SNS Will Demand Tougher Property Dislosure Rules for Public Officials

SNS Will Demand Tougher Property Dislosure Rules for Public Officials

Bratislava, August 23 (TASR) – The governing Slovak National Party (SNS) will demand tougher rules for the publishing of property declarations by public officials at the Coalition Council meeting, due to take place on Friday (August 25), reads a statement provided by the party to TASR on Wednesday.

“If the Government is actually so interested in fighting corruption, it must lead by example. It cannot be a problem for any minister or public official to document all of their property in detail,” explained SNS leader Andrej Danko.

SNS believes that detailed property disclosures would help increase people’s confidence in the government. “It must be natural to everyone who has entered politics, who is in the government or occupies various state posts to document every single euro or acquisition of real estate, expensive car or jewellery,” stated Danko. SNS also wants a commission to be formed to work on the proposal of a “brand new detailed disclosure of public officials’ properties”.

The coalition leaders should meet on Friday. The coalition found itself in a crisis after Danko withdrew from the coalition agreement as of September 1. The leaders of Smer-SD, SNS and Most-Hid subsequently met and concurred that there is no alternative to the current government.

SNS then came with its requirements, publishing them in the media before announcing them to its partners. Eventually, the governing parties agreed to prepare an appendix to the coalition agreement. They reportedly also agreed on Education Minister Peter Plavcan’s leaving his post due to the scandal involving EU funds’ distribution. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) called on Plavcan to resign and on Danko to give him the name of a new minister. Danko has not done so yet.