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Parliament Approves Slovakia's Participation in EFSF
Wednesday 11 August 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, August 11 (TASR) - Parliament on Wednesday almost unanimously approved Slovakia's participation in the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), which will reach almost €4.4 billion in the form of potential guarantees.
Out of the 142 MPs present, 140 lawmakers voted in favour of the EFSF. The only MP opposed to it was Most-Hid's Ondrej Dostal, while Slovak National Party (SNS) first vice-chair Anna Belousovova abstained from the vote.
Although the general agreement has been approved in Parliament, Slovakia still hasn't become an effective part of the EFSF, according to Finance Minister Ivan Miklos (SDKU-DS). "We'll become part of it after changing legislation, which will allow us to accept such a guarantee. The current legislation doesn't allow it, so in September we'll have to come up with a legislative proposal that will allow such a kind of guarantees," said Miklos in Parliament.
The Opposition reproached the Government for misusing the issue in the election campaign and its subsequent "opinion gymnastics". Smer-SD MP Jozef Burian stressed that SDKU-DS and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), which had criticised the EFSF, should be the first to apologise to their voters.
Miklos responded that the stance of his party hasn't changed, as Slovakia has agreed to the EFSF with certain reservations. He in turn criticised the former government for negotiating poor conditions for Slovakia.
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