Tomas: There's Been No Coalition Conflict Over 'Parental Pensions'

Bratislava, October 20 (TASR) - There has been no conflict inside the coalition over changes to the so-called parental pensions and certainly not any disagreement that would put the future of the Government at stake, Labour Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) declared on Sunday. Tomas spoke in response to statements made by SNS chair Andrej Danko earlier in the day on STVR's political talk show Five Minutes to Twelve. In his view, the media misinterpreted Danko's claims. "On the contrary, the Government's consolidation team, on which every coalition party had its representatives, concurred on the given measure," added Tomas. The Labour Minister pointed out that the 13th pensions are anchored in the Government Manifesto and received support in Parliament from 104 legislators or the constitutional majority. "We presented its successful introduction at a joint press conference side by side, meaning Andrej Danko, Jan Richter and I," he said. Earlier in the day, Danko stated that he's been "in a great conflict" with the Labour Minister over the parental pension changes and faced a decision as to whether to topple the Government over this and the 13th pensions. Danko added that SNS is a responsible party, which is why it had given its consent to the solution, but wishes to continue the dialogue on the issue. mf