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Bardos: Reducing Number of Ministries Is Populist Move
Friday 15 January 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, January 15 (TASR) - The proclaimed intent of Slovak Premier Robert Fico and Smer-SD party to downsize the number of Slovak ministries is nothing but a marketing and populistic gesture, Gyula Bardos from SMK told TASR on Friday.
"If they were serious about this, they could have done it anytime throughout the last four years. They've had the political power," said Bardos. He added that Smer-SD only wants to divert attention away from its numerous scandals. "I do regard this as a deflecting manoeuvre and see no reason to support this proposal in a fast-tracked procedure only a few months prior to elections."
The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) MPs haven't discussed this proposal. "Merging the ministries together makes no sense, unless there's also reduction in number of administrative personnel. Otherwise, no financial resources will be saved and no improved efficiency achieved," said KDH MP Pavol Abrhan.
SKDU-DS representatives are 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.
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 address 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.
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