Danko: If Smer Doesn't Submit Changes to Maintenance Collection, I'll Do It

Danko: If Smer Doesn't Submit Changes to Maintenance Collection, I'll Do It

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) – If Smer-SD doesn’t present a proposal for changes in the system of collecting child maintenance, I’ll do it, Parliamentary Chair Andrej Danko (Slovak National Party/SNS) has told TASR, adding that he’ll submit the proposal to Parliament in the autumn.

Danko added that alimony should be collected from non-payers by the state, not by mothers. “A woman shouldn’t have to struggle with a man she’s divorced and who doesn’t pay alimony. The state must reimburse her with some minimum benefits. If they [Smer-SD] don’t submit it, I’ll present it in the autumn,” said Danko, adding that he’s still waiting for his coalition partner to submit the proposal.

Changes in the system of collecting child maintenance were announced by Smer-SD chairman Robert Fico in 2018. They are supposed to form part of a package of measures to support young families along with prolonged maternity leave and lower value-added tax (VAT) on baby supplies. They should be implemented in 2019-20.