The SaS party is not happy with the proposed contribution of Slovakia to the new bailout fund, the European Solidarity Mechanism (ESM).
Head of the SaS, Richard Sulik, has even proposed trying to use European funds to finance Slovakia’s contribution to the ESM, as Slovakia is far from drawing what it is entitled to. Sulik admits that although the concept might be total nonsense, it could be worth a try.
The SaS is not happy with the new ESM as it demands direct deposits from member states, whereas the previous system, the EFSF, only required guarantees in the event of need. The party feels that the EUR 659 million that Slovakia is to contribute could be used for other more important things, rather than sitting in the European Central Bank.
The final shape of the ESM was agreed on by finance ministers of eurozone states last week, much to the discontent also of the opposition. There is a possibility that the combined objections of the SaS and the opposition will see Slovakia obstruct the new mechanism if it is not endorsed by parliament, but this is something that Sulik would like to avoid.
[…] support the ESM proposal Head of the liberal SaS party Richard Sulik already started to express his concerns last week about the EU’s new bailout fund, the European Stabilisation Mechanism (ESM), and now having […]