Ponta Points Finger At President Basescu On CFR Marfa Privatization Failure
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said the privatization of CFR Marfa might fail because state workers involved in the process are afraid president Traian Basescu would have the anticorruption department investigate them.
Basescu’s spokesman Bogdan Oprea said Sunday no state clerk should be afraid of prosecution if they have observed the law.
“No clerk, no member of the Government, not even the prime minister should fear justice if they know they have observed the law. However, if that is not the case, they have every reason to be afraid,” he said. (Adevarul)
Social Democrats Near Majority In Parliament Without Liberals
Social democrats and conservatives are close to gaining a majority without fellow liberals, as several MPs have left PP-DD and joined their groups.
In the Chamber of Deputies, social democrats together with conservatives and national minorities need just one more member to gain a majority without liberals, while in the Senate they are nine members short. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Remus Vulpescu Could Be Romania’s Next Economy Minister
Romania’s former economy minister Varujan Vosganian, who resigned from the Cabinet last week, suggested Remus Vulpescu, director with the Finance Ministry, could be the next economy minister.
Vosganian wrote on his blog Vulpescu is the one to take over his office at the Ministry of Economy, suggesting he might be appointed minister.
Vulpescu is currently the cabinet director of the finance minister, Daniel Chitoiu, who is acting as interim economy minister. Vulpescu is a former head of the industry privatization’s office, a post he resigned last year, when the privatization of chemical plant Oltchim failed. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romanian Investors Call On Government To Lower VAT Back To 19%
Romanian investors call on the government to exempt new investments from taxes on reinvested profit, return to a VAT level of TVA, and lower social security contributions to encourage economic recovery.
“The VAT level is inversely proportional to the efficiency of the administration and directly proportional to tax evasion. On average, Romania only collects 52% of the due VAT, meaning the just half of the sales tax we think we all pay,” said tax expert Gabriel Biris of law firm Biris Goran. (Adevarul)
Protests Against Rosia Montana Mining Project Continue
Around 3,000 demonstrators against the Rosia Montana gold mining project gathered at the government headquarters Sunday and formed the “Save Rosia Montana” campaign logo, a bleeding leaf, half green, half red.
Protesters have been rallying and marching throughout Bucharest for seven weeks, calling for a halt on plans to open the gold mine in western Romania. (Curentul)
Health Minister To Resign Unless Basic Healthcare Package Is Enforced
Health Minister Eugen Nicolaescu said Sunday on Pro TV he is not clinging to his minister position and he would resign unless his proposed basic healthcare package is enforced as of February 1, 2014.
“In principle, I’d have no business at the head of the ministry,” Nicolaescu said. (Curentul)