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13 December 2012

CNBC: Slovakia approves deficit-cutting 2013 budget, risks seen


Slovakia's parliament approved the government's 2013 budget on Thursday, which aims to cut the deficit to below the EU's threshold of 3 per cent of gross domestic product, mainly through higher taxes and changes to the pension system.

Finance Minister Peter Kazimir, however, said there were risks to export-dependent Slovakia's ability to meet its budget goals as government revenues would be vulnerable to uncertainty about the domestic and international outlook. "This budget should not be put into a closet after its approval and we will have to monitor it on a monthly basis", Kazimir said in his closing speech presenting the budget late on Wednesday.

"The risks to the budget are mainly outside Slovakia. I'm also aware of the budget's risks, tied with the regions, education and healthcare sectors. Macro-economic forecasts will be crucial as well", Kazimir said.

"The way fiscal consolidation is being done is bad, it's harming our competitiveness. This budget is clear evidence that the government does not know how to save, but only to raise taxes and payroll taxes", Ivan Miklos, who has twice served as finance minister in the past and is a fiscal hawk, told parliament.

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