Parliament approved budget as well as reforms of hospitals and forests

Parliament approved the public finance budget for 2022-24. Next year, the budget deficit is planned at 4.9% of GDP. Finance Minister Igor Matovič (OĽaNO), though, says the deficit will be only 4.3% if parliament does not approve three changes: a debt brake, spending caps, and pension reform. Without these measures, salaries for teachers and health professionals will not increase, for instance. (dennikN.sk)

Parliament approved a major reform of hospitals and outpatient care, despite the coalition party Sme rodina’s opposition. Hospitals will be split into five categories and mainly those in less developed regions will have fewer wards. The state will subsidize new outpatient care centers in less developed regions. (sme.sk)

Parliament approved a reform of national parks, despite Sme rodina’s opposition. State-owned land in the parks will be moved from the Agriculture Ministry to under the umbrella of the Environment Ministry, namely a newly created national parks administrations. Land in the 3rd of five zones will be moved only after the parks’ zoning is complete, which may take years. So far, only Pieniny and Slovenský raj have their zoning approved. (sme.sk)