Slovakia's ruling Smer party opposes freezing flat-rate expense deductions as finance minister defends measure

Slovakia's ruling Smer-SD party has rejected a proposal to freeze flat-rate expense deductions for taxpayers, despite the measure being defended by Finance Minister Ladislav Takáč who argues it addresses lower income levels. The proposal has gained support from Andrej Danko, leader of the Slovak National Party, a coalition partner, even though he previously dismissed similar measures as shallow public relations tactics just a month ago. The disagreement highlights internal tensions within Slovakia's governing coalition over tax policy, with Smer-SD, the dominant social-democratic party in the three-party government, opposing a measure that would affect how taxpayers can claim business expenses.