The government intends to restrict profits of retail chains. In a shortened legislative procedure, the Cabinet plans to adopt a law that would prevent retail chains from hiking foodstuffs prices inappropriately, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced in the "Politika.sk" political talk show broadcast by TV JOJ on Sunday. The fact that profits from foodstuffs sale in retail networks exceed 40 percent is unacceptable, he thinks. "Margins posted by large retail chain are often typical for trade in "white meat" and weapons," Mr. Fico said. In his words, the government has analyses confirming that global foodstuffs price increase is misused on local market for enormous profit chase.
The ruling coalition party SMER- Social Democracy (SMER-SD) stands behind Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paska. The Prime Minister turned down the objections that Mr. Paska made a mistake when he released the modified version of the draft amendment of the Social Insurance Law in the Internet. Mr. Fico is convinced that the decision of Mr. Paska was correct and in compliance with the order of the Slovak parliament and the Slovak Constitution. He considers the "outcry" around the draft bill to be the consequence of pressure made by private pension fund management companies, which he likened to non-bank subjects. Mr. Fico would never entrust his money to them. "I perceive the second pension pillar as untrustworthy," he mentioned. Temporary opening of the second (capitalization) pension pillar to enable entry and departure is a fair decision on behalf of the Cabinet. Policyholders can freely consider all risks connected with the stay in the second pillar.
Restrictions levied on the profit of private health insurance companies would have no financial impacts on Slovakia, he continued. "We will pay nothing," he commented on the arbitrations, with which shareholders of private health insurance companies have threatened. Considering the vote on the law, Mr. Fico rebuffed the claims that SMER-SD exercised pressure on the Slovak National Party (SNS) and the People's Party- Movement for Democratic Slovakia (LS-HZDS) via the threat of parliamentary pre-elections. "This is a good coalition and it has a great future outlook," the Prime Minister stated.
Mr. Fico further said that President Ivan Gasparovic certainly was "a good candidate" for the next presidential run. He did not rule out that SMER-DS assembly that would decide on its presidential candidate might adopt a decision complying with that opinion.
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