Tobacco tax causes turmoil in coalition

Excise duty on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products is to increase. On Wednesday, the Cabinet approved the proposal by the Ministry of Finance to raise rates so that the price per pack of best-selling cigarettes would increase by about 40 cents to 3.80 euros and smokeless tobacco products by up to 50 cents to about 4 euros per pack. According to Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický, this measure will bring about €101 million to the state budget next year. However, Andrej Danko, the leader of the junior coalition Slovak National Party stated that the party would not support the raise in excise duties, as it would burden people's wallets. Moreover, Danko claims the coalition had not agreed on such a measure prior to its introduction. According to the Finance Ministry, cigarette price increases are planned across the Central European region. The ministry suggests the changes should come into force from February 1, 2020.