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1.Principles and Values of the Manifesto of the Government of the Slovak Republic
The Government of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as the "Government") formed following the democratic parliamentary election held on 17 June 2006 is, in accordance with Article 113 of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, appearing before the National Council of the Slovak Republic. Along with its request to have confidence voiced, it is submitting to the Council the following Manifesto.
The Manifesto of the Government proceeds from the fact that living and working conditions of people are not only their personal concern or responsibility vis-a-vis their relatives, those closest to them and their families, but also a public concern. This is a Manifesto that balances the responsibility of the individual with the social solidarity principle.
The Manifesto of the Government supports in the economic area the linking of economic growth and the growth of employment, social cohesion and enhancement of quality of life for all. It must be economic growth built on higher quality, higher level of education and higher innovativeness serving the interests of people. It will be very demanding to achieve such a relationship, as the Government intends to do everything necessary for the introduction of the common European currency in 2009. The road to the common European currency cannot lead only through cheap labour and restricted public expenditures. The Government is for the course of qualitative growth in the economy along with efficient investment and pro-export policies. Decreasing unemployment and the abysmal difference between the standard of living of citizens of the Slovak Republic and that of the developed Member States of the European Union. This calls for the development of strong and stable public systems.
The Manifesto of the Government creates preconditions for finding the appropriate balance between public and private interests, and in general, between the public sector and the private sector. The Government acknowledges openly the ideas of the European Union concerning the permanent partnership between these sectors.
The Manifesto of the Government sets out to support harmony between the European integration in process and the consequential defence of national and State interests. The Government does not perceive the European Union only as an area of free trade and movement of labour. Primarily, the Government views it as a union of values of solidarity between nations and people, values respecting human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and respecting human rights, including the rights of individuals belonging to minorities.
The Manifesto of the Government builds on continuity with the former government wherever it is expedient and reasonable. But the objective and urgent need to change the approaches taken in recent years will be prevalent. The Government proceeds from the will of the voters manifested in the last parliamentary elections, and the Government is convinced that also the decisive majority of citizens of the Slovak Republic want certain changes.
The Government respects the fact that the main issues to which society wants answers are not determined by the Government but by the citizens, from whom State power emanates and who have the constitutional right to participate in the administration of public affairs. The Government is determined to solve the key concerns of the citizens with utmost seriousness and responsibility. There does not exist any miraculous free-market force that will address the general social situation, or unemployment and certainties about the future. Market forces, without being interconnected with the State, will only exacerbate those concerns.
The Manifesto of the Government when solving the aforementioned concerns relies on three institutes, as stipulated in the Constitution of the Slovak Republic and recognized in Europe:
It is first of all the human dignity, that we consider the basic pillar of the human rights concept, and one of the universal values on which the European Union is constituted. The denial of human dignity or equality in human dignity has serious personal, family, social, as well as political consequences. The objective of the Government is to implement the right to human dignity in everyday life in all its basic/fundamental manifestations, not excluding the economic dimension.
It is the Welfare State that the Constitution of the Slovak Republic anticipated from the outset of the independent Slovak Republic by stipulating and guaranteeing the economic, social and cultural rights for all, to the extent characteristic of a welfare State. The Government shall support in a versatile manner a realistic orientation of the Slovak Republic that will lead to fulfilment of its characteristics as a welfare State. The State, together with its regions, municipalities, companies and families, bears a share of co-responsibility for shaping living conditions. The State must respect the solidarity principle as one of the fundamental values of the European Union.
The Government when determining programme objectives and how to achieve them also relies on Article 55, paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic. According to the article the economy of the Slovak Republic is based on principles of a socially and ecologically oriented market economy.
The Government is thus clearly manifesting the fact that it respects the constitutional precondition based on which the Slovak Republic is to be a welfare State with a socially and ecologically oriented market economy.
The Government is convinced it is presenting a realistic Manifesto that will be supported by the majority of Slovak citizens.
