Parliament Approves Constitutional Officials Salary Freeze for Next Year

Parliament Approves Constitutional Officials Salary Freeze for Next Year

Bratislava, November 23 (TASR) – The salaries of constitutional officials, MPs and Government ministers, but not judges and prosecutors, will remain frozen in 2017, according to an amendment to the law on the salaries of some constitutional officials, that was approved by Parliament on Wednesday.

The amendment was approved with 125 votes in a fast-tracked procedure, so that it can be applied as of January 2017.

“In order to gradually reduce the general government deficit and achieve a balanced budget, we need to continue, including in 2017, with consolidation measures that will be instrumental in meeting the set target,” explained Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), who submitted the bill. He expects €3.5 million to be saved thanks to the salary freeze. “This is a matter of principle for me, and I want to say that we introduced a salary freeze in 2008 and we must do so also in 2017,” said the premier.