Opposition Parties Call Revised Energy Aid Scheme Still Wasteful

Two Slovak opposition parties have criticized the government's latest revisions to its household energy assistance program as inadequate, arguing that public funds are still being distributed without proper means-testing. The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and the Progressive Slovakia party (PS) — both opposition groups — contend that even after the recent adjustments, between 55 and 115 million euros are estimated to be spent in a non-targeted manner, effectively subsidizing households that do not need financial support. Slovakia's energy aid scheme was introduced to help citizens cope with elevated energy costs, but critics have long argued that blanket payments waste public money by going to wealthier households alongside those genuinely in need. The opposition's concerns highlight an ongoing debate in Slovak politics over how social and economic support should be distributed — whether through universal payments or through targeted programs that assess recipients' financial circumstances. With hundreds of millions of euros at stake across such schemes, the efficiency of public spending remains a politically sensitive issue ahead of future budget discussions.