Slovakia revolts against help for Greece

Following a parliamentary decision, Slovakia will be the only country within the Eurozone not to provide any direct financial aid to Greece, but it will support the bailout fund for protecting the euro. Although Slovakia's decision darkened the mood in Brussels, the conservative daily Lidové noviny praises Bratislava's steadfastness: "It is unacceptable to expect a country [like Slovakia], with a monthly average income of 308 euros, to subsidise a population like that of Greece, where the monthly minimum wage is 863 euros. From Slovakia's standpoint, the injustice of the whole operation is obvious. ... The Slovakian revolt may backfire. But what can be worse than having to pay almost a billion euros [to Athens]? In addition Slovakia's consent to participate in a bailout fund for the euro is attached to certain conditions, including the introduction of a mechanism for national bankruptcy, which is basically a copy of Germany's wish list. This stubborness will be applauded in Berlin."

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