Dan Sucu, owner of the Mobexpert group, said the Boc Government has achieved many good things, but it didn’t follow through and it was always one step behind. He added the government did not act on its own initiative, but pressured by the International Monetary Fund.
“Regardless whether the upcoming government is technocratic or political, it will be the same as the Boc Government, because the president will only accept a government obedient to his point of view,” Sucu added.
Josef Goschy, owner of hotel chain Unita Turism, believes that the only chance for the economy to develop is the appointment of a technocratic government. “Right now we do not have any politicians able to lead the government,” he said.
The businessman added, however, that changing the prime minister is not enough to thaw the economy. The economy needs to be stimulated by banks. “A solution would have been for the government to stay on until fall, and for banks to begin lending to firms, so that they can invest and stimulate consumption,” Goschy said.
Another hotel chain owner, Radu Enache (Continental), believes Boc’s resignation comes late, but it should be followed by early elections.
“Boc was forced to take some measures that should have been taken at least two governments back. The biggest problem with the Boc Government was that it has taken austerity measures without countermeasures to keep the economy running. If you cut salaries and pensions, then don’s increase the value added tax across the board,” Enache said.
The government’s decision is a first step towards political conciliation, said Constantin Tampiza, former general manager of Lukoil Romania. Right now, Tampiza is the representative of Lukoil owner Vagit Alekperov to Romania.
“I would like a government that is backed by all parties. The entire political class needs to take on the responsibility of bringing Romania out of the crisis. We need to tighten the belt, since the economic crisis is not over. The unpopular measures taken by this government would have taken a toll on the image of any government. Similar measures were taken in other European states as well. The social democrats and liberals would have taken the same measures, there is not doubt about it. Any government is sacrificed in such times,” Tampiza said.
Adrian Mihai, development director within private postal service firm FAN Courier, believes a new government needs to include technocrats and it needs to be formed quickly, to avoid destabilizing the business environment.
“A government of technocrats needs to be formed next, leading the country until the elections, when we shall see what happens, depending on the results. I believe a technocrat government will defuse the political and social tensions nationwide. If a prime minister is named quickly and a cabinet is formed, there will not be any problems, but if things are delayed, then the business environment will suffer,” Mihai said.
He added the Boc Government performed well regarding macroeconomics, but it did not know how to communicate.
“To me this was good macroeconomic government, by the numbers, with a good deficit. Boc hit targets that seemed unachievable in the beginning of the year. In terms of communication, however, things were bad, and this came with a cost. Even some of the ministers have communication problems, and I believe that this pulled (Boc) under,” Mihai added.
The vice-president of transporter association UNTRR, Ion Lixandru, does not believe Boc’s resignation will destabilize the business environment, adding there is no need to change the entire Cabinet, just the ministers who underachieved.
According to Lixandru, the new government needs to be formed of technocrats, but this is not enough for a change on a national level.
“Mine and others’ expectation is to see someone who is good at something, and this something better be economy. I am glad the government fell, since its measures did not target the real economy, and producers were not encouraged,” said Constantin Toma, owner of the Romet group.
He added the current economic context requires political leaders specializing in economy, and a lack of this skill cannot be covered with advisers.
Toma added he expects the next government to be a mix of specialists and politicians, in order to secure support in Parliament.
“I hope political decisions are made independently from the management activities of ministries. I believe the next government will be a political one, but the decisions will mostly be technical,” said Cristian Erbasu, president of constructor association FPSC.
Cristian Parvan, secretary general of businessman association AOAR said the business environment inks its contracts regardless of who’s in government, and it will collaborate with any government.
“Any government, however, needs to rule with an eye on economy, or it might face some unpleasant surprises. Our message is: be careful how you govern, so that the economy can produce as much as possible. We won’t say anything about the structure of the next government, whether it should be formed of technocrats or politicians, but we want a responsible government, because complex decisions are ahead. The business environment works with delivery deadlines, which do not change depending on the government, so the government’s resignation will not disturb the business environment,” Parvan added.
The Standing National Office of the Democratic Liberal Party decided Monday to back the appointment of a technocrat prime minister, after Boc’s resignation, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.
Boc announced Monday he has decided to resign along with the government. President Traian Basescu acknowledged Boc’s resignation and appointed independent Justice Minister Catalin Marian Predoiu as interim prime minister pending the formation of a new government.