Smer and SNS plan ruinous spending

The government will today approve the doubling of child benefits to €50 per child a month as well as the 13th pension of €460, said PM Peter Pellegrini. In several days, a special parliamentary session will be called to again reject the Istanbul Convention and approve double child benefits, the 13th pension, and the abolition of highway tolls for cars owned by individuals and sole traders. The coalition party Most-Híd responded that it will not raise hands for the proposals that amount to a very expensive campaign by Smer and SNS (annual costs of €710m). Pellegrini argues families and pensioners can’t suffer due to the chaos that the country may find itself in after the general election.

It is unclear whether parliament will have a quorum. ĽSNS wants to take part as it can’t miss the opportunity to vote against the Istanbul Convention. A total of 76 MPs are needed to open a session, but Smer, SNS, and ĽSNS only have 74 MPs. Some independents are likely to join them, though.

(sme.sk)