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Analyst: Proving Origin of Property Is Test Between Smer and KDH
Tuesday 05 January 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, January 5 (TASR) - The issue of proving the origin of property, one proposal about which was presented by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on Monday, with another by Daniel Lipsic (Opposition Christian Democrats/KDH) coming the following day, will be a test of political communication between the two parties vis-a-vis the parliamentary elections set for the summer, TASR was told by political analyst Peter Horvath on Tuesday.
"If this issue connects the two parties in Parliament, it would be a signal that the animosity isn't that significant," said Horvath, adding that it is rather to be expected that neither party will back a proposal from the other.
Nonetheless, the issue should be perceived as an attempt to gain some political points before the elections both by Smer and KDH, noted the analyst. He foresees both proposals failing, however, as neither of the two parties will be willing to yeald to the other. "The law, if adopted, would bring many political points, and they have no reason to support each other," said Horvath.
Even if one of the two proposals were to pass, it would most likely end up at the Constitutional Court, regardless of any planned amendment to the Constitution. "A change in the Constitution is one matter and the principle of a law-based state another," stated Horvath.
Fico's proposal concerns property that exceeds 1,000- or 1,500-times (€300,000 or €450,000) the minimum monthly salary and was acquired after the year 1990.
Lipsic's proposal concerns property exceeding 500-times the minimum monthly salary, with no time limits on acquisition included. "If there is a time limit, it will be nothing more than a political spectacle," stressed Lipsic, arguing that it wouldn't be difficult to bypass the law if a time limit were introduced.
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