Coalition split over cigarette tax hike

The government approved a 15% hike in the tobacco excise tax on Wednesday with the aim of bringing an additional €101m to the state budget next year. Andrej Danko, leader of the coalition party SNS, opposes the tax hike ahead of the election and says its approval constitutes violation of the coalition agreement. "There will be no increase in cigarette prices," he said. Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický explained that the additional revenue is necessary for the 2020 public finance budget to meet EU deficit rules.

(HN/4)