Liberals Propose Ovidiu Silaghi For Transport Minister
President Traian Basescu told Liberal party leader Crin Antonescu he will not appoint Ovidiu Silaghi transport minister in the next 45 days and will keep prime minister Victor Ponta as interim to see through the privatization of CFR Marfa.
Basescu met with Antonescu to discuss Silaghi’s nomination for transport minister, after the previous minister was sentenced for corruption. The president announced his intention to keep the prime minister as interim transport minister for the entire 45-day period allowed by the Constitution before appointing a new minister.
“The president’s decision is to leave Ponta as interim transport minister for the entire 45-day period in hopes the privatization of CFR Marfa will be completed,” Antonescu said in a televised interview. (Adevarul)
Romanian Prime Minister Announces Official Visit To Chisinau
Prime Minister Victor Ponta has announced an official visit to the Moldovan capital Chisinau this year, following the Moldovan prime minister Iurie Leanca’s visit to Romania on July 9.
Ponta will attend celebrations of Moldova’s Independence Day on August 27.(Evenimentul Zilei)
Romanian PM Wants Lower VAT On Bread Considered At Budget Revision
Lowering VAT on bread is one of the issues to be discussed at the state budget revision end-July. Authorities say a lower sales tax will help reduce tax evasion in the bakery sector but IMF experts doubts the measure will be efficient against tax evasion.
Moreover, not even the government is certain the move would bring down the price of bread.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta wants the budget revision to take into account a lower sales tax on bread even though the IMF is skeptical.
”In the end it’s our decision and if we can show it’s sustainable – and collaboration with the private sector is essential here – if we manage to lower tax evasion and have good tax collections, then the move will be successful,” said Ponta.(Curentul)
EIU: Romanian Economy To Grow 2.4% In 2013
The Romanian economy is expected to grow 2.4% in 2013, fueled by good crops and higher exports to non-EU countries, the Economist Intelligence Unit said.
The growth rate is expected to pick up in 2014-2017 to reach an average annual rate of below 4%.
EIU warns its forecast for 2013 could be hindered by a new external shock or a wider recession in the eurozone.
EIU analysts consider chances of recovery on the foreign direct investment front are minimal until the end of 2017. However, improved RU find absorption would contribute to investments in infrastructure, stimulating the country’s export potential in the long run. (Curentul)
Romania Had 5.2 Million Pensioners End-March 2013
Romania had 5.258 million pensioners at the end of March 2013, 92,550 fewer than in the first quarter of 2012 and 28,960 fewer than in the fourth quarter of last year.
Romania had 4.36 million employees at the end of the first quarter of the year, according to the statistics institute, namely 1.21 pensioners per employee from 1.23 pensioners per employee at the end of 2012. (Curentul)
Dozens Of Romanian Roma Ethnics Expelled From London
Dozens of Romanian citizens of Roma ethnicity were expelled from London and arrived in Bucharest.
According to British officials, they agreed to return to Romania and even received money from the British government.
Many of them say, however, that they are ready to go back to the UK anytime because they have nothing going for them back home.
British authorities have dismantled and evacuated several Roma camps around London and Romas reportedly received several hundred euros to agree to return to Romania. (Curentul)