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Opposition Aims to Cut Contributions, Leaving Taxes Intact
Tuesday 04 May 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, May 4 (TASR) - As is the case with the coalition parties, the opposition parties in their election programmes are pushing for the prompt unification of the system of collecting taxes, customs duties and contributions, TASR learnt at Hospodarske Noviny daily's discussion forum on Tuesday.
In addition, the opposition parties disapprove of tax rises, and aim to cut social contributions following the June 12 general election.
According to Christian Democrats (KDH) vice-chair Anton Marcincin, the gist of the issue of taxes lies in the principle of solidarity, while merit should be in the foreground of the system of contributions.
"Low employment and high unemployment rates are the result of too high a burden on entrepreneurs when it comes to contributions. The tax and contributions burden on labour must be lowered or the unemployment rate and illegal labour won't stop rising," said Marcincin.
The ethnic-Hungarian SMK party concurs with the need to pursue the path of keeping taxes intact while cutting contributions. "This, coupled with more savings in public finances, could be a viable path," said SMK vice-chair Ivan Farkas.
The current Cabinet is passive and fails to address the need for rationalising public expenditures. "Everybody but the Government has been saving," added Farkas.
SDKU-DS candidate for a parliamentary seat Miroslav Beblavy cautioned that the unification of the tax and contributions system should include its simplification and the removal of exceptions. "Time is of primary importance in this area. Currently it's all going at a very lax pace," he said, highlighting the importance of favourable conditions for entrepreneurs, which he called a tool for the country's economic growth.
In its programme, SDKU advocates the idea of six kinds of contributions, which, however, should merge into one during the next government's term of office.
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