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| The way the budget is being presented is unacceptable. |
| Bratislava, 08.10.2026 |
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| The manner in which the government and governing parties approached the drafting and deliberation of the proposed budget is unacceptable and contrary to the principles of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Ľubomír Andrassy, Chairman of the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) of the Slovak Republic, stated this before the plenary session of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, noting that, for this reason, the Office is unable to assess whether statutory rules were observed during the budget's creation. Consequently, a comprehensive assessment will be submitted to the MPs at a later date.
"The National Council plenary currently lacks a substantive, expert perspective from us; MPs do not have access to the risks and weaknesses that auditors could have identified in the proposed state budget. The sole reason for the absence of our position is the way the budget-drafting process was conducted this year," Andrassy declared. He noted that the NKÚ has been fulfilling its obligation to prepare and submit such an opinion for 30 years.
The NKÚ Chairman identified five risks that auditors needed to assess but were unable to evaluate due to time constraints. The first concerns adherence to formal requirements and the ESA 2010 methodology during budget preparation. The second involves assessing the long-term sustainability of public finances and the deepening state debt, which has exceeded 90 billion euros.
According to Andrassy, the third risk lies in the unsystematic and unsustainable provision of across-the-board aid, such as energy subsidies and 13th pension payments. The fourth risk involves unverified macroeconomic assumptions, specifically the projected economic growth of 1.8% of GDP and a deficit of 4.94%. The fifth risk is the lack of a clear solution for the massive modernization backlog in healthcare, transport, infrastructure, and the pension system.
Andrassy noted that the budget ultimately affects the lives of every resident in the country. "The power of elected officials derives from the citizens, and representatives in parliament or the government are also obliged to respect and adhere to the constitutional and legal obligations in force in this country," he added.
In his response on the floor, Slovak Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický (Smer-SD) characterized Andrassy’s statement as activism that jeopardized the reputation of the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ). "I do not agree with what you have produced today. (...) And write whatever you want in that report of yours," he stated. He also implied that Andrassy was an appointee of former Prime Minister Igor Matovič (Slovakia Movement) and was seeking to secure his future for the next electoral term.
According to Kamenický, the office could have managed to complete the report on time. "The Finance Committee always provided you with funds—so you would have more staff, more equipment, more of everything. And today you tell me you don't have the people to produce a single report," he declared, noting that employees at the Ministry of Finance had even worked over the weekend.
During the budget debate, the opposition came to Andrassy's defense. Representatives from PS, SaS, KDH, and the Slovakia Movement deemed the minister's criticism of the independent office inappropriate. They pointed out that employer and trade union representatives also had little time to review the budget. "When someone criticizes you, it isn't because they are an anti-government agitator; it is likely because you are doing something wrong," remarked MP Beáta Jurík (PS).
The draft general government budget for 2027–2029, approved by the government on October 5, indicates that general government revenue is projected to reach €63.343 billion next year, with expenditure totaling €70.786 billion. This is expected to result in a deficit of €7.443 billion, representing 4.94% of GDP.
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Address : Euro-Brew Ltd., Hlboká 22, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia
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