BRATISLAVA, September 30, (WEBNOVINY) — President Ivan Gasparovic says that he does not have to persuade parliamentary political parties that they have to support the enlargement of the European Financial Stability Facility in parliament but he only has to convince one political party and one politician — Speaker of Parliament and SaS leader Richard Sulik. It is not good that Slovakia’s position in the European Union depends only on one man, stated the head of state at a meeting with journalists on Friday following his talks with Vice President of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic. Gasparovic therefore appealed on Sulik to resolve the situation somehow.
The president believes that thus far Slovakia got more from the EU than was its contribution. Therefore, he cannot imagine what would happen if Slovakia alone hampered the approval of the increased bailout fund. The head of state said he had discussed the topic also with representatives of business leaders and employers while all agreed that Slovakia should ratify the bailout fund.
Commissioner Sefcovic turned to Sulik’s SaS with the same appeal as the president. He said that European Liberals are observing in great surprise for what stance the SaS has opted regarding the bailout fund extension. Sefcovic who praised the pro-European attitude of President Gasparovic agreed with the president that Slovaks thus far have been more benefiting from their EU membership. “We are the only EU country that has increased its standard of living by 20 percent during its membership,” said Sefcovic adding that Slovakia is now dramatically playing with its trustworthiness.
Sefcovic believes that Slovakia should approve the rescue mechanism in the form as other eurozone members already did. “I can only hardly imagine any discussions on any ratification scenario differing from that ratified by other partners in the eurozone,” he stated.
SITA