Sutaj Estok: Let's Not Make Social Monster Out of Kamenicky Over his VAT Comment

Bratislava, September 18 (TASR) - Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD) doesn't consider books luxury goods for the rich, and introducing the 23-percent VAT on books was the collective decision of ministers in the government who are attempting to set up a necessary consolidation package in ways that would bear minimal impact on low-income earners, TASR learnt from other government members on Wednesday. Education Minister Tomas Drucker conceded that he's not happy with the proposal to increase VAT on books, but underlined that this is the price to pay for debts left by previous governments. "We've set up the consolidation mix of measures in the fairest way possible, so that it will hit the lowest income categories of people the least," he explained. Even though Kamenicky's Tuesday statement on books "came out wrong" perhaps, Drucker is confident that the Finance Minister doesn't perceive books as luxury goods belonging to the rich. This view was echoed by Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD), who claimed that Kamenicky's comments were based on an analysis conducted by the ministry, but he doesn't think that the Finance Minister treats books as a pastime of the wealthy and ignores their importance for education. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) believes that the Finance Minister's Tuesday statement can be chalked up to stress under time pressure during the drafting of the necessary consolidation measures. "Let's not make a social monster out of the guy," he claimed and added that 23 percent VAT on books might not even be definitive yet. "I think that we'll still have a talk about that in the coalition," I said. The Finance Minister intends to make another statement on the subject after a session of the government later in the day. "I'll be happy to comment on this spreading of hatred. You've got a lot to look forward to," he told journalists. The consolidation effort is supposed to also include the increase of VAT tax on books to 23 percent. On Tuesday, Kamenicky explained this measure with an analysis of the Financial Policy Institute, according to which books are bought mostly by more affluent people. On the contrary, VAT tax on school textbooks will drop from 10 to 5 percent VAT. mf/mcs