EMM News Explorer: Robert Fico

[-stated]: We still don't know what certain parts of the agreement mean and how they will be interpreted in practice,

spectator 07-FEB-12

[-stated]: This is a case from 2005 and 2006. We had no influence on anything. Do not want us to make statements that would place us on the same level with those that ruled [the country] then,

spectator 07-FEB-12

[ said]: Protection of intellectual property at all levels is an important requirement. On the other hand, the agreement itself raises a lot of doubts,

tasr 06-FEB-12

[ said]: If the folk-artistic creativity of some lawmakers manifests itself in the proposal, however, then we will reconsider our stance,

spectator 01-FEB-12

[ said]: It seems that the action had a political undertone,

spectator 30-JAN-12

[-said]: What does the [document] have to do with Smer?

spectator 25-JAN-12

[ said]: It isn't only markets that are responsible for the high unemployment rate, but also specific people. We have the right to state that Iveta Radicova's (SDKU-DS) Government, with its incompetence, has significantly contributed towards the growth in unemployment,

tasr 24-JAN-12

[ said]: We haven't had that many unemployed since 2004. If this trend continues, there's no chance of getting the public finances under control,

tasr 24-JAN-12

[ said]: The only measure that the Government has done is the Labour Code,

tasr 24-JAN-12

[ said]: They claimed that the [amendment to the Labour Code] will bring tens of thousands of new jobs. Using their logic, we can say that the Labour Code has taken away tens of thousands of jobs,

tasr 24-JAN-12

[-told]: We also prohibited health insurers from making profits,

PraguePost 12-JAN-12

[ said]: We also prohibited health insurers from gaining profits,

spectator 06-JAN-12

[-said]: healthy, regulated policy

spectator 04-JAN-12

[-said]: It is a very, very bad pick,

spectator 19-DEC-11

[-said]: He was a politician and a man who gave a certain characteristic feature to the post-1989 era, whether we agree with him or not,

spectator 19-DEC-11

[-told]: It is one of the most serious abuses of power, to an extent that we don't dare to dream of,

PraguePost 01-DEC-11

[ said]: It's important that the premier takes action, dismisses Uhliarik and cancels [rather than just postpones] the transformation of hospitals into joint stock companies. These measures would help get the crisis under control,

tasr 28-NOV-11

[-said]: It is one of the most serious abuses of power, to an extent that we don’t dare to dream of,

spectator 28-NOV-11

[ explained]: It's obvious that they mean doctors in state-owned hospitals and not those under the remit of VUCs (regional governments). The Government told them (VUC hospital directors) to raise their doctors' salaries but to use money from their own budget,

tasr 28-NOV-11

[ said]: The investigation may show how far it all reached. I have no doubts that Mr Galko was capable of anything,

tasr 21-NOV-11

[-stated]: The political price is that they [the government] will have to incorporate our views on the income side of the budget during the consolidation of public finances,

spectator 21-NOV-11

[ said]: Mr Galko confirmed in live coverage that the information as published by the media is genuine. He didn't say that they're a fake or lie, hence it's one of the most serious abuses of power to an extent that we don't dare to dream of. I think Galko has gone mad and thought he could do anything,

tasr 21-NOV-11

[-said]: The political price is that they would have to incorporate our views on the income side of the budget during the consolidation of the public finances,

spectator 16-NOV-11

[-said]: In its current submitted form, the motion is unacceptable,

spectator 16-NOV-11

[-said]: To come up with proposals to increase taxes on consumption is the easiest thing because people cannot defend themselves,

spectator 14-NOV-11

[-said]: She is a weak prime minister who isn't able to govern,

PraguePost 03-NOV-11

[-said]: She is a weak prime minister who isn’t able to govern,

spectator 31-OCT-11

[ said]: For the governing Coalition, they've got nothing left to hang their hat on post-Iveta Radicova. She's fleeing from responsibility for the chaos in the state and from corruption scandals. She's fleeing in order not to have to explain [the scandals], the fall in real salaries and economic growth,

tasr 25-OCT-11

[ said]: She has failed personally and politically. She is a weak prime minister who isn't able to govern,

tasr 25-OCT-11

[-told]: Such a government would not have to stand in front of Parliament and ask for confidence in an agreement with the government's new program statement,

PraguePost 20-OCT-11

[-said]: The constitution after all has certain legislative holes that must be filled,

spectator 20-OCT-11

[-said]: We will support EFSF in a repeated vote, but after a new round of talks and political consequences,

eubusiness 05-OCT-11

[-said]: But I believe a repeated vote won't be needed. SaS lawmakers are being pressured right now and the coalition is seeking a solution,

eubusiness 05-OCT-11

[-said]: Smer-SD will not back the EFSF in the October 11 vote,

eubusiness 05-OCT-11

[ said]: If they do not pass it, a second round of voting must follow,

xinhuanet_en 05-OCT-11

[ said]: We're ready to support the EFSF only if political consequences follow,

xinhuanet_en 05-OCT-11

[ said]: If they don't pass it, another round must follow. We're ready to support the EFSF only if political consequences follow,

tasr 05-OCT-11

[ said]: If SaS finds an excuse and presents it as a compromise that has allowed it to back the EFSF, the party will violate all its promises. We've got information that SaS is looking for an excuse,

tasr 05-OCT-11

[ said]: Such a way of elections is the most democratic,

tasr 05-OCT-11

[said:]: the EFSF will be ratified thanks to our votes

eubusiness 04-OCT-11

[ said]: We are ready to support the EFSF, but if we do so, it means there is no ruling coalition in Slovakia,

ChinaPost 03-OCT-11

[ said]: If it shows that they aren't able to govern and adopt decisions of such major importance, changes to EFSF will certainly go through with our votes. Don't worry, we're for EFSF. But it isn't possible to have here a Government that is not able to govern,

tasr 02-OCT-11

[ said]: When you read closely the statements made by the politicians who are involved in this, it's obvious that none of them wants to be embroiled in a situation devoid of a solution. I'm sure that if a vote on modifications to the EFSF is linked to a vote of confidence, it will be a mere display of power, nothing else,

tasr 21-SEP-11

[-stated]: We completely reject these amnesties from a moral viewpoint, but don't see any room for their abrogation with respect to the law, as proposed by KDH,

spectator 20-SEP-11

[-stated]: Another possibility is that the prime minister links ratification [of the eurozone mechanisms] with a confidence vote in her government,

spectator 19-SEP-11

[-stated]: Then Mr Sulík will be smiling because he will have a campaign behind him; the rest of the ruling coalition will be smiling because it will have put the conflict behind them and SaS will be smiling because it will still will be in the government,

spectator 19-SEP-11

[ said]: The principal conclusion of this long session lies in the fact that Radicova has failed to provide an explanation for anything whatsoever, hasn't answered any pending questions. She just came up with trite phrases and empty words. She's laid bare the fact that she's incapable once again,

tasr 14-SEP-11

[ said]: By the way it voted the governing Coalition has given its blessing to party clientelism that has swelled to unprecedented volumes, particularly considering the issue of the rental of tax offices in Kosice and corruption in the immediate circle of associates around the premier,

tasr 14-SEP-11

[ said]: The very head of the premier's office sent emails to the premier's advisor who organised the collection of rake-offs,

tasr 08-SEP-11

[ said]: [Prague Spring leader in 1968 Alexander] Dubcek is controversial, Svatopluk is also controversial, like [Slovak National Party/SNS member and early 20th-century writer Martin] Razus and [poet Milan] Rufus have already become controversial. Any name you mention, it's immediately labelled controversial,

tasr 01-SEP-11

[ said]: The second-highest constitutional official [Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik - Freedom and Solidarity/SaS] is saying that he'd like to move to Australia, while the third-highest constitutional official [Prime Minister Iveta Radicova - SDKU-DS], who was against Slovakia's independence ... is hardly attending any celebrations today,

tasr 01-SEP-11

[-said]: I would do it,

spectator 24-AUG-11

[-said]: Do not be counting votes all the time; where do we want to have Slovakia – this is how the question needs to be posed,

spectator 22-AUG-11

[ asked]: We're asking, therefore, Mrs. prime minister, do you have some financial benefit from the rental, or is it further evidence that you're a mere puppet in the hands of [Foreign Affairs Minister] Mikulas Dzurinda and [Finance Minister] Ivan Miklos?

tasr 19-AUG-11

[ said]: While [Radicova] was showing muscles earlier, suggesting to let the Government down, she gradually begun tolerating arrogance and brazenness of SDKU-DS,

tasr 19-AUG-11

[-said]: Iveta Radičová is not able to guarantee anything at all,

spectator 17-AUG-11

[-said]: Rights in the Labour Code are the property of employees,

spectator 17-JUL-11

[-stated]: It had never happened before that in the case of such an important law, the quorum was lowered and the legislation was passed with a smaller than absolute majority vote,

spectator 13-JUL-11

[-told]: This is the real picture of Smer’s politics,

spectator 12-JUL-11

[-said]: I will surely not go into the presidential election if Smer is showing signs as a strong party that can form the government,

spectator 12-JUL-11

[-stated that]: These same people are today fighting with each other, some say yes and some say no. We know what the euro is about, we introduced it. We know how important it is for Slovakia and how important it is to protect Slovakia in the European space. Smer only repeats one thing – it will not solve Radičová’s problem.

spectator 12-JUL-11

[-charged]: This government, the best one and the most beautiful one according to you [Sme], in fact has [resulted in] a drop in real wages,

spectator 12-JUL-11

[-said]: There are politicians who tried to abuse the topic of Greece before the elections and also afterwards,

spectator 12-JUL-11

[-added]: The ruling coalition has elected its political nominee who will obey them,

spectator 12-JUL-11

[ said]: REGULATION policy wouldn’t allow such a rise in prices and there wouldn’t be such an inflation rate,

spectator 12-JUL-11

[-also argued that]: That’s the first conclusion. The second conclusion is that this government doesn’t pay any attention to rising prices at all.

spectator 12-JUL-11

[-stated]: If you fill the position of chairman of this institution by a candidate other than an opposition nominee, you will only further deepen the distrust towards yourself which you have caused by the way you handled your public statements and promises given as prime minister of Slovakia,

spectator 27-JUN-11

[-stated]: I will take the liberty to remind you of your public statements and personal promises linked to this position as well as to the fact that between 2006 and 2010 Smer, as a ruling party, fully respected a political nominee of the opposition SMK party for the post of chairman of the Public Procurement Office as well as representative of your party to the post of deputy chairman,

spectator 27-JUN-11

[ said]: Hungary may become embroiled in highly complicated international relations once its presidency is over. Perhaps there will also be pressure from some governments to impose international isolation on the Hungarian Government. But that would serve them right. That is what they wanted,

tasr 22-JUN-11

[ said]: I don't want to experience half a kilogram of dynamite in front of my door,

tasr 17-JUN-11

[ said]: This day can be compared to the Night of the Long Knives on November 3, 1994,

spectator 17-JUN-11

[ said]: I sensed that the Coalition has ordered him what to do and how to do it,

spectator 17-JUN-11

[-declared]: We will be a very tough opposition. If there is an opportunity for early elections, we will support it, and if not, we will prepare really well for regular parliamentary elections in 2014,

24hod 12-JUN-11

[-added]: Whether they will be early, or regular, it cannot be determined now,

24hod 12-JUN-11

[-said]: All coalition clubs and one faction marked their ballots in such a way that it was possible to control how each club voted,

spectator 23-MAY-11

[-said]: He will continually remind Radičová of this situation while using any weakness in the ruling coalition, which unfortunately its parties keep displaying.

spectator 20-APR-11

[ said]: An agreement of all political parties is needed,

tasr 18-APR-11

[ said]: We're referring to issues that apply to Slovak-Hungarian relations,

tasr 18-APR-11

[ said]: I don't care about Mr Bela Bugar's view. He's free to do whatever he wants. He'll either join in or be out. It's time MPs from the governing coalition showed they care about Slovakia,

tasr 18-APR-11

[-asked]: What did they think; that nobody would ever find out?

spectator 15-APR-11

[-told]: Should the sum be provided to Slovak employers for a year, for instance €400 per month in the form of a contribution to salaries, we would thereby bolster the creation of 5,000 jobs in Slovakia per year,

tasr 14-APR-11

[ said]: Just to give you an example, we're earmarking €7 million in help for 5,000 laid-off railway workers, but a U.S.-based investor that will create 446 jobs will be paid more than €19 million by us (Slovak taxpayers),

tasr 14-APR-11

[ said]: Her actions are incompatible with the post of prime minister,

tasr 14-APR-11

[ said]: The Premier keeps on being silent, because she's nonplussed. We all know too well that she's just a puppet in the hands of politicians like (Finance Minister Ivan) Miklos, (Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas) Dzurinda and (former senior official in SDKU Gabriel) Palacka. If she wants to stay in her chair, she must swallow every single deal plotted by these politicians, and they even expect her to cover up for them,

tasr 13-APR-11

[-wrote]: Yes, if the ruling coalition had announced the change from a secret ballot to a public vote at the beginning of its rule or before the first vote for general prosecutor I could hardly have opposed it even though the secret ballot is the greatest privilege of democracy,

spectator 11-APR-11

[-said]: This is one of the most shameful votes in the history of the Slovak Parliament and it only proves how these gentlemen who are sitting in the ruling coalition are capable of anything in the name of power, [by] taking over the Office of the General Prosecutor, and persecution and criminalisation of the opposition,

spectator 11-APR-11

[-said]: We want the government to take action, clearly articulating its stance towards the situation that is emerging here. We'll be asking for firm stances to be taken,

spectator 01-APR-11

[-said]: It's nothing but a Normalisation,

spectator 23-MAR-11

[ said]: We think that the government of Iveta Radičová fundamentally contributes to what is happening around food prices since it lacks any agricultural policies,

spectator 14-MAR-11

[ asked]: Who will be next in line to have to suffer from the blows of the right-wing Government?,

tasr 14-MAR-11

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