PNL, PSD and UDMR negotiate the governing program

After agreeing to form a coalition and a government with a large majority, the representatives of the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) negotiate the governing program. Yesterday, several budgetary and fiscal issues were addressed.

Yesterday was a long day for PNL, PSD and UDMR. The negotiators of the three parties discussed, analyzed, agreed on common points, but also found that there are divergences in certain key areas of the future joint governance program.

Thus, the first vice-president of PSD, Sorin Grindeanu, said that the Social Democrats proposed in the negotiations, in terms of economy-finance, the increase of the minimum wage, the minimum pension, but also the allowances for children. In order to increase budget revenues to cover these increases, the Social Democrats are proposing several measures in the fiscal field.

Sorin Grindeanu: The first of them would be the one related to luxury taxes. It is not something we invented. You want a yacht, you pay extra. Two: Romania has the lowest collection rate in the European Union, which is something that is absolutely necessary to correct. Three: a national effort is needed to combat tax evasion. Four: we do not agree with the elimination of IT, construction and research facilities.

The interim prime minister, Florin Citu, the president of the National Liberal Party, pointed out that the liberals do not oppose the increases in salaries or pensions, but they must take place within the assumed deficit target. Florin Citu mentioned that during the negotiations, the liberals underlined that they do not agree with the introduction of new taxes and duties.

On the other hand, Florin Citu said that in the structure of the new executive there will be two more ministries. Also, regarding the name of the prime minister, he mentioned that discussions continue between the three parties, but it is clear that PSD, PNL and UDMR will go to the Cotroceni Palace with a single proposal.

Translated by: Radu Matei