Slovak Interior Ministry Cuts Police Salaries While Spending 15 Million More on Civil Servants

Slovakia's Interior Ministry, led by Deputy Prime Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok, reduced spending on police salaries while increasing expenditures on civil servants by 15 million euros, according to the ministry's financial results. The spending pattern raises questions about the government's consolidation priorities, as the state must now intervene to rescue the fund that pays retirement benefits for police officers and other security personnel. Šutaj Eštok heads the interior ministry as part of the ruling coalition led by Smer-SD, which has implemented austerity measures across various government sectors while claiming to pursue fiscal consolidation.