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SDKU: Economy and Construction Ministries Could Be Scrapped Right Now
Friday 15 January 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, January 15 (TASR) - The strongest opposition party SDKU-DS is convinced that the Economy and Construction Ministries could be done away with in order to achieve the more efficient running of public administration, and that this step could be taken immediately.
In addition, SDKU proposes that the post of vice-premier without portfolio, i.e. the one responsible for European affairs, a knowledge-based society, human rights and minorities - could be abolished in this respect, said SDKU vice-chair Lucia Zitnanska at a news conference on Friday.
Zitnanska claims that the Health and Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministries could possibly merge in the future. "The proposal to scrap two ministries that Prime Minister Robert Fico is using as an argument for cutting excise-tax on diesel is populist and deceptive. Racing to propose more radical cuts in the number of ministries won't solve the problems surrounding the launch of the electronic road-toll system, and won't bring any financial benefit this year ... nor will it improve the ministries' performance in providing services to citizens," said Zitnanska, adding that her party won't support this proposal in Parliament.
In view of this, SDKU is working on its own plan to improve public administration in practice. The plan, which the party wants to include in its election programme, is based on proposals put forward by the Slovak Governance Institute (SGI). "We advocate the slogan 'more for less'. We want to cut the number of ministers from 16 to 12, state secretaries from 28 to 16 or 17, ministries from 14 to 11, and the number of regulatory authorities from eight to two," said Zitnanska.
According to her, however, these changes must ensure that there will be fewer opportunities for corruption, which should ultimately benefit Slovakia. "The agendas on the shoulders of ministries should respond to the challenges that Slovakia faces," she said.
Premier Fico's proposal, which is on the table of Friday's extraordinary Government session, counts on scrapping the Environment and Construction Ministries, or alternatively the Health Ministry. Meanwhile, the agenda for co-ordinating the use of finances flowing from EU funds should be transferred to the Government Office.
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