Slovakia’s government, led by Social Democratic Prime Minister Robert Fico, announced on Thursday measures to reduce tax aid received by NGOs, citing the fact that they receive enough money from abroad and spread ideologies, reports Agerpres.

Citizens of Slovakia can direct 2% of their income tax to the social goals of their choice, generally to the activities of non-governmental organizations. The revision of the tax code announced by the government in Bratislava should include among these options a target of 2% of income and the parental pension, i.e. children’s contribution to their parents’ pension. In this way, taxpayers will be encouraged to direct this percentage to pensions, and not to public organizations.

Slovak Labor Minister Erik Tomas said that the initiative will come into effect next year and will reduce the funds received by NGOs through this tax break by 40-50 million euros, bringing them about 94 million euros this year.

“Non-governmental organizations that influence the social and political life of Slovakia have their generous sponsors from abroad,” the Slovak minister recalled, an argument similar to that used by Hungarian conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for the rule she criticized European Commission.

For his part, the president of the Slovak Parliament, Peter Pellegrini, leader of the social democratic group Vocea (Hlas), a member of the ruling coalition, supported the initiative, disapproving of the activities of public organizations that use “space in schools”. spread ideology”. “Politicians, certain sects or things that want to change the education system for children have no place in the education system,” Pellegrini warned.

For their part, public organizations criticized the measure, which affects their funding. “This step will harm not only the anti-corruption efforts of non-profit organizations, but also, for example, organizations that help the elderly or the seriously ill,” says Norbert Homistek, a member of the Stop Corruption NGO. “, who believes that the measure will divide society by creating competition between community organizations and organizations of older people.

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