Slovak Parliament Debates Child Support Hike and MP-Officiated Weddings

Slovak lawmakers concluded the first day of their parliamentary session by debating two distinct proposals to amend the family law. The session focused on increasing minimum child support and empowering members of parliament to solemnize marriages.

The opposition voiced strong criticism regarding the decision to merge the debates on these two unrelated legislative proposals. They characterized the approach as chaotic and unnecessary, arguing that combining disparate issues undermines a clear legislative process. The proposal to allow MPs to conduct weddings was specifically singled out as superfluous.

One amendment, proposed by the Hlas party, seeks to raise the minimum child support from the current 30% to 100% of the cost of living for a dependent child. Proponents argue that the existing minimum fails to reflect the actual expenses required to meet a child's basic needs. The second amendment, from the Slovak National Party (SNS), suggests that members of parliament, the president, and government officials could be authorized to perform marriage ceremonies.

Lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene on Wednesday, May 27th, to vote on the discussed points. They will also address a new bill mandating the registration of hosts offering short-term accommodation through online platforms, a measure proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport.