Parliament: PS Calls on Rasi to Push for Freeze on MPs' Salaries

Bratislava, March 27 (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party has called on Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) to push for a freeze on MPs' salaries, as it views a halt to their growth as a basic gesture of solidarity, PS leader Michal Simecka and PS caucus head Martin Dubeci told a news conference on Thursday. "Some might call it cheap populism, but we must realise the situation that people in Slovakia face, not only now, not only this year, but also in the upcoming months and years. If we want people to tighten their belts, if we want them to realise why it's important to consolidate and reduce the deficit, then how can we afford not to make at least that basic gesture of solidarity?" asked Simecka. The party believes that public officials should be adequately remunerated, but Slovakia has found itself in an extraordinary financial situation, stated Simecka. Dubeci said that he thought there would be an agreement on this step, but he encountered resistance from the coalition parties. According to him, the newly elected House Chair Rasi should deal with a change in the rules of procedure as well. Simecka also returned to Wednesday's election of the House chair. He reiterated the opposition's stance that the election was not held by secret ballot and that a constitutional principle was thus violated. He claimed that a coalition MP was checking his colleagues' ballot papers. Simecka noted that the opposition hasn't signed the record from the election. ko/df