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Pociatek: Prevention of Tax Evasion Our Absolute Priority
Tuesday 06 April 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, April 6 (TASR) - If it wasn't for the global economic crisis, Slovakia's budget would be balanced in 2011, Finance Minister Jan Pociatek (Smer-SD) said at the party's election platform conference on Tuesday.
According to Pociatek, if Smer-SD is part of the next government after the vote on June 12 it will radically improve the effectiveness and transparency of public procurement. As well, it will merge several ministries and concentrate the 'support' activities of the state administration under one roof. "We will also improve the fiscal institutions and the budgeting process, for example, via the introduction of binding, multi-year spending limits," explained Pociatek.
According to him, the absolute priority will be the prevention of tax evasion and the emphasis on the effectiveness of tax collection.
Pociatek, who was appointed in 2006 as minister prior to his joining Smer-SD, also said that his party considers it to be unacceptable that rich individuals and profit-making companies avoid taxation through loopholes ... resulting in public services not being financed properly. "The system will punish and penalise all speculators who avoid their (tax) duties and support those who create jobs and pay taxes," said Pociatek.
The difficult situation of Slovak public finances currently will force the future government to look for austerity measures. "We know already that it will affect the government's consumption, but not the social policies," concluded the Finance Minister.
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