BRATISLAVA, February 7, (WEBNOVINY) – Christian-Democrats are rather unenthusiastic about the proposed privatization of heating companies, chairman of the party deputy caucus Pavol Hrusovsky announced on Monday. The sale of the utilities is on the agenda of the Coalition Council later on Monday. Prime Minister Iveta Radicova has earlier announced that the heating companies have been spending finances in wasteful way and urged to change this. The government privatization agency, FNM and the Finance Ministry write in an economic analysis that the sale of 100-percent stakes in heating utilities is more advantageous for the state than keeping them due to dividends. The second Cabinet of Mikulas Dzurinda wanted to sell these companies but the plans were thwarted by early parliamentary elections in 2006. The Cabinet of Robert Fico put the privatization of energy companies on ice.
Radicova has admitted that political nominations of managers to the posts in heating companies turned out wrong. She said this in relation to generous golden parachute payments to the outgoing TEKO directors. The prime minister is skeptical whether contests would resolve the situation since political nominees sit on the selection committees. SaS Chairman Richard Sulik confessed his party’s responsibility for the 90,000-euro golden parachute awarded to former TEKO director Ivan Zich, who was nominated by SaS.
At the Coalition Council, the leader of SaS will propose dismissal of Robert Fico from the post of deputy speaker of parliament. However, the prime minister, KDH and MOST-HID do not support the move. Sulik claims that such a deputy speaker is a shame.
The Coalition Council will also tackle dual citizenship, payroll levy reform and submitting deputy initiatives.
SITA