tackle the aftermath of the floods but this has never met, Finance Minister Ivan Miklos (SDKU-DS) told reporters. The account opened to collect public funds has to date received only €200.
Miklos was echoed by Justice Minister Daniel Lipsic, who said that it is true that all activities regarding the floods were limited to the run-up to the election. "Compensation was hastily paid out with police patrols going around paying out ready cash to those on the mayors' lists in time for election day," he said.
According to PM Iveta Radicova, the Government has instructed the health, agriculture, transport and interior ministers to work out an analysis into the floods' aftermath and proposals for the coming period.
She said that she spoke to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso about drawing aid from the European Solidarity Fund. Slovakia will formally request the aid by July 16.
According to Lipsic, the damage is still being dealt with and rescue work continues. The priority is to help those made homeless.
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